NEWS

Held in Azabu, Minato-ku on Saturday, August 29, 2026 (9:15–11:30 AM). Priority registration is strictly first-come, first-served for Ambassador Certification Training applicants. No public recruitment available. Eligible individuals, please apply early!

The '2nd PJL BURGER KING® CUP' is officially set for October 2026 at Ariake Tennis Forest Park! With a total prize pool exceeding 10 million yen, this is one of Japan's largest pickleball tournaments, gathering over 800 players from both Japan and abroad. Exciting matches will take place across the Professional, Corporate, and General categories. Highly anticipated registration kicks off on Saturday, July 25 at 10:00 AM JST!

Japan's largest-scale pickleball facility with 20 courts has launched at Izu Resort Villa! To celebrate the opening, Izu Bio Park Co., Ltd. will host an opening ceremony. The event will feature demonstrations by professional players and hands-on trial sessions. Everyone is welcome to join us!

The Pickleball Japan Federation (Tokyo; Chairperson: Rika Riordan) is pleased to announce that it has been officially recognized by the Japan Sport Association (JSPO) following approval at the JSPO Regular Council Meeting held on June 24, 2026.

Rusutsu Resort in Hokkaido will host the "RUSUTSU Pickleball Open 2026" on June 28, 2026.Rusutsu Resort in Hokkaido will host the "RUSUTSU Pickleball Open 2026" on June 28, 2026. New "Intermediate-Advanced Individual" and "Beginner Individual" categories have been added! Enter solo and enjoy competing against a variety of opponents in a full round-robin, time-based format. Participation in both doubles and individual events is also available.

Rusutsu Resort in Hokkaido will host the "RUSUTSU Pickleball Open 2026" on June 28, 2026. Open to players from beginner to intermediate level across eight dedicated courts. The day before features a certification course, pro lessons, a Soccer & Pickleball Experience with Tsuyoshi Kitazawa, and a night event.

MiLP, an amateur pickleball league originating in the United States, makes its debut in Japan. Pickleball Japan has secured an exclusive license and, as part of a simultaneous rollout across 20 countries, will begin recruiting club participants nationwide from 2026.

The dates for two major PJ-hosted tournaments in 2026 have been confirmed. The PJL Burger King Cup (Oct 11–14) and the 3rd PJ Pickleball Championships in Japan (Dec 7–11) will both be held at Ariake Tennis Forest Park. Check the schedule now!

PJ's "Kiraboshi Lessons" is a pickleball program designed for players aged 19 and under. Open to beginners and those with some experience, sessions are divided into Class A and Class B based on your level. Held at KPI PARK in Totsuka, Yokohama. ¥3,500 per person. Limited spots available — first-come, first-served.

Japan is recruiting national team players for the 2026 AFP University Championship in Thailand (July 31 – Aug 2). Open to current university and graduate students. Apply by April 30.

Japan is recruiting national team players for the 2026 AFP Junior Open in Thailand (July 28–30). Open to U12–U18. Apply by April 30. Two tracks: Team Japan (supported) and Team Japan Rising.

The Japan Pickleball Association (JPA) and the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) will merge on April 14, 2026, marking a new beginning as "Pickleball Japan (PJ)." The unified organization will operate under a new governance structure, dedicated to promoting and advancing pickleball across Japan.

No Experience? No Problem! The Next-Gen Pickleball Project is Here. The long-awaited Project F, "Kiraboshi Lessons" for U-19s, is finally starting! Even if you’ve never played before, you are more than welcome. We will guide you through everything, starting with how to hold the paddle. Why not try a new sport and polish your hidden talent? We can’t wait to see you there!

We would like to inform you that, in order to further enhance our services and promote the growth of pickleball in Japan, we will be revising our annual membership fees

It has been announced that the “Minato City Cup Tokyo Tower Pickleball Friendship 2026 Summer–Autumn,” a pickleball tournament for the general public to be enjoyed by three generations, will be held with Tokyo Tower as its stage. The qualifying rounds are scheduled to begin in early July at venues in Minato City, and the main matches are planned to take place at Tokyo Tower in September. An overview of the tournament will be announced at a press conference on March 19, 2026.

Pickleball × Footbath: Expanding Opportunities for Connection. Announcement of the press conference for the “2026 Ofuro World Peace Project,” supported by PJF.

Four Japanese junior players have been selected for the PCL Asia Rising Stars U19 Japan Team and will represent Japan at the Asia Final in Hainan, China. The program, organized with the Pickleball Champions League (PCL), provides young Asian athletes with international competition opportunities and a pathway to develop on the global stage.

The Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) has entered into a strategic partnership with the international league PCL to advance the U19 international development program, “PCL Asia Rising Stars.” Four Japanese representatives are scheduled to be dispatched to the Asia Final in Hainan Island, China, in March 2026. Details regarding the domestic selection tournament, application information, financial support, and corporate sponsorship opportunities have also been announced.

The Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) and the Japan Pickleball Association (JPA) have reached a basic agreement to unite, aiming to strengthen the governance of pickleball in Japan and expand its international presence, with the establishment of a unified national organization toward future Olympic participation.

We are pleased to announce the Japan national team that will compete at APG 2025.