Beach Handball made its debut at the ‘Japan Beach Games Festival Odaiba 2024’ with a trial event which took place earlier this month on the human-made island of Odaiba, the popular shopping and entertainment district situated in Tokyo Bay.
On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May, ‘Thetis Tokyo’ Beach Handball club showcased the sport with its players and coaching staff engaging young people and adults at the festival which started back in 2017 and which saw over 30,000 people attend over the two days this year.
One of the main aims of the festival, according to its website, is to promote and popularise ‘beach and marine sports competitions in Japan’ which it does by ‘giving the public the opportunity to watch and experience games of various sports through specific events,’ through the creation of a ‘barefoot theme park’ where visitors ‘can experience beach and marine sports, and interact with top athletes, to have the opportunity to experience beach sports more closely’.
Looking to capitalise on the interest from the event in Odaiba, the first Beach Handball tournament organised by Thetis Tokyo will also be held in the Japanese capital, with a celebration of the sport set to take place on Tachihi Beach in Tachikawa City, Tokyo on Sunday 21 July.
“I wanted to create a tournament like the ones I experienced in Europe, where there is a festival atmosphere, but where the games are serious and the players play great,” said founder of Thetis Tokyo and Official Beach Handball Ambassador for the Japan Handball Association (JHA), Rika Yahara, to ihf.info.
“After reading an IHF feature on me a few years ago, a Spanish team invited me to join them which allowed me to participate in various European competitions with them every year.
“At these tournaments I was surprised not only by the high level of the players, but also by the size of the competition and I am very eager to share with Japan what I have experienced in Europe.”
And it was not just what Yahara experienced on the sand in Europe which inspired her to set up her own tournament, but off the sand too.
“When I first competed in European competitions, I was surprised that they often included meals together as in Japan, there are many convenience stores, so each of us buys food there and eats,” she said.
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