Brijal Launches 'Card Game Academy,' a Thinking Skills School for Children

Brijal Inc. (Chuo Ward, Tokyo; CEO: Masato Ohara) is officially launching 'Card Game Academy,' an educational initiative that uses poker to cultivate thinking skills in children.

The Ebisu campus will open in June 2026, followed by the Ikebukuro and Shibuya campuses in July. During the summer vacation, the academy will also host a summer school featuring top-tier professional poker players as instructors, along with a Junior Poker Tournament.

Card Game Academy is a rare school in Japan that treats poker not as gambling, but as an educational tool to develop logical thinking and decision-making abilities.

About Card Game Academy

Card Game Academy is an educational program designed to enhance children's cognitive abilities through poker.

The curriculum was co-developed by a professional poker player with JOPT (Japan Open Poker Tour) championship experience and Masato Ohara, CEO of Brijal, a mother of three, former employee of Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch with around 10 years of experience, and a graduate of Kyoto University's Faculty of Economics, where she studied statistics.

The program aims to develop:

- Logical thinking - Probabilistic and statistical reasoning - Decision-making skills - Communication skills - Emotional regulation

In recent years, with the rise of generative AI, the ability to 'think and judge independently' has become more important than mere knowledge acquisition.

Card Game Academy uses poker—a game requiring optimal choices in uncertain situations—as a teaching tool to nurture the critical thinking skills essential in the AI era.

Background of the Initiative

This initiative originated from CEO Ohara's personal experiences.

Having enjoyed card games since childhood, Ohara realized that the strategic nature of poker closely mirrors the decision-making processes required in finance and business management.

Observing her own children grow—thinking logically, empathizing with opponents, and managing emotions through wins and losses—she felt a strong desire to share this learning experience with more children, leading to the founding of Card Game Academy.

Classroom Operations with Full Support from Hunter Site

This project is being launched with full support from Hunter Site Co., Ltd., the organizer of JOPT (Japan Open Poker Tour), Japan's largest poker event.

Classes are held during off-peak hours at poker venues operated by Hunter Site, effectively utilizing existing facilities to create new educational value.

Campus Opening Schedule

- Opened - June 7, 2026: Ebisu Campus

- Trial Sessions - July 4, 2026: Ikebukuro Campus Trial - July 5, 2026: Shibuya Campus Trial

- Scheduled Openings - July 11, 2026: Ikebukuro Campus - July 12, 2026: Shibuya Campus

Inaugural Junior Poker Tournament

Card Game Academy will host an open tournament to allow children to showcase their progress.

### 1st CGA Tournament Overview

- Date: July 20, 2026 (Mon, Holiday), 9:00–12:00 - Venue: Ebisu Campus - Target Age: 6–15 years old - Eligibility: Academy students and general participants

Sponsor Oohara Pearl Co., Ltd. will provide commemorative prizes for top performers.

### Prize Details (Planned)

- Champion Trophy - Book Vouchers - 2-Month Free Enrollment at Card Game Academy

Regular tournaments are planned for the future.

Summer-Only Summer School Program

Card Game Academy will offer a 3-day intensive summer school during the vacation period.

This special program makes learning probability, logical thinking, communication, and decision-making fun through poker. Beginners are welcome, and a junior tournament applying the learned skills will be held on the final day.

### Schedule

Session 1 (Ebisu Campus) - July 27–29 - Special Instructor: Haruna Fujita

Session 2 (Ikebukuro Campus) - August 3–5 - Special Instructor: Shingo Hoshiai

Session 3 (Ebisu Campus) - August 19–21 - Special Instructor: Shingo Hoshiai

- Time: 10:00–15:00 - Target Age: 6–15 years old

Top Professional Players as Instructors

Haruna Fujita, 'All-In Boss'

- Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Engineering - 2023 Hendon Mob Rookie Award (Women's Division) - 8th place in 2024 WSOP Ladies Championship - Active in major domestic and international poker tournaments

Shingo Hoshiai

- Former captain of Waseda University Go Club - 5-time national champion, including the National High School Go Championship - 4-time Japan Open Poker Tour champion - 5-time SPADIE champion, 3-time U-30 champion - Winner of APT and numerous other tournaments

International Exchange Initiatives

Card Game Academy plans to offer drop-off programs for international families visiting Japan.

CEO Ohara observed her children naturally communicating in English with overseas players at poker tables, realizing that poker serves as a 'universal hobby' that connects people across borders.

Opportunities for children from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds to interact and learn through games remain rare in Japan.

Card Game Academy aims not only to be a place for cognitive development but also to become an international community where Japanese and global children can meet and connect.

CEO Statement

Masato Ohara, CEO, Brijal Inc.

'In the financial world, the ability to make optimal decisions under uncertainty is crucial—this is very similar to poker.

This curriculum combines practical insights from JOPT champions with my own statistical and probabilistic thinking developed at Kyoto University and in the financial industry. Above all, it was designed from a parent’s desire to nurture my children’s thinking skills through poker.

Seeing my children communicate naturally in English with international players, I realized poker can act as a common language that transcends borders and cultures.

I hope to create a learning environment where children can enjoy developing decision-making skills while broadening their horizons through global friendships.'

Campus Locations

- Ebisu Campus - EGP EBISU - 1-11-1 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0013 - 7F - 1-minute walk from JR Ebisu Station East Exit

- Ikebukuro Campus - Ikebukuro Guild - 1-22-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013 - B1F, Sankei Building - 3-minute walk from Exit 35, Ikebukuro Station

- Shibuya Campus - KKLIVE POKER SHIBUYA - 12-7 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042 - Emerald Building 6F