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Japan’s first-ever prize-based draft league, “1st PJF Pickleball Japan League BURGER KING® CUP,” concluded with great success!

BURGER KING® CUPピックルボール

 

— In the pro division, “LEAF DRIVE” claimed the inaugural championship title and won a grand prize of 1 million yen —


A total of 1,128 participants joined the event, with athletes from seven countries around the world. Both players and spectators raved, saying “It was simply the most exciting and enjoyable tournament ever!”


Held from August 11 (Mon, national holiday) to August 14 (Thu), 2025 at Ariake Tennis Forest Indoor Courts in Tokyo, the “1st PJF Pickleball Japan League BURGER KING® CUP” brought together 608 actual participants (1,128 total entries) over four days of intense matches.


As Japan’s first-ever prize-based, draft-style professional pickleball league, it marked a historic milestone for the sport.


Centered around the pro division, which featured athletes selected through a formal draft process, the event also included corporate matches, as well as beginner, intermediate, and advanced divisions.


Both spectators and players unanimously praised the tournament as “unlike anything before” and “a sports event that anyone can truly enjoy.” The event proved that pickleball is a sport that excels in playing, watching, and connecting.


Pro League Results (Total Prize: ¥1,600,000)


🏆 1st Place (¥1,000,000): LEAF DRIVE Yuta Yoshida / Ting Wen Wang / Reiri Noguchi / Naomichi Oya


🥈 2nd Place (¥400,000): TEAM GALAXY Nasa Hatakeyama / Xiao Yi Wang-Beckvall / Aoi Nakata / Lee Jaewon


🥉 3rd Place (¥200,000): TOKYO FLASH PICKLEBALL Yuki Sugiyama / Angus Lee / Si Chen / Mayumi Yamamoto


Many commented that “The event itself was pure entertainment, where players and spectators truly became one.”


BURGER KING® CUPピックルボール
Awards Ceremony – Pro Division

Tournament Highlights

・A Truly International Stage A total of 43 players participated from the United States, Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, China, and Australia. Spectators were thrilled by the world-class level of play. A junior team from Taiwan also joined the competition.

・Corporate Division Success The corporate matches demonstrated new possibilities for promoting employee wellness and cross-departmental engagement. The event fostered connections across roles, industries, and generations.

・Impressive Participation Across All LevelsParticipants ranged from beginners to experienced players, proving that anyone can enjoy the tournament. The youngest player was 11 years old, while the oldest was 82—showcasing the sport's wide appeal.

・First International Referee Certification Seminar in Japan For the first time in Japan, an international referee certification seminar was held by Mr. Howard Hepworth, a certified USAP Level 3 referee and official medal match referee for PPA and MLP. Seven top leaders from Japan were selected to attend the course. The official exam will take place at the Ariake tournament in December, with the goal of training referees for the future Olympic stage.

・Buzz on Social Media The tournament’s official hashtags went viral, drawing widespread attention and proving that pickleball is a sport that’s “fun to play and fun to watch.”

BURGER KING® CUPピックルボール
Scenes from the International Referee Certification Seminar led by Mr. Howard Hepworth

Tournament Summary Data

  • Dates: 4 days (August 11–14, 2025)

  • Venue: Ariake Tennis Forest Indoor Courts (24 courts)

  • Total Participants: 608 actual participants (1,128 total entries)

  • Total Matches Played: 1,359 matches

  • Youngest Player: 11 years old

  • Oldest Player: 82 years old

  • International Participation:

    　USA: 17 participants

    　Taiwan: 17 participants

    　China: 5 participants

    　Australia: 2 participants

    　South Korea: 1 participant

    　Canada: 1 participant

Sponsors

This tournament was made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors and partners.

Sponsors: BURGER KING, ZIPAIR, Joola, Aoyama Sports, Diadem, AirFly

Special Sponsor: Dr. KAKUKO Sports Clinic


Upcoming PJF Tournaments

  • December 10–13, 2025:“ZIPAIR & Daiwa Securities present PJF Pickleball Championships 2025 in Tokyo”

  • December 14, 2025:“Asia Pickleball Games (APG) 2025” – To be hosted in Japan for the first time as an inter-country team competition across Asia.



 
 
 

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