Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd. announced that it will hold the "1st National Junior High School eSports Championship: Pokémon UNITE", an eSports tournament for junior high school students across Japan.
The tournament will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
A National eSports Tournament for Junior High School Students Will Be Held!
🏆全国eスポーツ中学生選手大会参加者募集🏆
2026年3月15日(日)に
近畿日本ツーリスト主催
第1回 全国eスポーツ中学生選手権大会
『Pokémon UNITE』 を開催します！本日から募集スタート！
中学生のみなさま、ご参加をお待ちしています✨🔽詳しくはhttps://t.co/ccSeJRYF9p#ポケモンユナイト pic.twitter.com/zOaGAV6Lva
— 近畿日本ツーリスト【公式】 (@KNT_jp) January 16, 2026
The "1st National Junior High School eSports Championship: Pokémon UNITE" is an online eSports tournament for junior high school students nationwide in Japan.
This tournament is being held as part of the 70th Anniversary Project of KNT-CT Holdings Co., Ltd.
In recent years, eSports has been gaining attention not only as a competitive field but also as a platform for learning.
However, there are few official tournaments that junior high school students can participate in on a national scale, and opportunities for competitive play are currently limited.
This tournament is being held to address that reality.
The tournament will be held online and is open to junior high school students across Japan.
As long as the team members are junior high school students, they can participate even if they do not attend the same school.
Participation is free, and the number of participating teams is limited to the first 32 teams (5 members per team), so please apply early if you wish to participate!
Entry Method
The entry methods are as follows:
- Tournament Participation Entry: Apply via the QR code on the first page of the "1st National Junior High School eSports Championship: Pokémon UNITE" Flyer.
- Tournament Viewing Application: Apply via the QR code on the second page of the "1st National Junior High School eSports Championship: Pokémon UNITE" Flyer.
About Tournament Viewing
On the day of the tournament, school officials, parents, and other guests can watch the matches on a large screen at NTTe-Sports High School.
Famous streamers are scheduled to visit the venue to provide live play-by-play and commentary.
- Viewing Venue: NTTe-Sports High School
- Date and Time: Sunday, March 15, 2026, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (Scheduled)
- Number of Seats: First 40 seats
- Target Audience: School officials, parents, and junior high school students
Details can be confirmed on the Kinki Nippon Tourist Official Website.
| Tournament Overview | |
|---|---|
| Tournament Name | "1st National Junior High School eSports Championship: Pokémon UNITE" |
| Competition Title | Pokémon UNITE |
| Tournament Format | Online Tournament |
| Date Held | Sunday, March 15, 2026 |
| Sponsor | Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd. |
| Cooperation | JCG Co., Ltd., NTTe-Sports Co., Ltd. |
| Support | National Educational Tour Institute |