Why a Professional Soccer Player is Learning English? J-League Player Who Experienced 'Communication Barriers' with Foreign Players Becomes SNS Tie-up Partner for English Speaking Improvement App 'Spiful'
Professional soccer player Yuta Shimozawa has been appointed as an SNS tie-up partner for 'Spiful,' an English speaking improvement app. Having experienced communication challenges with foreign players, Shimozawa will share his English learning journey on social media, aiming to lower the barrier to English study.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 09:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 09:41 (9 min after Collected)
ProFan Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Ryoga Hatta; hereinafter "ProFan") announces that professional soccer player Yuta Shimozawa has commenced promotional activities for 'Spiful,' an English learning app specializing in speaking improvement, provided by Progrit Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shogo Okada), starting May 2026.
This initiative is implemented with the management support of ProFan.
Yuta Shimozawa Appointed as SNS Tie-up Partner for 'Spiful'
■ Initiative Overview
Shimozawa will share his real English learning process using Spiful through his SNS accounts (Instagram, X, note, Facebook, etc.). He aims to deliver content from a user's perspective, from how to use the service to his actual improvement experience.
Target Service
English speaking improvement app 'Spiful' (Progrit Inc.)
Promotional Player
Yuta Shimozawa
Communication Channels
Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), note, Facebook, etc.
Start Date
May 2026
■ Background of the Initiative
ProFan's business core is to "create a mechanism for athletes to connect with society beyond their sport and demonstrate new value." We promote initiatives that broaden the interface between sports and society by incorporating the challenging spirit and perseverance unique to athletes into content.
Yuta Shimozawa, while active as a J-League player, has garnered strong support from many fans for his strong self-growth awareness and active information dissemination on SNS. His embodiment of "continuing to grow not only as a soccer player but also as a human being" and Spiful's concept of "investment in oneself" through English learning have high affinity.
By disseminating the real challenges and growth stories of professional athletes, we aim to lower the barrier to English learning and create opportunities for more people to experience Spiful.
■ Comment from Yuta Shimozawa
First, I would like to express my gratitude for this opportunity.
My theme is to continue growing not only on the pitch but also off the pitch. English was one of the challenges I wanted to face but had put off.
In the past, when playing with foreign players, I realized that communication difficulties affected my play. I am also interested in how language differences influence decision-making and the quality of play.
I look forward to seeing how these challenges and feelings change within me as I engage with English through Spiful. As my own challenge, I will share my honest feelings.
■ Profile of Yuta Shimozawa
Date of Birth
September 4, 1997 (28 years old)
Origin
Tokyo
Team History
After graduating from Hosei University, joined Blaublitz Akita in 2020 and contributed to winning the J3 league. Subsequently played for Tegevajaro Miyazaki and FC Osaka, with contracts ending after the 2024 season. In 2025, ruptured his Achilles tendon before challenging in the Spanish league. Currently focusing on rehabilitation while steadily preparing for an overseas challenge.
Official Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/yuta.shimozawa/
■ About Progrit Inc. / Spiful
Company Name
Progrit Inc.
Location
Hamamatsucho Square 11F, 1-30-5 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative
Representative Director and President Shogo Okada
Company Website
https://about.progrit.co.jp/
Relevant Service in this Release
English speaking improvement app 'Spiful'
Service Overview
Training app for improving English speaking skills. Supports the acquisition of speaking ability to "instantly articulate what you want to say" by repeatedly performing 30 minutes daily of input training, "oral English composition" (instant translation from Japanese by looking at Japanese), and output training, "monologue English conversation" (speaking English like a monologue according to a theme), with AI's immediate feedback to cycle improvements.
Service Website
https://www.supiful.jp/
■ About ProFan Inc.
Company Name
ProFan Inc.
Location
Roppongi KS Building 5F, 3-16-12 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative
Representative Director and CEO Ryoga Hatta
Established
November 2025 (Registered April 2026)
Capital
1,000,000 JPY
Business Activities
Athlete management and promotion support business
Company Website
https://profan.jp/
This initiative is implemented with the management support of ProFan.
Yuta Shimozawa Appointed as SNS Tie-up Partner for 'Spiful'
■ Initiative Overview
Shimozawa will share his real English learning process using Spiful through his SNS accounts (Instagram, X, note, Facebook, etc.). He aims to deliver content from a user's perspective, from how to use the service to his actual improvement experience.
Target Service
English speaking improvement app 'Spiful' (Progrit Inc.)
Promotional Player
Yuta Shimozawa
Communication Channels
Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), note, Facebook, etc.
Start Date
May 2026
■ Background of the Initiative
ProFan's business core is to "create a mechanism for athletes to connect with society beyond their sport and demonstrate new value." We promote initiatives that broaden the interface between sports and society by incorporating the challenging spirit and perseverance unique to athletes into content.
Yuta Shimozawa, while active as a J-League player, has garnered strong support from many fans for his strong self-growth awareness and active information dissemination on SNS. His embodiment of "continuing to grow not only as a soccer player but also as a human being" and Spiful's concept of "investment in oneself" through English learning have high affinity.
By disseminating the real challenges and growth stories of professional athletes, we aim to lower the barrier to English learning and create opportunities for more people to experience Spiful.
■ Comment from Yuta Shimozawa
First, I would like to express my gratitude for this opportunity.
My theme is to continue growing not only on the pitch but also off the pitch. English was one of the challenges I wanted to face but had put off.
In the past, when playing with foreign players, I realized that communication difficulties affected my play. I am also interested in how language differences influence decision-making and the quality of play.
I look forward to seeing how these challenges and feelings change within me as I engage with English through Spiful. As my own challenge, I will share my honest feelings.
■ Profile of Yuta Shimozawa
Date of Birth
September 4, 1997 (28 years old)
Origin
Tokyo
Team History
After graduating from Hosei University, joined Blaublitz Akita in 2020 and contributed to winning the J3 league. Subsequently played for Tegevajaro Miyazaki and FC Osaka, with contracts ending after the 2024 season. In 2025, ruptured his Achilles tendon before challenging in the Spanish league. Currently focusing on rehabilitation while steadily preparing for an overseas challenge.
Official Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/yuta.shimozawa/
■ About Progrit Inc. / Spiful
Company Name
Progrit Inc.
Location
Hamamatsucho Square 11F, 1-30-5 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative
Representative Director and President Shogo Okada
Company Website
https://about.progrit.co.jp/
Relevant Service in this Release
English speaking improvement app 'Spiful'
Service Overview
Training app for improving English speaking skills. Supports the acquisition of speaking ability to "instantly articulate what you want to say" by repeatedly performing 30 minutes daily of input training, "oral English composition" (instant translation from Japanese by looking at Japanese), and output training, "monologue English conversation" (speaking English like a monologue according to a theme), with AI's immediate feedback to cycle improvements.
Service Website
https://www.supiful.jp/
■ About ProFan Inc.
Company Name
ProFan Inc.
Location
Roppongi KS Building 5F, 3-16-12 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative
Representative Director and CEO Ryoga Hatta
Established
November 2025 (Registered April 2026)
Capital
1,000,000 JPY
Business Activities
Athlete management and promotion support business
Company Website
https://profan.jp/