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Collaboration Between grabss and JOSA

On April 1, 2025, a significant partnership was established between grabss, a web service development and operations company based in Setagaya, Tokyo, and the Japanese Obstacle Sports Association (JOSA), headquartered in Meguro, Tokyo. The two organizations signed a DX Partner Agreement aimed at enhancing the quality of digital communication in obstacle sports, connecting athletes and supporters, and promoting the growth of the sport.

The partnership officially kicks off on May 25, 2025, with the 'Obstacle Box Demo Event 2025 in Nakameguro'. This event aims to increase awareness of Obstacle Box, a facility designed for junior athletes that incorporates nine obstacles into a compact space of 5.6m x 3.6m x 3.3m. The event will feature demonstrations by professional athletes and an opportunity for attendees to participate in experience events. grabss will leverage its electronic ticketing and audience management system, 'TIGET', for participant entries, thereby broadening the event's reach and promoting obstacle sports' recognition.

The roots of this collaboration trace back to the fall of 2024 when grabss members, intrigued by obstacle sports, visited the Yoshinogawa course to explore the potential of OCR (Obstacle Course Racing) as a means of digital communication. This youthful organization, JOSA, which has only been established for just over two years and successfully hosted two official competitions in this period, found an ideal match in grabss. With shared values and direction, the partnership was formalized on April 1, 2025.

As part of the collaboration, grabss will dedicate efforts toward discovering and nurturing obstacle sports athletes through the services provided by TIGET, along with maintaining the JOSA website and enhancing digital communication strategies.

Upcoming OCR100m Japan Championship

Scheduled for October 2024, the first OCR100m Japan Championship will be a significant milestone. Obstacle sports, including OCR, Ninja Races, and Adventure Races, demand athletes to engage in various physical challenges involving running, jumping, climbing, and grabbing. With an estimated global audience of 20 million obstacle sports enthusiasts and approximately 20,000 elite athletes participating in competitions around the world, this sport continues to grow rapidly.

OCR has gained popularity partly due to its foundation in the entertainment world, with influences from shows such as TBS's 'SASUKE' and the internationally acclaimed 'Ninja Warrior'. Excitingly, OCR is set to be included as a new event in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, replacing the equestrian discipline in modern pentathlon. The International Obstacle Sports Federation (FISO), based in Lausanne, Switzerland, presides over global obstacle sports, with over 100 member organizations worldwide. In 2023, Belgium hosted the OCR World Championships, featuring participation from 800 athletes across 42 countries, with JOSA set to recommend Japanese competitors for the 2025 OCR World Championships in Sweden.

Obstacle Box Demo Event Overview

The 'Obstacle Box Demo Event 2025 in Nakameguro' has its sights set on involving children in sports through obstacle courses, showcasing the benefits of overcoming physical challenges. The event will take place in Nakameguro at the GT Tower Plaza and will be supported by the Meguro Ward and the event's co-sponsors. Notably, Daiki Sato, a silver medalist in modern pentathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is set to make a special appearance. Attendees will experience exciting demonstrations and can participate in training aimed at fostering future world-class athletes.

The 'Obstacle Box' represents JOSA's vision of making sports accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Having been successfully introduced in Yoshinogawa, this initiative now expands to urban Tokyo to create a chance for local children to experience and take interest in obstacle sports. Future activities leading up to the main event include additional experience days and competitions in the summer and fall of 2025.

Conclusion

grabss focuses on creating innovative business models and enhancing the entertainment industry through technology and data utilization. Its platform, 'TIGET', is crucial for streamlining event-related processes and supporting a wide range of clients in enhancing their digital transformation. Similarly, JOSA aims to cultivate an environment where children can first encounter and enjoy sports while nurturing future athletes toward international competition. Both organizations are poised to work hand-in-hand to shape a vibrant future for obstacle sports in Japan.