Industry-Academia Collaboration Aims to Address the Growing Shift of School Club Activities to Local Communities
TOKYO, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: LFS) (the "Company" or "Leifras"), a sports and social business company dedicated to youth sports and community engagement, today announced that on March 13, 2026, it entered into a comprehensive partnership agreement (the "Agreement") with Sanko Gakuen Educational Corporation ("Sanko Gakuen"), a nationwide operator of vocational schools and other institutions in Japan, to develop next-generation sports business talents. The Agreement will become effective on April 1, 2026.
By combining the resources of both parties, the partnership will provide practical learning and career opportunities for students seeking to enter the sports industry. The partnership is designed to cultivate talents who will contribute to solving social issues, such as the worsening shortage of sports instructors, and supporting Japan's transition of school club activities to local communities.
Background of the Agreement: Urgent Need to Develop the Next Generation of Sports Talent
Japan's sports education environment is currently at a turning point. In particular, the government's initiative to "shift club activities to local communities" is reducing the burden on teachers, but the shortage of high-quality sports instructors and management personnel who can support local communities is becoming a serious social issue. In response, Leifras, which has an established track record of operating sports schools nationwide, and Sanko Gakuen, which has diverse human resource development know-how, have teamed up to launch this practical industry-academia collaboration project to develop the sports industry and contribute to local communities.
Collaboration Overview: Providing Practical Learning Experience
The collaboration will provide students at Sanko Gakuen with practical experience in "real sports business and coaching situations" beyond traditional classroom learning. The main details of the collaboration are as follows:
- On-site internships and participation in local joint projects: Students of Sanko Gakuen will have the opportunities to participate in internships at facilities operated by Leifras and directly in the planning and management of local joint projects, gaining direct exposure to operational practices in the sports industry.
- Joint operation of a sports school utilizing campus facilities: Leifras plans to operate its sports school at Sanko Gakuen's facilities, providing students with a place to gain practical coaching experience.
- Providing a career path for club activity instructors: Students who complete the "Bukatsu Seminar" e-learning course for training club activity instructors will have opportunities to connect with and be guided by Leifras' nationwide club activity support business, providing them with direct opportunities to work after graduation.
- Collaboration in public relations and recruitment activities: Leifras and Sanko Gakuen also plan to collaborate in recruiting students who are interested in careers in the sports industry. Both parties have agreed to the mutual use of each other's logos in such activities. Sanko Gakuen has also agreed to invite Leifras as a guest at open campus events.
Future Outlook: Realizing Sustainable Development of Local Communities Through Sports
Through this collaboration, Leifras intends to establish a sustainable pipeline of sports industry professionals who can contribute to local communities through the power of sports. The Company plans to continue to deepen its collaboration with educational institutions and promote social business to support the transformation of Japan's sports education environment into a sustainable one.
Summary of the Agreement
Agreement name: Comprehensive collaboration agreement on developing next-generation sports business talent
Signing date: March 13, 2026
Signed by: Kiyotaka Ito, CEO of Leifras Co., Ltd., and Satoshi Torii, Chairman of the Board of Sanko Gakuen Educational Corporation
About Sanko Gakuen Educational Corporation
Sanko Gakuen Educational Corporation is a comprehensive educational corporation group that operates vocational schools, universities, junior colleges, high schools, and childcare facilities nationwide, with the educational philosophy of "harmony between skills and mind." Sanko Gakuen cultivates work-ready professionals through practical education in a wide range of fields, including sports, medicine, welfare, beauty, bridal, childcare, and IT.
Corporate name: Sanko Gakuen Educational Corporation
Address: 23-16 Hongo 3-chome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Chairman Satoshi Torii
Established: March 1985
Business details: Operation of vocational schools, universities, junior colleges, high schools, childcare facilities, etc.
Official website: https://www.sanko.ac.jp/.
About LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Leifras is a sports and social business company dedicated to youth sports and community engagement. The Company primarily provides services related to the organization and operations of sports schools and sports events for children. As of December 31, 2024, Leifras was recognized as one of Japan's largest operators of children's sports schools in terms of both membership and facilities by Tokyo Shoko Research. The Company's approach to sports education emphasizes the development of non-cognitive skills, following the teaching principle "acknowledge, praise, encourage, and motivate." The holistic approach that integrates physical and mental development sets Leifras apart in the industry. Building upon deep experience and know-how in sports education, Leifras also operates a robust social business sector, dispatching sports coaches to meet various community needs with the aim to promote physical health, social inclusion, and community well-being across different demographics.
For more information, please visit the Company's website: https://ir.leifras.co.jp/.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as "approximates," "believes," "hopes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "plans," "will," "would," "should," "could," "may," or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.
For more information, please contact:
LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.
Investor Relations Department
Email: [email protected]
Ascent Investor Relations LLC
Tina Xiao
Phone: +1-646-932-7242
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.
