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MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Prefectural Federations

Federations and chapters active in each prefecture of Japan, and how to become one.

A recommendation letter from PJ is required to apply for membership in a prefectural sports association.
Please review the role of a chapter and the branch regulations, then apply for a recommendation letter using the form below. PJ will review your application and get in touch.

Recommendation Letter Request Form

What Is a Prefectural Federation?

  • An organization that shares PJ’s purpose and mission, and works with PJ in partnership.
  • As a rule, one chapter per prefecture.
  • Where multiple organizations exist within the same prefecture, PJ asks them to work together and recommends merging or forming a joint structure.
  • Carries out outreach activities, events, and tournament operations.
  • Follows PJ’s rules when hosting qualifying tournaments or training sessions connected to PJ-hosted events.

Role of a Chapter

Organizations that become a prefectural chapter take on the following roles.

Paying the first-year PJ membership fee
Holding regular regional tournaments
Establishing and running junior pickleball clubs in partnership with PJ
Supporting tournaments, events, and clinics that PJ hosts, sanctions, or supports
Holding regular meetings with partner organizations, and reporting the results to PJ
Submitting a financial report to PJ once a year
Becoming a registered general incorporated association within around three years

Chapter Requirements

The main requirements for a member organization, based on the PJ Branch Regulations (effective July 1, 2026).

  • 1Shares PJ’s purpose and mission, and is an organization that works with PJ in partnership(Article 4)
  • 2As a rule, one chapter per prefecture. Where multiple organizations exist within a prefecture, they should coordinate to merge or form a joint structure(Article 4)
  • 3At the time of application, it is preferable to have been active as a PJ partner organization for at least one year(Article 7)
  • 4Has an officer structure made up of a chairperson, vice chairperson(s), directors, and a secretary-general(Article 8)
  • 5Submits the membership application together with its articles of incorporation or bylaws, an organization chart, a list of officers, the previous fiscal year’s business report and financial statements, the current fiscal year’s business plan and budget, and materials showing compliance with the Governance Code(Article 7)
  • 6Reports on and publicly discloses, once a year, its compliance with the Sports Governance Code (for General Sports Organizations)(Article 6)
  • 7Submits a business report and financial report to PJ after the end of each fiscal year(Article 5)
  • 8Properly manages the personal information of members and other stakeholders(Article 6)

* Approval for membership is decided by the Board of Directors, following review by the Qualification Review Committee (Article 7).

Learn more about the Branch Regulations

Overall Organization Chart

JSPOJapan Sport Association
Pickleball JapanPickleball Japan FederationIssues recommendation letters to applicant organizations
Prefectural chapters* Must belong to the relevant prefectural sports association
Partner organizationsMultiple organizations

List of Prefectural Federations

Coming soon.

Contact

For questions about chapter membership, please contact us via our contact form, under the “Member Organizations” category.

Go to the Contact Form