# Japan’s companies build pickleball model with teams and leagues 2026-08-14T09:03:41+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Burger King Cup in Tokyo will draw over 800 players from October 11-14, 2026, with 24 courts and more than 10 million yen in prizes. The Pickleball Japan Federation, now recognised by the Japan Sport Association, has named Sansan, Mitsui Fudosan and Kenedix as Grand Slam Partners. A six-team professional PX League, owned by brands such as ASICS, TBS and Mercari, begins a seven-month season in April 2027. Player recruitment runs from August 10-23, followed by a draft, with three men and three women per team competing in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Corporate backing mirrors Japan's tradition of company-owned sports teams. Mitsui Fudosan has added 10 pickleball courts at NEMU Resort. Two players from Sansan's development programme have already signed professional PPA contracts. The federation says the corporate model creates a self-sustaining ecosystem, though whether it can endure remains untested. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com Tags: corporate sports, federation, Japan, league, pickleball Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/japans-companies-build-pickleball-model-with-teams-and-leagues/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/japans-companies-build-pickleball-model-with-teams-and-leagues/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.