#Japan #JA Zennoh #NIPPON FOOD #Junior Curling #Thun

JA Zennoh's Support for Japan's Junior Curling National Team

As the World Junior Curling Championships 2026 kicks off in Thun, Denmark, on February 24, Japan's junior curling team is receiving vital support from JA Zennoh, Japan’s agricultural cooperative association. This backing comes in the form of essential Japanese food items to enhance the athletes' performance during the competition.

The athletes from the Japanese representative team are fully equipped with their favorite Japanese dishes, which are expected to provide them with the energy they need to excel in an international setting. Key food items provided include rice, freeze-dried miso soup, and various dried fruits from JA Zennoh's brand 'Nippon Ale'. These products were handpicked based on the players' preferences, ensuring they can enjoy familiar dishes that help them feel at home despite being in a foreign environment.

Athletes' Voices

To illustrate their reliance on these food products, Japanese junior men’s representative player, Riki Segawa, shared his thoughts, stating, “As I take on the role of skip in the matches, I need to use my head wisely. With the provided dried sweet potato, I hope to ingest some sugars to keep my mind sharp for the numerous matches ahead.” Similarly, Yuna Miura, representing the junior women’s team, expressed, “Having Japanese food abroad eliminates worries regarding nutrition and allows us to focus on the competition. I will gather energy from rice and give my all to strive for victory!”

The food supplies distributed to the athletes are carefully curated and include:

• - Packaged rice from JA Zennoh Radfa Co., Ltd.
• - Scrambled eggs and egg salad from JA Zennoh Egg Co., Ltd.
• - A range of freeze-dried soups and rice from JA Town.
• - Instant meals and disaster prevention food including multi-grain rice and curry rice.
• - Dried ume plums and snacks from Nippon Ale including dried fruits and gummies.

A Commitment to Athlete Support

JA Zennoh's commitment to assisting athletes extends far beyond this event. Since 2019, JA Zennoh has utilized its international networks to provide meal support for Japanese representatives competing overseas, particularly in sports such as curling and table tennis. This initiative aims to combat the challenges athletes face regarding unfamiliar food and sanitary conditions in foreign countries.

As shared through their X account (@zennoh_sports), JA Zennoh continuously updates followers about their endeavours in supporting athletes through nutritional means. You can access their updates and more information on their initiatives here.

Tournament Overview

• - Event: World Junior Curling Championships 2026
• - Dates: February 24 – March 3, 2026
• - Participants:

- Men’s Team: Kota Imamura (lead), Danta Imamura (second), Kaishi Sato (third), Riki Segawa (skip), Yota Michitani (reserve)
- Women’s Team: Hano Ikeda (lead), Rin Suzuki (second), Kokoma Tsuruga (third), Yuna Miura (skip), Akane Nakamura (reserve)

• - More Details: World Curling Championships Official Site

With such robust support from JA Zennoh, the junior curling team is set to strive for even greater achievements this year. Expectations are high as they aim to surpass their previous tournament standings, with the men's team finishing sixth and the women's team finishing eighth in the last championships.