The 6th National Social Football Tournament in Kanagawa is scheduled to take place on November 21 and 22, 2026, marking the first time the national event will be held in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The tournament, designed primarily for individuals with mental health conditions, aims to provide a platform through futsal where participants can demonstrate their potential, foster community connections, and compete for the national title.
November 2026 Tournament Dates Set for Kanagawa Prefecture
The upcoming competition marks the sixth iteration of the national tournament, which has been held approximately every two years since its inception. Previous tournaments took place in Aichi in 2015, Ehime in 2017 as an open event for the National Sports Festival, Osaka in 2019, Tokushima in 2023, and Saga in 2025. Executive committee chairman Junko Suzuki of FC PORT, who has undergone treatment for a mental illness, emphasized the personal milestones players bring to the event, noting that overcoming social anxiety or travel difficulties forms a core part of the competitive experience.
Kanagawa Tournament Budget Relies on Crowdfunding
Organizers have set the total operating budget for the 2026 Kanagawa tournament at 3,700,000 yen. Funding is structured to draw from 2,400,000 yen in subsidies and 300,000 yen in tournament participation fees, leaving a remaining balance to be raised via crowdfunding. The funds are designated to cover venue rentals, compensation for referees, medical personnel, trainers, and symposium speakers, alongside travel expenses, insurance, equipment, trophies, medals, and promotional media production.
Illustrator and Designer Create Tournament Visual Identity
The visual identity of the tournament, including its official emblem and supporter merchandise, features a collaborative effort between illustrator Asai Toru and designer-photographer Matsumoto Riki of incographica. Toru, who has lived and worked freelance with obsessive-compulsive disorder for more than four decades, partnered with Matsumoto to design the event’s logo—featuring a central “S” and “K” for social football in Kanagawa, alongside twelve stars representing the projected participating teams and player aspirations.
Two Symposia Precede November Competition
In the lead-up to the November competition, two academic and community symposia are scheduled for September 27 and October 10. The September session features presentations by PSAC representative Seishiro Inoue alongside a social football exchange.
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