The Heart of LifeWear Vol.4: Delivering HEATTECH to children with Ayumu Hirano
Jan 27, 2025
Heart of LifeWear
As part of The Heart of LifeWear, we are donating one million items of HEATTECH thermal clothing to people around the world in need of assistance. In Japan, we are providing a total of 70,000 HEATTECH products to children in orphanages around the country, and to those affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
On January 6th 2025, UNIQLO employees visited the Wakakusa children’s home in Niigata Prefecture to deliver HEATTECH items, along with a special video message and autographed jerseys from UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador and snowboarder Ayumu Hirano. Everyone at the home was pleased with the unexpected message from the local hero.
The first stop was Murakami City Skate Park, where Hirano practises, to record his message for the children of Wakakusa. “It’s still a cold winter in Niigata, but I hope that all of you will wear HEATTECH, warm your body, and enjoy sports and other types of exercise,” said Hirano, who skateboarded around the park as part of the video message. He also autographed snowboard wear and a T-shirt that he wears in competitions.
Later that evening, UNIQLO staff delivered the HEATTECH items to the kids at Wakakusa, along with the video message from Hirano and the clothing he had autographed for them. About 30 children between the ages of 7 and 18 gathered in the dormitory hall. When Hirano’s dazzling skateboard performance appeared on the screen the hall exploded with excitement. “Wow! Cool!” the children exclaimed. The children watched Hirano’s message intently, nodding and smiling. When asked what he thought, one child smiled and said, “I was really moved to receive a direct message from an athlete who won a medal at the Olympics.”
When Hirano’s autographed T-shirt and snowboard wear were presented to kids representing the home, several children shouted that they wanted to try it on.
Later, when the children were handed an item of HEATTECH, they said happily that they were looking forward to wearing it to school because it’s so cold, or to go snowboarding. It was a moment full of smiles from the children.
The event ended with a message from Wakakusa’s director Takahashi.
“Winters in Niigata are long and bitterly cold. I am always worried that the children will catch a cold, so I am very grateful for this kind of initiative. I hope the children will wear highly functional HEATTECH and stay healthy despite the chilly weather.”
Even after presenting the items, we received thanks from children who could not participate, and some came to thank us again, making for an event that warmed the hearts of those of us who delivered the HEATTECH.
UNIQLO will continue to work with its Global Brand Ambassadors to donate HEATTECH around the world. Stay tuned for the next report!
This clothing donation is part of the “What Makes Life Better?” initiative.
Learn more about the project here.
Shop HEATTECH
Shop the women's HEATTECH collection
Shop the men's HEATTECH collection
Shop the kids' HEATTECH collection
On January 6th 2025, UNIQLO employees visited the Wakakusa children’s home in Niigata Prefecture to deliver HEATTECH items, along with a special video message and autographed jerseys from UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador and snowboarder Ayumu Hirano. Everyone at the home was pleased with the unexpected message from the local hero.
The first stop was Murakami City Skate Park, where Hirano practises, to record his message for the children of Wakakusa. “It’s still a cold winter in Niigata, but I hope that all of you will wear HEATTECH, warm your body, and enjoy sports and other types of exercise,” said Hirano, who skateboarded around the park as part of the video message. He also autographed snowboard wear and a T-shirt that he wears in competitions.
Later that evening, UNIQLO staff delivered the HEATTECH items to the kids at Wakakusa, along with the video message from Hirano and the clothing he had autographed for them. About 30 children between the ages of 7 and 18 gathered in the dormitory hall. When Hirano’s dazzling skateboard performance appeared on the screen the hall exploded with excitement. “Wow! Cool!” the children exclaimed. The children watched Hirano’s message intently, nodding and smiling. When asked what he thought, one child smiled and said, “I was really moved to receive a direct message from an athlete who won a medal at the Olympics.”
When Hirano’s autographed T-shirt and snowboard wear were presented to kids representing the home, several children shouted that they wanted to try it on.
Later, when the children were handed an item of HEATTECH, they said happily that they were looking forward to wearing it to school because it’s so cold, or to go snowboarding. It was a moment full of smiles from the children.
The event ended with a message from Wakakusa’s director Takahashi.
“Winters in Niigata are long and bitterly cold. I am always worried that the children will catch a cold, so I am very grateful for this kind of initiative. I hope the children will wear highly functional HEATTECH and stay healthy despite the chilly weather.”
Even after presenting the items, we received thanks from children who could not participate, and some came to thank us again, making for an event that warmed the hearts of those of us who delivered the HEATTECH.
UNIQLO will continue to work with its Global Brand Ambassadors to donate HEATTECH around the world. Stay tuned for the next report!
This clothing donation is part of the “What Makes Life Better?” initiative.
Learn more about the project here.
Shop HEATTECH
Shop the women's HEATTECH collection
Shop the men's HEATTECH collection
Shop the kids' HEATTECH collection