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The Japan e-Sports Union (JeSU), chaired by Hideki Hayakawa, has been approved as an associate member of the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC). This membership will be effective until March 31, 2027, and aims to ensure the successful participation of athletes in the 20th Asian Games scheduled for 2026. [Thanks, JeSU]
You can view the full announcement post below:
JeSU was established to unify various organizations and support the dispatch of Japanese e-sports athletes to the 18th Asian Games in 2018. Since then, JeSU has made significant strides in the e-sports arena. In 2023, JeSU recommended candidates for the e-sports events at the 19th Asian Games (2022) and the 2nd East Asian Youth Games (2023), where Japanese athletes won gold and bronze medals. These achievements earned them the TEAM JAPAN Commander’s Award from the JOC.
JeSU joined the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) in January 2021 and has consistently sent athletes to international competitions under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Additionally, JeSU engages in educational activities, such as anti-doping training for e-sports players.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has shown increased interest in e-sports, recognizing it as part of the urban sports movement. Events like the “Olympic Virtual Series” in 2021 and the “Olympic eSports Series” in 2023 have drawn significant global attention. An e-sports commission within the IOC is expected to further promote the sport.
As e-sports becomes an official event at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, JeSU will work to enhance the competitiveness of Japanese athletes and expand the e-sports base in Japan. This effort aims to contribute to the nation’s health and economic development.
JeSU athletes will participate in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, in 2026.
