[June 2026 Addendum] Pickleball News You Missed | Federation Wins JSPO Approval, MLP's Second Half, and a Wave of New Paddles

The other day I rounded up the news from June 2026 in two parts, a Japan edition and an international edition, and after I had finished writing, one story after another surfaced that had me thinking, ah, I should have put that one in too.

Coach Yoshi here. So today I'm adding on the June "spillover stories" that didn't fit into those two articles, from Japan and abroad together. This month, Japan moved on governance while overseas it was competition and products——that was the shape of it. From the unglamorous but important stuff to the newest gear, let's go through it all at once.

[Japan, Most Important] The Japanese Federation Wins JSPO Recognition

First, a major piece of governance news for the Japanese pickleball world. On June 24, 2026, the Pickleball Japan Federation (a general incorporated foundation) was recognized as an approved organization of the Japan Sport Association (JSPO).

This may sound low-key, but it is in fact a hugely important step. Being approved by JSPO means pickleball is placed inside the "official framework" of Japanese sport. It leads on to building out national championships, developing juniors, strengthening the national team, and laying foundations with future international competition and the Olympics in view. It is a big result of the process that began in April 2026, when the two domestic bodies merged and the new "Pickleball Japan" structure got under way.

💡 Coach Yoshi's tip In the Japan edition I covered the "visible excitement": the new facility in Toyosu, the tournaments. This JSPO approval is about the institution-building going on behind all that. It does not make for a flashy headline, but once foundations like this are in place, a sport stabilizes fast. I think it is the news that marks the turning point where pickleball in Japan moves from a boom to a culture.

[Japan] A Corporate League Kicks Off, and a National Paper Runs a Feature

Two more stories that show how far the sport is spreading in Japan.

The first is the "&BIZ CUP", an inter-company league run by Mitsui Fudosan. With around 130 companies expected to take part, it is one of the largest corporate leagues in the country, and in June the qualifying rounds got properly under way at venues around Tokyo (Hibiya, Toyosu, Roppongi, Akasaka and others). Toray has joined as a main partner, and the final is scheduled for November in Nihonbashi. It is worth watching as a route for the sport to spread among office workers and the business world.

The second is the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) running a feature on pickleball on June 29. A national business daily covering it under lines like "popularity is surging", "the two domestic bodies have merged" and "an Asia tour in July"——after television, you can feel the major media moving too.

[International, Competition] The Second Half of MLP | The Lead Changes Hands Twice

Now for overseas. June's MLP (Major League Pickleball) ran a punishing schedule of four events in a single month. In the international edition I covered two of them, St. Louis and Austin, but there was drama in the back half as well.

At MLP St. Petersburg (Florida) on June 17-21, the St. Louis Shock won their second event in a row. They overwhelmed the LA Mad Drops in the final and rode that momentum to the top of the league. Backing up their first title on home soil in St. Louis with another win, they are in superb form.

——And yet that top spot moved again the very next week. At MLP New York on June 25-28, the New Jersey 5s took the title. They edged past St. Louis on total points to reclaim first place in the standings, and will go into July's mid-season tournament as the No. 1 seed. Halfway through the season, the shape of the top of the table is coming into focus.

[International, Data and Governance] The Numbers and the Rules Moved Too

Behind the competition, there were bigger-picture developments as well.

On June 4, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) published its 2026 report devoted to pickleball. It reported that 24.3 million people played in 2025. That is more than five times the 2020 figure, with the share of women rising to around 43%. The numbers show the market widening from "something for a subset of enthusiasts" to "a sport for everyone" (for the situation in Japan, see Latest Pickleball Trends in Japan as well).

Then on June 27, the APP's Asia Tour was officially sanctioned by Asia's governing body. It is a move that folds the region's pro circuit into the official competitive structure, and the framework for professional events across Asia, Japan included, is steadily taking shape. An Asian qualifier is coming up in Utsunomiya in July as well. Asia is heating up.

[International, Gear] A Steady Stream of New Paddles in June

Finally, some news for the gear enthusiasts. In the international edition I covered the review (and delisting) of USA Pickleball paddle certifications, but June was, conversely, also a month of "a new-product rush".

• Selkirk Omni (6/2): The successor to the popular "Boomstik". An all-court model with a full-foam construction.
• 11Six24 Power 2 Ultré (6/12): A step-up version pairing a new shape with the durable "HexGrit" texture.
• FLiK F3: A new model chasing "innovation" at an affordable price point.

Behind all of it is the biggest trend of 2026, "the shift to full-foam cores (Gen4)". What's inside a paddle is going through another big evolution right now. I have laid out where each brand stands and what they can do in my complete comparison of the major brands, so it makes for interesting reading alongside this.

Summary

• Japan: The Japanese federation gained JSPO approval (6/24) = a big step in building the institutional base. The "&BIZ CUP" corporate league launched, and the Nikkei ran a feature
• International (competition): MLP held four events in June. St. Louis went top with back-to-back wins, then New Jersey took first place back at the end of the month
• International (data and governance): SFIA reported 24.3 million players (6/4), and the APP Asia Tour was officially sanctioned (6/27)
• International (gear): A stream of new paddles including the Selkirk Omni. The move to full foam is the biggest trend of 2026

Governance took a step forward and the equipment took a step up——that was June for you. Next month, what I am looking forward to most is how the Japanese players fare at the Asian qualifier in Utsunomiya. I'll gather it all up and bring it to you again.

Related Articles

• [June 2026] International Pickleball News Roundup — the international edition (main article)
• [June 2026] Japan Pickleball News Roundup — the Japan edition (main article)
• [May 2026] International Pickleball News Roundup — last month's issue
• MLP and the PPA Tour: How Professional Pickleball Works — how the pro scene is structured
• Complete Comparison of the Major Brands — 7 brands laid out at a glance
• Latest Pickleball Trends in Japan — how the sport is spreading at home

References

1. Pickleball Japan Federation — PJ×JSPO (JSPO approval)
2. The Dink — St. Louis Shock win MLP St. Petersburg
3. The Kitchen — MLP New York recap (Week 6)
4. The Kitchen — 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025 (SFIA)
5. The Dink — APP Asia Tour announcement
6. Mitsui Fudosan — Inter-company pickleball &BIZ CUP