Official Announcement of Japan's Esports Team for the 20th Asian Games (2026/Aichi-Nagoya)

The Japan Esports Union (JESU), chaired by Hideki Hayakawa, announces the official selection of 25 Japanese athletes for the esports competitions at the 20th Asian Games (2026/Aichi-Nagoya), opening on Saturday, September 19.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is one of Asia’s largest multi-sport events, with participation from 45 countries and regions across Asia. Esports, as an official medal event, will be held over 10 days from Wednesday, September 23 (a national holiday) to Friday, October 2, featuring 11 disciplines across 13 titles.

As the central governing body for esports in Japan, JESU has been responsible for selecting and recommending candidate athletes for the Japanese national team to the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC). The JOC has now completed its certification process, officially announcing TEAM JAPAN for this event.

The 25 Japanese national team athletes and 4 coaches competing in 7 disciplines across 9 titles at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are as follows:

<Japan National Team Members for the 20th Asian Games (2026/Aichi-Nagoya) – Esports Competition>

eFootball™

Name

Player Name

Team

Platform/Role

Eikoya Kida

Tess

KIWOOM DRX

PC

Yuga Chaya

lemon-pop

Nagoya NTPOJA

Mobile

Shunpei Hashiki

Ax

KIWOOM DRX

Coach

Fighting Game Team Event

Name

Player Name

Team

Title

Kojiro Higuchi

higuchi

ZETA DIVISION

Street Fighter 6

Daichi Nakayama

NOBI

TeamYAMASA

Tekken 8

Akito Sawada

SCORE

AMATERASU GAMING

THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV

Gran Turismo 7

Name

Ryota Kokubun

Identity V: Fifth Personality - Asian Games Version

Identity V - Asian Games Version

Name

Player Name

Team

Position/Role

Yuto Awata

Unpyi

REJECT

Survivor (Stalker)

Mao Uenaka

Katsuki

FENNEL

Survivor (Chaser)

Ryo Kameda

Soba

REJECT

Survivor (Commander)

Masumi Konuma

City

REJECT

Survivor (Rescuer)

Kentarou Maeda

maeken

FENNEL

Survivor (Rescuer, Sub)

Kiyoyuki Kamimura

Aka

REJECT

Hunter

Ryuyo Ohyama

yukakina

Arneb with WoG

Hunter

Shunki Mikami

Toki

AXIZ WAVE

Coach

Pokémon UNITE

Name

Player Name

Team

Position/Role

Kairi Toba

b1

FENNEL

Defense

Yudai Osekiko

Mame

FENNEL

Support

Rentaro Azuma

ak1

FENNEL

Central Area

Yoshiki Takada

py1

FENNEL

Top Lane

Hiroki Sato

piui

REJECT

Bottom Lane

Masakatsu Shirakawa

Ma・sh1o

FENNEL

Bottom Lane

Haruki Yoshikura

TON・GG

Coach

PUBG MOBILE - Asian Games Version

Name

Player Name

Team

Role

Tomoki Ishikawa

REX

MAKING THE ROAD

Toma Adachi

Aibou Saikyou

MAKING THE ROAD

Tetsusen Shoda

PINEkuu

MAKING THE ROAD

Eigo Toda

Garnet

MAKING THE ROAD

Daisuke Ohashi

Apollo

REJECT

Taiki Mochizuki

MimoriN

REJECT

Coach

Puyo Puyo Esports

Name

Player Name

Team

Yuki Kurihara

yuki

Tokyo Verdy Esports

Information regarding the Japanese national team members, esports competition schedules, and other details related to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games esports events are available on JESU’s dedicated website. Tickets for the event are currently on general sale—please come to the venue and cheer on TEAM JAPAN!

https://jesu.or.jp/ag2026/

To maximize athlete performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, JESU will conduct various athlete development initiatives, including international practice matches, integrity training to promote athlete awareness, and intensive training camps at the Japan Sport Council (JSC) High Performance Sports Center (HPSC) and the Ajinomoto National Training Center (NTC).

JESU will continue to support the dispatch of Japanese athletes to international competitions such as the Asian Games, further expanding opportunities for Japanese players to excel globally. The organization will also strive to develop gold medalists from Japan in esports at the 20th Asian Games.

About the Japan Esports Union (JESU)

The Japan Esports Union (JESU) is a general incorporated association dedicated to promoting, developing, and advancing esports in Japan. JESU aims to enhance competitive skills among the public—especially youth—and promote sportsmanship. To increase awareness of esports and expand opportunities for esports athletes, JESU conducts various initiatives, including official recognition of game titles, issuance of professional player licenses, and dispatching athletes to international esports events such as the Asian Games. JESU also works with the following sponsor organizations to support the growth of Japan’s esports industry. (As of August 2025, the organization changed its name from “Japan Esports Federation” to “Japan Esports Union.”)

Supporting Foundations: The Uekatsu Foundation (General Foundation), Mizuno Sports Promotion Foundation (Public Interest Foundation)

Cooperation: Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA)

Japan Online Game Association (JOGA)

Endorsement: Japan Amusement Industry Association (JAIA)

Association for Media Development (AMD)