A historic turning point for Japan’s pickleball world—the new organization PJ is launched through the JPA × PJF merger
On April 14, 2026, a major turning point came for Japan’s pickleball world. The Japan Pickleball Association (JPA) and the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) officially merged, giving birth to the new governing body“Pickleball Japan Federation” (commonly known as Pickleball Japan / PJ).The agreement was signed on March 13, 2026, announced on April 10, and took effect on April 14. With this, Japan’s pickleball competitive structure—which had long had two coexisting organizations—is unified.
The background to the merger and the terms of the agreement
日本では複数の団体がそれぞれ独自に大会運営や選手登録を行っていた。両団体は「ピックルボールの持続的な成長と統一的な競技体制の確立」を目的に協議を進め、対等な立場での合併に合意した。
The new organization, PJ, integrates the functions of the former JPA and PJF and, asthe only governing body in Japan,will single-handedly take charge of player registration, tournament sanctioning, and serving as the point of contact with the international federation. This coincides with the timing ofThe Picklr’s arrival in Japanandand a string of court openings at hotels and commercial facilities,and serves as a tailwind for the spread of pickleball in Japan.
Details of the new structure
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name | Pickleball Japan Federation |
| Common name | Pickleball Japan (PJ) |
| President | Rika Riordan |
| Vice President | Shigeru Nishigami |
| Secretary-General | Takeshi Koizumi |
| Directors | Kento Sasaki, Koki Sugimoto, Yuki Tanaka, Chiharu Hachiya Lorenzoni, Masahiro Marutani |
| Headquarters location | 4-1-15 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo |
| Branches | Tokyo (Asakusabashi) and Osaka (Fushimi-cho) |
| Agreement signing date | March 13, 2026 |
| Effective date | April 14, 2026 |
Impact on Japanese players and enthusiasts
この統合により、一般プレイヤーには以下の実質的な変化が生じる。
- Unification of player registration: Going forward, a single registration with PJ will earn you eligibility to enter domestically sanctioned tournaments
- Development of the tournament system: A nationwide ranking system and a unified tournament calendar are expected to be built
- Dispatch to international tournaments: The selection criteria for Japanese national-team players are clarified, making participation in the Asian Games and the World Cup smoother
- Promotion of grassroots activity: A structure is put in place for PJ to provide unified support for regional promotion activities
In Japan,as seen in Yuta Funamizu’s deal with Diadem,the activity of pro players is also becoming more vigorous. The birth of a unified organization will further accelerate such moves.
業界への波及──国際連携の強化
Pickleball did not reach adoption at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but activity aimed at the 2032 Brisbane Games continues. Because the IOC places importance on a globally unified governing structure for each sport, the unification of organizations in a major country like Japan leads to improved credibility for the sport as a whole.
PJ has stated it will work on the following priorities going forward.
- Strengthening cooperation with the International Pickleball Federation
- Developing the domestic tournament system and expanding sanctioned tournaments
- Building a player-development system from juniors to seniors
- Grassroots promotion activities across the country
- Preparation and advocacy toward Olympic adoption
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official PJ website | pickleball-japan.org |
| Merger announcement page (English) | Official announcement |
| Headquarters address | 4-1-15 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo |
| Player registration | Details to be released in stages on the official website |
今後の確認ポイント
統合発表後、選手および愛好家が確認すべき事項は以下のとおり。
- 既存会員の移行手続き：JPA、PJF既会員がPJへ移行する際の申請方法と期限
- 大会成績・ランキングの扱い：統合前の大会記録やポイントが新体制でどう引き継がれるか
- 海外在住選手の登録：国際連携の詳細や、日本国籍選手の代表選考基準
- 新規大会カレンダーの発表：PJが統合後に公表する全国統一の大会スケジュール
これらの詳細はPJ公式サイトで順次案内される予定であり、最新情報は公式発表を待つ必要があります。
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What happens to my existing JPA or PJF membership?
A. With the merger, guidance on the transition procedures for existing members will be provided in stages on PJ’s official website. New registration is also unified under PJ.
Q. Will results from tournaments sanctioned before the merger carry over to PJ?
A. A separate announcement is expected from PJ regarding the transition policy for tournament records and ranking points. Let’s wait for the official announcement.
Q. Can Japanese players living overseas also register with PJ?
A. PJ lists cooperation with the international federation as a priority and plans to handle the registration and national-team selection of overseas-based players as well. Please check the official website for details.
