Professional Badminton Player Yuta Watanabe to Continue Competitive Activities with New Affiliation
Professional badminton player Yuta Watanabe announced that he will change his affiliation to "ACT SAIKYO" starting April 1, 2026. This move is aimed at enhancing his training environment and strengthening his partnership with mixed doubles partner Maaya Taguchi. J-POWER will continue to support Watanabe as his main sponsor.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 16:47
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 21:18 (484h 30m after Collected)
J-POWER (Electric Power Development Co., Ltd., Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director, President and CEO: Hideaki Kato) announces that professional badminton player Yuta Watanabe, currently affiliated with J-POWER, will become an affiliated player with "ACT SAIKYO" starting April 1, 2026.
J-POWER signed a sponsorship agreement with Watanabe in 2023 and an affiliation contract in April 2025, supporting his activities. Watanabe has consistently pursued growth without giving up, embracing change, and always aiming for higher goals without complacency, achieving victory in mixed doubles at the 79th All Japan Badminton Championships held in December 2025.
Currently, Watanabe is challenging himself to achieve new goals, with his sights set on the world's top. To this end, further enhancement of the training environment with his mixed doubles partner Maaya Taguchi (affiliated with ACT SAIKYO) and strengthening their partnership have become even more crucial. Therefore, he has decided to change his affiliation to ACT SAIKYO. Although his affiliation will change, J-POWER will continue to be his main sponsor.
This change in affiliation is a move for Watanabe to concentrate on strengthening his skills in a more fulfilling competitive environment. J-POWER's corporate philosophy includes "Uniting rich individuality and passion to challenge tomorrow," and we empathize with Watanabe's strong desire and determination to challenge for new goals.
J-POWER will continue to fully support Watanabe's challenges to deliver "POWER" to Japan and the world, and will also continue to challenge itself to constantly provide the energy people need and contribute to the sustainable development of Japan and the world.
Comments from Yuta Watanabe:
I will be affiliated with ACT SAIKYO starting April 2026.
I am deeply grateful to everyone at J-POWER who has supported me as an affiliated player until now.
Although the form of affiliation will change, I am greatly encouraged that you will continue to provide unwavering support as a sponsor.
I will continue to dedicate myself fully to competition with the goal of reaching the top of the world.
I kindly ask for your continued warm support.
Watanabe's Profile:
Date of Birth: June 13, 1997
Place of Birth: Suginami-ku, Tokyo
J-POWER signed a sponsorship agreement with Watanabe in 2023 and an affiliation contract in April 2025, supporting his activities. Watanabe has consistently pursued growth without giving up, embracing change, and always aiming for higher goals without complacency, achieving victory in mixed doubles at the 79th All Japan Badminton Championships held in December 2025.
Currently, Watanabe is challenging himself to achieve new goals, with his sights set on the world's top. To this end, further enhancement of the training environment with his mixed doubles partner Maaya Taguchi (affiliated with ACT SAIKYO) and strengthening their partnership have become even more crucial. Therefore, he has decided to change his affiliation to ACT SAIKYO. Although his affiliation will change, J-POWER will continue to be his main sponsor.
This change in affiliation is a move for Watanabe to concentrate on strengthening his skills in a more fulfilling competitive environment. J-POWER's corporate philosophy includes "Uniting rich individuality and passion to challenge tomorrow," and we empathize with Watanabe's strong desire and determination to challenge for new goals.
J-POWER will continue to fully support Watanabe's challenges to deliver "POWER" to Japan and the world, and will also continue to challenge itself to constantly provide the energy people need and contribute to the sustainable development of Japan and the world.
Comments from Yuta Watanabe:
I will be affiliated with ACT SAIKYO starting April 2026.
I am deeply grateful to everyone at J-POWER who has supported me as an affiliated player until now.
Although the form of affiliation will change, I am greatly encouraged that you will continue to provide unwavering support as a sponsor.
I will continue to dedicate myself fully to competition with the goal of reaching the top of the world.
I kindly ask for your continued warm support.
Watanabe's Profile:
Date of Birth: June 13, 1997
Place of Birth: Suginami-ku, Tokyo