Racket sports expand in Japan with Padel and Pickleball events

Racket sports are seeing significant growth in Japan, highlighted by the inclusion of padel in the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya. Padel, a sport combining elements of tennis and squash, has seen massive global expansion, with its player base in Spain even exceeding that of football. The Japanese national padel teams for both men and women have been selected, with players like Saki Tsukamoto expressing high ambitions for securing gold medals.

Simultaneously, the pickleball community is preparing for the 3rd PJ Pickleball Championships in Ariake, starting December 7, 2026. This large-scale event expects approximately 2,000 players and will feature the first PPA Asia 125 in Japan. The tournament will host world-class talent, including the world's number one ranked male player Ben Johns and number two female doubles player Anna Bright. Japanese professional Yuta Funamizu is also set to compete, partnering with Ben Johns in the men's doubles category.