Leifras Launches Next-Gen Youth Soccer Academy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 26 2026
0mins
Source: PRnewswire
- Youth Sports Innovation: Leifras, in collaboration with renowned dribble designer Masakazu Okabe, is launching the '1v1 DRIBBLE ACADEMY D-UNLOCK' in June 2026 across six schools in Tokyo, aiming to enhance children's confidence and technical skills through world-class dribbling techniques, thereby setting a new standard in Japanese youth soccer education.
- Systematization of Dribbling Theory: Okabe's '99% Unstoppable Dribble Theory' is being integrated into a structured curriculum for the first time, leveraging his influence with over 2.4 million social media followers to provide scientifically-backed dribbling training methods that help young athletes excel in competition.
- Promotion of Challenge Culture: The D-UNLOCK program is set to expand beyond Tokyo to major cities nationwide, aiming to cultivate children's courage in facing challenges and encouraging them to view failure as a stepping stone to growth, thus transforming the culture of youth sports in Japan.
- Holistic Educational Approach: Leifras emphasizes the development of non-cognitive skills through its teaching principle of 'acknowledge, praise, encourage, and motivate,' integrating physical and mental development to create a unique competitive advantage in youth sports education and enhance children's overall quality.
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About LFS
Leifras Co Ltd is a Tokyo-based company mainly engaged in the children's sports school business and school club support business. It operates in two divisions. The sports division includes the sports school business, event business, and alliance business. The sports school business operates sports schools. The event business aims to develop children's human skills and revitalize local communities through sports and other experiential activities and events. The alliance business partners with professional sports teams and operates joint schools. The social division includes the school club support business, which provides sports coaching in school club activities and physical education classes, the community collaboration business, which promotes local sports, the LEIF after-school day care service business, which supports children with disabilities and developmental characteristics through soccer therapy, and the healthcare business, which provides exercise programs for the elderly.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
LEIFRAS Partners with BLUELOCK to Enhance Youth Engagement
- Strategic Partnership Announcement: LEIFRAS has officially partnered with the globally recognized soccer manga BLUELOCK, planning to launch the inaugural SIX SHOOT tournament on August 10, 2026, aimed at enhancing youth engagement in soccer and increasing brand visibility, which is expected to attract a large number of young athletes.
- Innovative Tournament Structure: SIX SHOOT focuses on shooting and goal scoring, gathering elite youth strikers to showcase their clinical finishing abilities across six diverse shooting scenarios, competing for the title of 'Generation's No. 1 Striker,' thereby promoting the development of youth soccer.
- Cultural Value Alignment: This collaboration reflects the shared vision of BLUELOCK and SIX SHOOT in fostering top strikers, while also enhancing their influence in the youth market through core messages that inspire young people to surpass themselves and strive for excellence.
- Global Expansion Outlook: LEIFRAS plans to systematically expand the SIX SHOOT platform domestically and internationally through age-graded tournaments, regional and national championships, leveraging its industry-leading presence across approximately 4,500 locations to promote comprehensive youth sports development.
See More
LEIFRAS Expands Developmental Support Services
- Network Expansion: LEIFRAS opened nine new facilities between April and May 2026, increasing its nationwide network from 20 to 29 locations, significantly enhancing its market coverage in the developmental support sector for children and strengthening its position as part of social infrastructure.
- Acquisition Integration: By acquiring four existing facilities in the Miyagi area, LEIFRAS successfully launched two new brands, “FLEI” and “ILFE,” which will help integrate its traditional sports care model with cognitive and practical learning support, enhancing service personalization and relevance.
- Building Mental Resilience: Since 2019, LEIFRAS has focused on team sports through its “LEIF” after-school care service, helping children build confidence and resilience in the face of setbacks, with parents reporting positive changes in their children's communication and willingness to try new things.
- Future Outlook: LEIFRAS expects the scalability and operational efficiency of its developmental support sector to serve as a key driver for achieving its consolidated earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, further solidifying its leadership position in the industry.
See More
LEIFRAS Expands Developmental Support Services
- Network Expansion: LEIFRAS opened nine new facilities between April and May 2026, increasing its nationwide network from 20 to 29 locations, significantly enhancing its market coverage in the developmental support sector for children and expected to strengthen its role as part of social infrastructure.
- Acquisition and Brand Launch: Through an acquisition in the Miyagi area, LEIFRAS took over four existing facilities and successfully launched two new brands, “FLEI” and “ILFE,” focusing on movement-based and independent learning support, thereby enriching its service offerings to meet diverse children's needs.
- Fostering Resilience: Since 2019, LEIFRAS has been operating the “LEIF” after-school care service, utilizing team sports to help children build confidence and resilience, with parents reporting increased willingness among participating children to try again after setbacks, thus promoting social participation.
