On 7 December, the Zonta Club of Nara, Japan, brought the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign to Rohto Arena during a B.LEAGUE professional men’s basketball game, reaching nearly 2,000 spectators.

The campaign was made possible through the strong support of the team’s male president and players, demonstrating the importance of male allyship in ending gender-based violence. With the arena nearly at capacity, a large “Zonta Says NO” banner was displayed on the main screen, drawing attention to the global movement.

In collaboration with the Bambitious Nara team, Zontians encouraged fans to learn about the reality of violence against women and invited the audience to join in saying “NO to violence against women.” Supporters from the opposing team, many of whom traveled from other prefectures, also carried the message back to their home communities, extending the campaign’s reach beyond Nara.

Young attendees shared that the campaign was their first exposure to the issue, with several expressing a desire to raise awareness among their peers. Through this high-visibility initiative, the Zonta Club of Nara amplified advocacy in an unexpected public space, reinforcing the belief that ending violence requires collective action across communities.