The Lixil Deers, formerly known as the company-owned Kajima Deers, are taking their first steps forward as a new club team. The Deers, one of the X League power houses, on Saturday held their first tryout to look for new talent outside of Kajima Corporation.
Until last year, only Kajima employees could play for the team. But now that the Deers have parted ways with Kajima and turned into a club team mainly sponsored by Lixil Corporation, the door is open to players who used to play for other teams including college graduates.
"We are glad that we have a lot of high-level players coming to this tryout," said defensive coordinator Goro Ito, who spoke to the media in place of head coach Kiyoyuki Mori, who was absent because he had to attend Japan's national team practice held on the same day in Chiba. Mori is also Japan's head coach.