On 16 April, the application for registration for the Japan Beach Soccer Federation (JBSF) as a general incorporated foundation was accepted. JBSF held a press conference at JFA House.

JBSF aims to broaden the base of beach soccer in Japan by environment improvement and dissemination of beach soccer through collaborating with local football associations all over Japan. This year, JBSF plans to promote launching of 6 regional leagues in Kanto, Kitashinetsu, Tokai, Kansai, Chugoku, and Kyusyu, and to hold an annual championship amongst the top teams of the regional leagues.

Comments

NAGAYO Hiroyuki, President of JBSF
Playing with barefoot is the characteristic of beach soccer. This is the sport you can enjoy with all of your 5 senses. Beach soccer has a good educational effect so we will start working on spreading beach soccer to children.

NISHIWAKI Kazuyuki, Secretary General of JBSF
The logo for JBSF is comprised of a red sun, blue sea, yellow sand, green plants, and sunset orange. This expresses one characteristic of beach soccer that we play soccer with feeling of nature around us. As this logo includes various aspects of nature, JBSF is willing to play a role for the various actors such as players, supporters and many of local areas to promote beach soccer.

Marcelo MENDES, Head Coach of Japan National Beach Soccer Team
In Brazil, children play beach soccer from age 5-6 so I want Japanese children to start beach soccer, too. Comparing to football, beach soccer is said to have less risk of getting injured since it is played barefoot on the sandy beach. I hope that there will be a culture that adults take kids to beaches and will play beach soccer in the future.

MOREIRA Ozu, Player of TOKYO LEQUIOS BS
We beach soccer players are very happy about the birth of JBSF. As a squad player, I want to contribute to extend beach soccer to Japanese people by having more chances to tell children about beach soccer basics and also about how fun beach soccer.