Japan Frescoball Association (JFBA) Launches Special Website for 'Frescoball Rikuzentakata Cup 2026' to Be Held in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture on August 8–9, Highlighting the Kudzu Problem Devastating Takata Matsubara

The Japan Frescoball Association (JFBA), a general incorporated association promoting the domestic spread of 'frescoball'—a traveling, communication-design sport—announces the launch of the special website for the 'Frescoball Rikuzentakata Cup 2026,' to be held in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, on August 8–9, 2026.

https://www.frescoball.org/rikuzen2026/

The tournament, themed 'Revitalizing Communities from the Waterfront,' is supported by the 'Waterfront Kizuna Project 2026,' which supports various waterfront activities in disaster-affected areas. This marks the third consecutive year the event has received support from the project. In 2024, the JFBA passed down the local tsunami survival principle 'Tsunami Tendenko' to frescoball players nationwide. In 2025, in collaboration with students from Iwate University, the association developed and promoted a list of 'Disaster Preparedness Items to Bring to the Beach.' This year, the focus is on the 'Kudzu Damage at Takata Matsubara,' highlighting on the special website the reality that kudzu vines are entangling and killing pine trees that once appeared to be growing well.

At a pre-event held in May, the JFBA collaborated with the JFBA-certified regional club 'Sanriku Frescoball Club' and, under the lecture by the Vice President of the NPO Corporation 'Mori no Kai' (Association to Protect Takata Matsubara), addressed the kudzu issue and conducted actual kudzu removal activities. During the August tournament, insights gained from these pre-activities will be presented in a halftime show, aiming to convey the real situation of Rikuzentakata to frescoball players.

An upgraded event designed not only for disaster prevention and mitigation but also to raise awareness of coastal environmental conservation—the fifth consecutive official frescoball competition in Rikuzentakata returns once again this year.

Event Overview

Name: Frescoball Rikuzentakata Cup 2026

Date: August 8 (Sat) – 9 (Sun), 2026

Venue: Takata Matsubara Beach, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture

Organizer: Japan Frescoball Association (JFBA)

Cooperation: Sanriku Frescoball Club, Kesennuma Frescoball Club

Support: Rikuzentakata City, Tokai Shinbunsha Co., Ltd.

What is Frescoball? 'A Traveling, Communication-Design Sport'

Frescoball is a beach sport originating in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Invented in 1945 at Copacabana Beach, it is now enjoyed on beaches around the world. The most distinctive feature of frescoball is that it is a cooperative rally-based scoring sport, where two players face each other not to compete, but to sustain rallies together. Matches last 5 minutes, with players maintaining a distance of 7 meters. Because of its emphasis on cooperation, it is also known as the 'sport of empathy.' In October 2025, JFBA reached a basic agreement with the Rio Frescoball Federation (FEFERJ) to establish UAFI, the world’s first international organization for standardizing global rules. Additionally, building on Japan’s unique frescoball culture of 'enjoying frescoball year-round, like traveling,' JFBA is strengthening its promotion of the sport as highly compatible with sports tourism. Domestically, 29 certified regional clubs and 6 certified student groups are currently registered.