Japan's Frescoball Association to Highlight Future of Beach Sports at Tokyo Event

Japan's Frescoball Association at Tokyo Big Sight

Kenji Kuboshima, the representative director of the Japan Frescoball Association (JFBA), is set to speak at the "Leisure & Outdoor Japan" event on November 28 at Tokyo Big Sight. His talk session, titled "Japan Beach Games 2025 and the Future of Beach Sports," will emphasize the significance of hosting international tournaments and its benefits for community revitalization and environmental conservation.

The "Leisure & Outdoor Japan" exhibition is one of Japan's largest trade shows focusing on the leisure industry, featuring over 360 exhibitors showcasing equipment, technology, and services related to attractions, outdoor activities, and event management from all around the globe. In his session, Kuboshima will highlight the Japan Beach Games Smuma 2025, which spearheads the international project for welcoming the World Beach Games to Japan. This project represents a unique opportunity to facilitate an increase in participation in beach and marine sports throughout the nation.

In addition to discussing the Japan Beach Games, the talk will also delve into the challenges and opportunities presented by the proposed international Frescoball tournament set to be held for the first time in Japan, known as the JBG® Smuma Frescoball World Cup 2025. Competing will be teams representing ten countries, providing an exciting global competition for this relatively new sport.

Kuboshima will narrate the journey of organizing this event, particularly addressing the challenges that arise due to the varying competitive rules worldwide in Frescoball. The session will also culminate in discussing the fundamental agreement towards the establishment of an international organization known as UAFI (União das Associações de Frescobol Internacional).

Joining Kuboshima on stage will be other influential figures in Japan's beach culture realm, including Fumio Morishita, an advisor for the Japan Beach Games 2025 and an honorific professor at Sophia University; Yuko Yoshizawa, vice president of the Japan Beach Culture Promotion Association; and Hiroshi Osumi, chairman of the Japan Beach Tennis Federation. This gathering offers a fantastic chance to hear their thoughts and aspirations for Japan's beach culture.

Attendees interested in participating are encouraged to register beforehand, as prior registration is required for both the seminar and the exhibition. Those interested can find more details on the official website, with the seminar registration deadline set for November 25.

For more information, please visit Leisure Japan Official Site.

What is Frescoball?

Frescoball is a unique beach sport that originated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where it was invented in 1945 at Copacabana Beach. Today, it enjoys popularity on beaches worldwide. One of the sport's key elements is that it's not a competitive format where two opponents face off against each other; rather, it's a cooperative rally-based scoring game. Matches last for five minutes, with participants maintaining a distance of seven meters from each other. This nurturing style of play has led to Frescoball being characterized as a “sport of compassion.”

Overall, as Kuboshima presents these innovative ideas and engages with the audience at this prominent event, the future of Frescoball and beach sports in Japan appears to be bright and full of potential.