International Exchanges, Flexible Accommodation Mix Set to Be Intangible, Tangible Legacies

The Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is set to begin on Saturday, offering an opportunity for international exchanges and strengthening friendships beyond borders. This two-week sporting event will involve over 10 countries and regions, including Saudi Arabia and Thailand, holding training camps across Japan. One notable example is the Philippine national women’s softball team, which recently visited Nihon Fukushi University in Mihama, Aichi Prefecture, to train with the university’s women’s softball team.

The players from both countries practiced catch in pairs and engaged in various drills, with the university team members offering batting tips and using translation apps to communicate with each other. After the training, the Philippine players bonded over sweets and shared stories about their favorite music. Some of the relationships formed during the camp have persisted even after the camp ended.

The university team captain, Yura Higuchi, noted that her teammate Sayaka Tage and a Philippine teammate, Alyssa Daniell, have remained close friends and continue to communicate on social media. Another player, Mylia Perez, expressed her joy at reuniting with old friends during the second training camp in early September. Both the Philippine and Nihon Fukushi players plan to attend and cheer on the Philippine team during their games.

The host cities, Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, aim to leave an "intangible legacy" through the sporting extravaganza by promoting international exchanges. More than 10 countries and regions have held camps in various locations across Japan, such as Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture; Kurobe, Toyama Prefecture; Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture; and Tosu, Saga Prefecture.

Taiwan’s archery team also met with university students in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, in July. Organizers of the upcoming Games are focusing on leaving a "hardware" legacy, including the development of sustainable facilities. They have utilized container-type facilities, a cruise ship, and existing hotels to accommodate athlete delegations, with 200 container units lined up at the Port of Nagoya.

These units can serve various purposes, such as hotels during normal times and temporary emergency housing in case of a disaster. By reusing these facilities instead of constructing a new athletes village, the Games organizers aim to minimize hosting costs and avoid the issue of unused facilities after past Games.