SHIMADZU Breakers Tennis Team
Passionate Performances in Team and Individual Events

The SHIMADZU Breakers (hereafter, “Breakers”) tennis team competed in the final tournament of the 40th Japan Tennis League in February and the 61st Shimadzu All Japan Indoor Tennis Championships in March. The team’s seven players—four professionals and three employee players—delivered strong performances in both the team and individual competitions.

 

Breakers Finish Runners-up in the 40th Japan Tennis League

At the final tournament of the 40th Japan Tennis League, held in Yokohama from February 13 to 15, six top women’s corporate teams that had advanced through the qualifying blocks in December 2025 and January 2026 competed for the title.

Members of the Breakers that finished as runners-up in the 40th Japan Tennis League. Front row (left to right): Nagisa Suzuki, Ikumi Yamazaki, Anri Nagata, Hiroko Kuwata, Coach Ari Matsumoto. Back row (left to right): Haruka Kaji, Rina Komokata, Karen Tsutsumi, Head Coach Megumi Nishimoto. Note: Titles are as of the time of the tournament

After defeating Hashimoto Sogyo 2–1 in the semifinals on February 14, the Breakers advanced to the final on the 15th against Hashimoto Sogyo Holdings with the same team lineup. In the No. 2 singles match, Ikumi Yamazaki faced higher-ranked Kyoka Okamura. Although Yamazaki disrupted her opponent’s rhythm early on with sharply angled shots, she was unable to contain her opponent’s powerful forehand and lost 4–6, 1–6.

Next, ace player Haruka Kaji took to the court against Himeno Sakatsume, aiming to turn the match around. Kaji took an early 5–2 lead with consistent rallies that made full use of the court. However, under pressure from her opponent’s persistent and tenacious footwork, the match slipped away and Kaji lost the first set 6–7(5); in the second set, she was unable to halt her opponent’s momentum and was defeated 0–6. As a result, the Shimadzu team finished as runners-up.

In doubles, Hiroko Kuwata and Nagisa Suzuki created scoring opportunities with aggressive volleys and steady cross-court rallies against Kanako Morisaki and Momoko Kobori, but were outmaneuvered and lost 5–7, 3–6.

Doubles: Hiroko Kuwata (left) and Nagisa Suzuki

In the individual categories, Yamazaki received the Most Valuable Player award; Suzuki received both the Rookie of the Year and Outstanding Player awards; and Kuwata received the Outstanding Player award. In addition, a special award commemorating the 40th tournament was presented to teams with 30 or more appearances; the Breakers were recognized for their 35 appearances.

Employees from the Kanto region and Kyoto came to support the team
 

• *Photo for “Breakers finish runners-up in the 40th Japan Tennis League”: ⓒYoshiteru Nagahama

The 61st Shimadzu All Japan Indoor Tennis Championships

Tournament poster displayed at JR Emmachi Station, the nearest station to the venue

The 61st Shimadzu All Japan Indoor Tennis Championships, for which Shimadzu serves as a special sponsor, was held from March 3 to 15 at Shimadzu Arena Kyoto (Kyoto Prefectural Gymnasium). The men’s competition was held as a domestic tournament with total prize money of 6 million yen, while the women’s competition was staged as an international tournament with total prize money of USD 60,000; all seven Breakers players took part.

Haruka Kaji

The Breakers members achieved the following results: Kaji reached the singles quarterfinals, while the pairs Kuwata/Yamazaki and Nagata/Hikaru Sato (independent professional) advanced to the doubles quarterfinals.

On the final day of the tournament, two special events were held prior to the women’s singles final. At the tennis clinic, held again this year following last year’s event, former professional tennis player Shuzo Matsuoka was invited as a coach and delivered spirited instruction to participants with tennis experience from the fourth grade of elementary school and above.

Afterward, the dance club from Kyoto Prefectural Yamashiro High School performed a powerful and unified dance routine that energized the crowd.

The winners of the 61st Shimadzu All Japan Indoor Tennis Championships are as follows:

Two Professional Tennis Players Join the Team!

On April 1, Hikaru Sato and Hiromi Abe, who turned professional in 2024 and 2022, respectively, joined the Breakers. We received these comments from the two players.

*Photos for “The 61st Shimadzu All Japan Indoor Tennis Championships” and “Two Professional Tennis Players Join the Team!”: ©MANO,Hiromasa / Kyoto Tennis Association (excluding the photo of Emmachi Station)