Do you know about esports?
It is said that 130 million people worldwide compete in esports, which has spread around the globe.
It has gradually gained popularity in Japan as well, and in 2019 a tournament was held as part of the cultural program of the National Sports Festival (then known as the National Athletic Meet).
Kurashiki is home to an organization established as the first professional esports team in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions.
Introducing “SETOUCHI SPARKS,” a professional esports team aiming for the world from Kurashiki.
The information presented here is current as of the article’s publication in September 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is esports?
Esports is short for “electronic sports” and refers to competitive play using computer or video games as a sporting competition.
Esports has spread around the world, and tournaments with large prize purses are also held.
More high schools in Okayama Prefecture are establishing esports clubs, and some reportedly have more than 80 members. Many schools also compete in national esports tournaments held at the “EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai Expo” venue and place in the national rankings.
Some teams work in partnership with sports clubs.
For example, in the soccer game “FIFA,” corporate sports teams have esports divisions, and reportedly more teams are signing esports players.
The competition requires both strategic thinking as a game, as in chess or shogi, and the reflexes and stamina needed for sports. Tournaments can last as long as eight hours a day, making physical and mental stamina essential to maintain concentration.
Many players incorporate strength training into their fitness routines. Some also measure the distance between their face and monitor to find the optimal position that minimizes stress and helps them maintain concentration.
Overview of the professional team “SETOUCHI SPARKS”
“SETOUCHI SPARKS” started in 2022, changing its name from its predecessor team.
When representative Oshima Takeo took over, the team had 15–20 members, but it now has around 40. The increase is due not only to the addition of new game divisions, but also to the team’s ability to employ players.
The team currently focuses on the following four games:
- Street Fighter 6 (fighting game)
- Gran Turismo SPORT (racing game)
- EA Sports FC 25 (soccer game)
- Apex Legends (shooter game)
In addition to players, the team has around 10–15 game streamers. Some members compete as players while also posting videos and providing commentary.
Team features
SETOUCHI SPARKS is made up mainly of members from western Japan, and one-third of its players live in or are from Okayama.
Other teams often stream on individual channels, but SETOUCHI SPARKS consolidates its game streams on the team’s official channel.
We spoke with Oshima Takeo, who is working hard to bring esports to the local community.
How SETOUCHI SPARKS came to be
Could you tell us how the team came to be established?
Oshima (surname only)
I’ve always liked games, and I served as general manager of the predecessor team for two to three years. During that time, I came to appreciate how interesting and profound esports can be.
Later, the representative at the time decided to leave the team. Since I was working as an instructor at my family’s cram school, disbanding the team was one option for me.
At the same time, we had been working with the desire to “keep people in their hometown,” and I was convinced that esports could be a way to do that.
As I considered the team’s future, players and streamers told me, “If you continue, Mr. Oshima, we’ll stay.” So I took over the team from its representative at the time.
Growing the team
Did you face any challenges when starting anew?
Oshima
At first, people didn’t understand esports, and we were often turned down for loans or investments, with people asking, “How can you make a living from esports?”
However, thanks to our steady efforts, we now have the support of more than 30 companies.
What do you do to build the team?
Oshima
This year, in particular, we have focused on hiring players as employees.
Esports players sign contracts with their teams. Contract periods are short compared with other sports, and often last less than a year.
Many professional esports teams are relatively new and cannot be said to have much financial leeway. To keep costs down, it is very common for contracts to end when the tournament season is over.
This makes it difficult to communicate regularly with players, which can hinder their development. We employ them so we can work with them over the long term and provide an environment where they can grow.
Community-based activities
I hear you’re involved in many activities besides competing in tournaments.
Oshima
SETOUCHI SPARKS works with a focus on community engagement, built around three pillars: “education,” “welfare,” and “community revitalization.”
The first is education.
We work with universities in Okayama Prefecture to coach esports clubs, give lectures, and conduct research. For our research, we ask students to submit proposals on “community revitalization through esports” and evaluate them.
We are often invited to give talks on topics such as “How to create an esports team” and “How to monetize after launching a team.” So far, we have held talks in Shimane, Aichi, Shizuoka, and Chiba, as well as Okayama.
The second is welfare.
In cooperation with employment support facilities, we are exploring the potential of making esports a job through video production and event planning.
We have established a system that allows facility users to take part in esports-related work, such as streaming, video production, and event management, and gradually advance to the next step. We are also conducting a trial to see whether rhythm games can help improve physical function among older adults.
The third is community revitalization.
We hold local events centered on esports to encourage exchange among residents and revitalize the community.
Our next event is scheduled for September 20 and 21 in Okayama City.
The event draws 3,000–4,000 participants, making it one of the largest esports events in western Japan.
We held a crowdfunding campaign for the event and received support from many people across Japan, not just Okayama. We hope it will be an opportunity for as many people as possible to experience esports.
What’s Next for the Team
What are your plans for the future?
Oshima
We have two major goals.
The first is to become the best in the world in competition within two years.
In July 2025, we ranked among the top 16 at the world championship for the fighting game “Street Fighter 6,” held in France. Players in our other divisions are also steadily improving, so I feel that becoming the best in the world is not just a dream, but a challenge we can overcome.
The second is to develop esports into an industry and keep people in the local area.
We believe this will help revitalize the local economy by hiring players based in Okayama and creating an environment where they can make a living after retirement—for example, by working at an IT company.
I believe it is important to work together with the community to develop esports into an industry. We want to expand our activities as quickly as possible and see Okayama become known as the “holy land of esports.”
From the Writer
Through the interview, I gained a deeper appreciation of esports.
It takes split-second decisions to control characters in the game and react quickly to opponents’ moves.
I was also glad to learn that an organization in Kurashiki is taking on the world in a new field.
I look forward to seeing what SETOUCHI SPARKS takes on next.
SETOUCHI SPARKS Information
| Organization name | SETOUCHI SPARKS |
|---|---|
| Industry | Professional esports team |
| Representative | Oshima Takeo |
| Year established | 2022 |
| Address | 2808-21 Funao, Funao-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Website | SETOUCHI SPARKS |
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