{
  "id": 1224666,
  "title": "Pickleball boom arrives in Japan amid push to add sport to 2032 Olympics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/pickleball-boom-arrives-in-japan-amid-push-to-add-sport-to-2032",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-16T07:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260816/p2g/00m/0sp/016000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "TOKYO (Kyodo) - Pickleball, a sport originating in the United States, is rapidly gaining popularity in Japan, with the number of players more than doubling within the past year. Tokyo recently hosted the inaugural Tour Asia games in July, as enthusiasts push for the sport's inclusion in the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia. The game, played on a court identical to badminton courts, involves hitting a perforated, plastic ball with paddles.\n\nApproximately 24.3 million individuals in the United States partake in pickleball, while Japan has only around 330,000 players, according to domestic media. However, this number has surged more than sevenfold in a single year. The Professional Pickleball Association Tour Asia, held in Tachikawa, western Tokyo, in early July, attracted more than 100 professional and over 300 amateur players from the United States and Asia. Princess Hisako, widow of Prince Takamado, attended the final match, which drew large crowds.\n\nYuta Funemizu, a winner of the men's doubles final, believes that Japan can create a wave of pickleball enthusiasm if the sport's fun nature is effectively showcased. In April, two Japanese pickleball associations merged to form the Pickleball Japan Federation, aiming to unify rules, philosophy, and tournament formats globally. This move comes amid a push to include the sport in the 2032 Olympic Games.\n\nRika Riordan, chairperson of the Pickleball Japan Federation, stated that the federation's acceptance into the Japan Sport Association in June will create ties with municipalities and schools, further promoting the sport. Despite the sport's growing popularity in Japan, enthusiasts still face a challenge: the lack of pickleball courts. Riordan emphasized that while pickleball spreads quickly, Japan must catch up by providing more spaces for those curious about the game.",
  "summary": "Pickleball is gaining popularity in Japan, with its domestic player base growing over sevenfold in the past year, according to The Mainichi. The sport is finding a home among Japanese players, particularly in Tokyo.\n\nThe growth of pickleball in Japan comes as the sport is being considered for inclusion in the 2032 Olympics.\n\nJapan's athletes have also had success in other sports, with the country's rhythmic gymnastics team winning silver at the World Championships in Frankfurt, Germany, and securing a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as per Nippon.com News.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}