The comedy duo Batterys and actress Yuka Nihei have launched "PICKLE PICKLE," a YouTube channel that follows the process of aiming to become Japan's best at pickleball. Opened in March 2026, the first video was posted on March 6. Batterys' Ace and Jike serve as the main MCs and Nihei as the assistant MC, tackling the sport in earnest under a coach's guidance. So-called "talent-driven" promotion, in which comedians and celebrities become the face and enliven a single sport, has started moving in Japan too.
A New Show Flying the Banner of "Aiming to Be Japan's Best"
The channel's axis is simple: a challenge project in which the cast aims to become Japan's best at pickleball. With Batterys' Ace and Jike as main MCs and Yuka Nihei joining as assistant MC, it shows their improvement process from beginner as it is. Coach Seiga Hatakeyama provides instruction, saying, "I want to aim for Japan's best with this team." A structure that combines comedy's showpieces with athletic improvement becomes its distinctive strength.
The Startup Since Launch
The channel opened in March 2026, with the first video posted March 6. Updates are planned every Friday in March, and once or twice a week from April onward. As of March 13, right after launch, subscribers were reported at 4,000 and video views at over 100,000 -- a solid start.
Show Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Channel Name | PICKLE PICKLE |
| Main MCs | Batterys (Ace, Jike) |
| Assistant MC | Yuka Nihei |
| Coach | Seiga Hatakeyama |
| Opened | March 2026 (first post March 6) |
| Update Pace | Every Friday in March, once or twice a week from April onward |
| As of 3/13 | 4,000 subscribers / over 100,000 views |
Attention on the Sport Itself
The pickleball it covers is a sport that combines elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. On a court the same size as badminton's, it uses a board-shaped paddle and a plastic ball with holes. It's said that about 50 million people play it in the US, and it's also called a "future Olympic sport." The show draws viewers in while introducing these rules and background.
Will Talent-Driven Promotion Work for the Spread?
To the domestic promotion efforts that have been led by competition bodies and gyms, a new channel of celebrity-driven content is added. By showing the improvement process as entertainment, it naturally reaches even those who don't know the rules. If cast members with followers keep putting out content, the entry point to the experience may widen a notch. How close the show gets to "Japan's best" -- that journey itself looks likely to become a yardstick for the spread.
Summary
"PICKLE PICKLE" has started as a challenge project that crosses athletic improvement with comedy's project-making. Its startup numbers aren't bad either, and it becomes a touchstone for gauging how far talent-driven promotion can work. How viewers follow the long haul toward the goal of Japan's best holds the key.
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Source:grapee.jp／PICKLE PICKLE / Sponichi Annex (Yahoo! News)
