The " Tokyo Game Show 2026," a gaming festival taking place from Thursday, September 17, 2026, through Monday, September 21, 2026 (a national holiday)
We reported on the booth of the professional esports team “ZETA DIVISION,” which is exhibiting at the Tokyo Game Show 2026, as well as the announcement of their business partnership with “T1 Esports Academy”!
A display of numerous trophies! The ZETA DIVISION booth
The first thing that catches your eye upon entering the booth is the array of glittering trophies.
Also on display was the trophy won by player Yamaguchi ( @yamae1128 ) when he took first place in the Street Fighter 6 division at the still-fresh-in-our-memories “EVO Japan 2026.”
From the trophy awarded to *Super Smash Bros.* player acola ( @acola_Lui ) for winning the Japan Esports Awards 2023 Player Category, to the trophy commemorating the remarkable achievement of being named “Team of the Year” for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025.
The exhibition allows visitors to experience ZETA DIVISION’s spectacular achievements firsthand.
In addition, there were items like the shield from their EWC 2026 Overwatch division victory and the trophy from their PWCS 2026 Pokémon Unite division victory—I could really feel the strength and pride of ZETA DIVISION.
Saiga NAK A short walk away, I discovered the “ZETA DIVISION × SEGA Lounge,” a collaboration project with SEGA.
It’s so cute seeing ZETA-kun and Sonic running side by side.
ZETA DIVISION GAMING ACADEMY and T1 Esports Academy have formed a business partnership!
In the broadcast area inside the booth, a live stream of “ZETA DIVISION GAMING ACADEMY Presents: Esports Blunders” was taking place.
Just as the show—which had been proceeding in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere—was drawing to a close, the mood suddenly shifted dramatically.
A business partnership in the field of esports talent development was announced between GANYMEDE Co., Ltd. (operator of ZETA DIVISION), Vantan Co., Ltd., and South Korea-based T1 Esports Academy.
A special intensive course is planned as the first initiative of this partnership
Through this partnership, the three companies will work to develop talent by localizing the training expertise T1 Esports Academy has cultivated over the years into a Japanese curriculum.
As the first step in this collaboration, T1 Esports Academy plans to hold a special intensive course for students enrolled at the “ZETA DIVISION GAMING ACADEMY POWERED BY VANTAN.”
The goal is not only to improve competitive skills in esports but also to develop the next generation of business professionals for the esports industry who can succeed on a global stage.
Tetsuro Chiba ( @tc_mov ), General Manager of the Business Development Department at GANYMEDE Co., Ltd., commented that the company also plans to expand its services in the future to include students outside of ZETA DIVISION Gaming Academy as well as working professionals.
Additionally, Hironori Sato, Executive Officer at Vantan Co., Ltd., expressed his anticipation for the integration of T1’s globally honed talent development expertise into Vantan’s existing program, which has long provided hands-on education led by top-tier professionals.
Furthermore, JIN, Chief Business Lead at T1 Esports Academy, explained that the partnership was driven by the potential he saw in Japan’s esports market and ZETA DIVISION’s educational infrastructure.
He expressed his enthusiasm for developing talent not only for students aiming to become professionals but also for those looking to make an impact in the esports industry as a whole.
We definitely can’t take our eyes off ZETA DIVISION’s future developments!
That wraps up our report from the ZETA DIVISION booth!
Sorry, this article is only available in Japanese and 繁體中文. at the moment.