- Future Outlook: LEIFRAS anticipates that the scalability and synergy of its developmental support sector will serve as a powerful driver toward achieving its consolidated earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, further solidifying its leadership in children's sports education.
See More
Leifras Expands to Capture Growth in Japan's Club Activity Market
- Strategic Milestone: Leifras has signed outsourcing contracts with 24 local governments and 8 private junior high schools for fiscal year 2026, marking a significant enhancement of its market position in youth sports and community engagement, which is expected to drive long-term sustainable growth.
- Market Potential: The school club activity market in Japan is estimated at approximately JPY 500 billion, with 30.4% of weekend activities expected to transition to local and private sectors in fiscal year 2026, presenting substantial business opportunities for Leifras amid educational reforms.
- Urban Expansion: The contracts secured by Leifras span a broad geographical area from rural cities to the 23 special wards of Tokyo, including densely populated areas like Ota Ward and Kawasaki City, creating new revenue opportunities in major urban markets.
- Future Outlook: Leifras plans to deepen partnerships with local governments to address critical social issues such as work-style reforms for teachers while supporting youth development, with the successful acquisition of these contracts anticipated to drive the company towards achieving its consolidated earnings forecast for fiscal year 2026.
See More
Leifras Launches Next-Gen Youth Soccer Academy
- Youth Sports Innovation: Leifras, in collaboration with renowned dribble designer Masakazu Okabe, is launching the '1v1 DRIBBLE ACADEMY D-UNLOCK' in June 2026 across six schools in Tokyo, aiming to enhance children's confidence and technical skills through world-class dribbling techniques, thereby setting a new standard in Japanese youth soccer education.
- Systematization of Dribbling Theory: Okabe's '99% Unstoppable Dribble Theory' is being integrated into a structured curriculum for the first time, leveraging his influence with over 2.4 million social media followers to provide scientifically-backed dribbling training methods that help young athletes excel in competition.
- Promotion of Challenge Culture: The D-UNLOCK program is set to expand beyond Tokyo to major cities nationwide, aiming to cultivate children's courage in facing challenges and encouraging them to view failure as a stepping stone to growth, thus transforming the culture of youth sports in Japan.
- Holistic Educational Approach: Leifras emphasizes the development of non-cognitive skills through its teaching principle of 'acknowledge, praise, encourage, and motivate,' integrating physical and mental development to create a unique competitive advantage in youth sports education and enhance children's overall quality.
See More
Leifras to Acquire Tokai Sports School Operator
- Acquisition Agreement: Leifras (LFS) announced on Thursday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% equity interest in Japan-based Tokai Sports, effective June 1, 2026, thereby strengthening its market position in the sports school sector.
- Market Expansion Potential: Tokai Sports serves approximately 1,200 sports school members and operates around 20 affiliated kindergartens and daycare centers in the Nagoya and Owariasahi areas, enhancing Leifras' influence in these key markets through the acquisition.
- Strategic Significance: This acquisition not only allows Leifras to broaden its business scope but also aims to improve overall operational efficiency and market competitiveness by integrating Tokai Sports' resources and customer base.
- Future Outlook: Leifras anticipates that acquiring Tokai Sports will enable it to capture a larger share of the Japanese sports education market, further driving the company's long-term growth and profitability.
See More
LEIFRAS Partners with BLUELOCK to Enhance Youth Engagement
- Strategic Partnership Announcement: LEIFRAS has officially partnered with the globally recognized soccer manga BLUELOCK, planning to launch the inaugural SIX SHOOT tournament on August 10, 2026, aimed at enhancing youth engagement in soccer and increasing brand visibility, which is expected to attract a large number of young athletes.
- Innovative Tournament Structure: SIX SHOOT focuses on shooting and goal scoring, gathering elite youth strikers to showcase their clinical finishing abilities across six diverse shooting scenarios, competing for the title of 'Generation's No. 1 Striker,' thereby promoting the development of youth soccer.
- Cultural Value Alignment: This collaboration reflects the shared vision of BLUELOCK and SIX SHOOT in fostering top strikers, while also enhancing their influence in the youth market through core messages that inspire young people to surpass themselves and strive for excellence.
- Global Expansion Outlook: LEIFRAS plans to systematically expand the SIX SHOOT platform domestically and internationally through age-graded tournaments, regional and national championships, leveraging its industry-leading presence across approximately 4,500 locations to promote comprehensive youth sports development.
See More
LEIFRAS Expands Developmental Support Services
- Network Expansion: LEIFRAS opened nine new facilities between April and May 2026, increasing its nationwide network from 20 to 29 locations, significantly enhancing its market coverage in the developmental support sector for children and strengthening its position as part of social infrastructure.
