Presentation at the Japan Tennis Association ConferenceNew!!
On Monday, February 23, I was invited to speak at the Japan Tennis Association Conference held at the National Training Center. My session, “The Growing Diversity of Community-Based Extracurricular Sports Programs,” was attended by about 100 participants on-site, with a similar number joining online. The JTA hosts this annual conference to help coaches across the country stay updated and connected. As school-based sports continue to shift toward community-led models, the environment is changing quickly. Even so, I believe that regularly refreshing our knowledge is valuable for all coaches—especially as young athletes themselves are often very quick to notice new trends and information. Events like this also offer opportunities to meet […]
Japan Tennis Association Certified Coach Level 4
I recently spoke in the Management course on “The Current Situation of Junior High School Club Activities.” Many participants were Coach Level 4 candidates with experience guiding high‑level players, so junior high school club activities—deeply connected to the school education system—may have felt unfamiliar. Unlike competitive player development, school-based club activities focus on participation and grassroots growth. I hope the session offered a clearer picture of this educational role, as well as the national shift toward community-based club activities that will take place over six years starting in 2026. Each community will move forward differently, with no single correct model. Even so, I truly hope that dedicated professional coaches like […]
Community Engagement by the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Tennis Team
Members of the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Tennis Team—who also compete as a corporate team—recently held a training session for the boys’ tennis team at Narusedai Junior High School in Machida. We had the privilege of supporting this initiative. Despite working full-time on weekdays, the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance players devote their weekends to training as a corporate team. Wanting to give back to the city of Machida, where their practice courts are located, they explored ways to support local schools—particularly teachers who manage large club teams while juggling many responsibilities. From this shared intention, the idea for this training session took shape. As weekend club activities transition to community-based models tailored […]
Follow-up Junior Coaching Workshop with Nikke Wellness (Chubu & Kanto Regions)
Building on the September session, we were once again given the opportunity to conduct workshops in Chubu and Kanto, focusing on junior coaching with Nikke Wellness. One of the joys of these workshops is meeting graduates who are now thriving in their respective fields. This time too, we spent truly meaningful hours together. Our sincere thanks go not only to all participants but also to those who worked hard behind the scenes to prepare for the sessions. As school education continues to evolve, reforms in extracurricular activities are gradually progressing, and private school programs are also undergoing change. For parents, entrusting children to adults requires trustworthiness above all—whether in the […]