#Japan #Cluj-Napoca #Japanese Cuisine #Table Tennis #JA Zennoh

JA Zennoh's Support for Japan's Table Tennis Youth Team

As the 2025 ITTF World Youth Championships unfolds in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, starting November 23, JA Zennoh stands proudly behind the table tennis team of Japan. They aim to bolster the players’ performance by providing authentic Japanese cuisine, ensuring that they can maintain their USUAL standards even in a foreign environment.

In a bid to help the athletes, JA Zennoh supplies a diverse range of products, including packed rice, freeze-dried miso soup available on their online platform ‘JA Town,’ and the ‘Nippon Ale’ brand of dried fruits. This year, they introduced a new item for players: the “Egg Salad Style” made from domestic vegetables and legumes, mimicking the taste of eggs, to offer energy and refreshment during contests.

Manabu Morisono, the coach of the Men's Junior National Team, remarked on the importance of JA Zennoh's contributions: “We have faced challenges in managing the players' health and focus in international competitions. Thanks to the consistent support from JA Zennoh in our meals each year, we can compete in peak condition.” Similarly, Zhang Lizi, the coach of the Women’s Junior National Team, expressed her gratitude, stating, “The steadfast support we receive allows us to focus on our games with peace of mind. We will play with pride as representatives of Japan and aim to convey our sincere gratitude to our supporters.”

Looking back at the previous championships in 2024, which occurred in Helsingborg, Sweden, the Japanese team showcased an impressive performance. They secured a bronze medal in the Under-19 men's team event, two bronze medals in mixed doubles, a silver medal in women's doubles, and another silver in men's doubles. Additionally, the Under-19 men's singles competition saw a bronze medal as well. This year, fueled by “Nippon no Shoku,” the Japanese food, they gear up for another formidable challenge on the world stage.


Image courtesy of the Japan Table Tennis Association.

Provided Nutrition Breakdown

Food Items Supplied:

• - JA Zennoh Rice (packaged rice)
• - JA Zennoh Sprouted Brown Rice (packaged rice)
• - “Nippon Ale” From Farm-Sourced Eggs (Scrambled Style)
• - “Nippon Ale” From Farm-Sourced Eggs (Egg Salad Style)
• - Various Freeze-Dried Miso Soups
• - Teabag Hojicha (Roasted Green Tea)
• - Salted Dried Kelp
• - Seasoned Nori Sheets
• - Instant Rice
• - Domestic Barley Rice
• - Niigata Koshihikari White Porridge
• - Niigata Koshihikari Ume Porridge
• - Disaster Preparedness Foods (Mixed Rice, Curry Rice, Mushroom Rice)
• - Plum (Kishu Nanko Honey Plum)
• - “Nippon Ale” Dried Sweet Potato (Domestic Variety)
• - “Nippon Ale” Dried Fruits (Various Types)

Both coaches emphasized the value of this nutritional support for the athletes’ well-being and performance. Morisono added, “With the extensive support for the national team from JA Zennoh over many years, we ensure that our players are energized to deliver outstanding performances.”

“Food can be a challenge for junior athletes in international competitions,” Zhang stressed, highlighting the critical role of proper nutrition in maintaining focus and physical state over the long event timeline.

For ongoing updates pertaining to sports and more information about how JA Zennoh is supporting athletes through food, please follow their official X account, Zennoh Sports Promotion.

Since 2019, JA Zennoh has been offering substantial meal support for national teams, adapting to the challenges of foreign cuisine and hygiene standards during international events. They have consistently backed both the table tennis and curling teams in their international journeys.

JA Zennoh remains committed to supporting table tennis through authentic Japanese culinary offerings.

Event Overview:

1. Event Name: 2025 ITTF World Youth Championships in Romania
2. Schedule: November 23, 2025 (Sunday) – November 30, 2025 (Sunday)
3. Participating Athletes: (in alphabetical order)
- Men: Sōma Ōno (Kinoshita Academy), Ryūsei Kawakami (Seisa International High School Yokohama), Ukyō Kobayashi (Kinoshita Academy), Kohaku Nakano (Noda Academy High School), Kento Hiratsuka (Yugakukan Junior High School), Shintarō Yanagimoto (Meitoku Gijuku Junior High School), Kazuki Yoshiyama (Okayama Rivets), Tamito Watanabe (JOC Elite Academy/Seisa)
- Women: Sachito Aoki (Shitennoji High School), Kokomi Ishida (Ishida Table Tennis N+), Sayaka Ura (Kinoshita Academy), Yuna Koshi (JOC Elite Academy/Seisa), Aoba Takahashi (Kinoshita Academy), Mio Takamori (Shitennoji High School), Mizuki Taketani (Kagoshimakawa Liberte High School), Kokona Muramatsu (Miki House JSC)
4. Details: ITTF World Youth Championships 2025 Romania - Japan Table Tennis Association