- Acquisition Integration: By acquiring four existing facilities in the Miyagi area, LEIFRAS successfully launched two new brands, “FLEI” and “ILFE,” which will help integrate its traditional sports care model with cognitive and practical learning support, enhancing service personalization and relevance.
- Building Mental Resilience: Since 2019, LEIFRAS has focused on team sports through its “LEIF” after-school care service, helping children build confidence and resilience in the face of setbacks, with parents reporting positive changes in their children's communication and willingness to try new things.
- Future Outlook: LEIFRAS expects the scalability and operational efficiency of its developmental support sector to serve as a key driver for achieving its consolidated earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, further solidifying its leadership position in the industry.
See More
LEIFRAS Expands Developmental Support Services
- Network Expansion: LEIFRAS opened nine new facilities between April and May 2026, increasing its nationwide network from 20 to 29 locations, significantly enhancing its market coverage in the developmental support sector for children and expected to strengthen its role as part of social infrastructure.
- Acquisition and Brand Launch: Through an acquisition in the Miyagi area, LEIFRAS took over four existing facilities and successfully launched two new brands, “FLEI” and “ILFE,” focusing on movement-based and independent learning support, thereby enriching its service offerings to meet diverse children's needs.
- Fostering Resilience: Since 2019, LEIFRAS has been operating the “LEIF” after-school care service, utilizing team sports to help children build confidence and resilience, with parents reporting increased willingness among participating children to try again after setbacks, thus promoting social participation.
- Future Outlook: LEIFRAS anticipates that the scalability and synergy of its developmental support sector will serve as a powerful driver toward achieving its consolidated earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, further solidifying its leadership in children's sports education.
See More
Leifras Expands to Capture Growth in Japan's Club Activity Market
- Strategic Milestone: Leifras has signed outsourcing contracts with 24 local governments and 8 private junior high schools for fiscal year 2026, marking a significant enhancement of its market position in youth sports and community engagement, which is expected to drive long-term sustainable growth.
- Market Potential: The school club activity market in Japan is estimated at approximately JPY 500 billion, with 30.4% of weekend activities expected to transition to local and private sectors in fiscal year 2026, presenting substantial business opportunities for Leifras amid educational reforms.
- Urban Expansion: The contracts secured by Leifras span a broad geographical area from rural cities to the 23 special wards of Tokyo, including densely populated areas like Ota Ward and Kawasaki City, creating new revenue opportunities in major urban markets.
- Future Outlook: Leifras plans to deepen partnerships with local governments to address critical social issues such as work-style reforms for teachers while supporting youth development, with the successful acquisition of these contracts anticipated to drive the company towards achieving its consolidated earnings forecast for fiscal year 2026.
See More
Leifras Launches Next-Gen Youth Soccer Academy
- Youth Sports Innovation: Leifras, in collaboration with renowned dribble designer Masakazu Okabe, is launching the '1v1 DRIBBLE ACADEMY D-UNLOCK' in June 2026 across six schools in Tokyo, aiming to enhance children's confidence and technical skills through world-class dribbling techniques, thereby setting a new standard in Japanese youth soccer education.
- Systematization of Dribbling Theory: Okabe's '99% Unstoppable Dribble Theory' is being integrated into a structured curriculum for the first time, leveraging his influence with over 2.4 million social media followers to provide scientifically-backed dribbling training methods that help young athletes excel in competition.
- Promotion of Challenge Culture: The D-UNLOCK program is set to expand beyond Tokyo to major cities nationwide, aiming to cultivate children's courage in facing challenges and encouraging them to view failure as a stepping stone to growth, thus transforming the culture of youth sports in Japan.
- Holistic Educational Approach: Leifras emphasizes the development of non-cognitive skills through its teaching principle of 'acknowledge, praise, encourage, and motivate,' integrating physical and mental development to create a unique competitive advantage in youth sports education and enhance children's overall quality.
See More
Leifras to Acquire Tokai Sports School Operator
- Acquisition Agreement: Leifras (LFS) announced on Thursday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% equity interest in Japan-based Tokai Sports, effective June 1, 2026, thereby strengthening its market position in the sports school sector.
- Market Expansion Potential: Tokai Sports serves approximately 1,200 sports school members and operates around 20 affiliated kindergartens and daycare centers in the Nagoya and Owariasahi areas, enhancing Leifras' influence in these key markets through the acquisition.
- Strategic Significance: This acquisition not only allows Leifras to broaden its business scope but also aims to improve overall operational efficiency and market competitiveness by integrating Tokai Sports' resources and customer base.
- Future Outlook: Leifras anticipates that acquiring Tokai Sports will enable it to capture a larger share of the Japanese sports education market, further driving the company's long-term growth and profitability.
See More
