Corporate Programs Many Japanese corporations rely upon NKC and its products to help them to establish sporting programs that promote health and stronger relationships between managers, employees, other companies and local communiities. This helps them to become stronger competitors and to transcend cultural barriers all around the world. For example, in the U.S., NKC has actively supported and supplied baseballs and sporting equipment to the New York- based Nippon Club’s Nanku Baseball Corporate League Program. This program, which celebrated its twenty-eighth birthday in 2003, brings together over forty Japanese companies (including Sony, Sumitomo, Daiichi-Kangyo Bank, Nichimen, Marubeni, Matsushita, Canaon, Fuji Bank, and Itochu) in the New York area in an annual tournament. Several American firms, including Deloitte Touche and KPMG Peat Marwick also participate. In Japan, NKC helps to sponsor a national woman’s corporate soft tennis league, which allows their employees to play with local schools and universities.