Canon, a world leader in imaging, has announced that it has renewed its contract and become the first company to serve as an official sponsor for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, which will take place in twelve host cities* across the country from 20th September to 2nd November.

Hosted every four years, Rugby World Cup is one of the world's most prestigious sporting events with the world's top twenty national teams competing across forty-eight matches to win the ultimate prize in the sport, the Webb Ellis Cup.

Japan 2019 will be the event's ninth edition and the first in Asia. The 2015 tournament, which was hosted in England, was the best attended with 2.48 million fans, the most viewed with record broadcast, digital and social coverage in more than 207 nations.

As with other sporting competitions in the past, Canon will provide behind-the-scenes support to members of the press covering the Rugby World Cup 2019, including camera and lens maintenance services and product loans, to enable photographers to capture all the action of the tournament. The Canon Group will also provide the print and copying solutions used by the Tournament Organising Committee, supporting the event by facilitating the printout of handout materials and the streamlining of document workflows.

As a Rugby World Cup 2019 official sponsor, Canon offers the full support of its diverse imaging businesses, ranging from cameras, lenses, video camcorders and network cameras to copiers, multifunction devices, printers, projectors and medical equipment.

Canon Inc. Chairman & CEO Fujio Mitarai, said: "Following on from Rugby World Cup 2015 in England, Canon is delighted to continue backing the tournament, which will take place in Asia for the first time, as an official sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

"In addition to supporting professional photographers from Japan and overseas as they capture the intense action of the world's top teams facing off in peak condition, Canon, working together with the organising committee, relevant authorities, local government and other corporate sponsors, will do the utmost to support Rugby World Cup 2019 throughout Japan".

World Rugby Chairman, Bill Beaumont, said: "We are delighted to be extending our relationship with Canon as a Rugby World Cup 2019 official sponsor. Canon is an important supporter of rugby in Japan, an innovator in its field and a perfect match for our premier event.

"This exciting relationship underscores the significant global appeal of the first Rugby World Cup in Asia and we look forward to working in partnership with Canon to extend the reach and impact of the sport in Japan, across Asia and around the globe".

Canon will continue contributing to the advancement of sports through its products and technologies.

* Sapporo City, Iwate Prefecture and Kamaishi City, Saitama Prefecture and Kumagaya City, Tokyo Metropolitan, Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture and Toyota City, Osaka Prefecture and Higashiosaka City, Kobe City, Fukuoka Prefecture and Fukuoka City, Kumamoto Prefecture and Kumamoto City, Oita Prefecture