[Teacher x Beach Soccer Player] Ms. Nishio Reports on World Tournament at Toyohashi Kajō Elementary School

Mei Nishio (23), a teacher and a member of the Japan National Beach Soccer Team 'Namihime Japan', who participated in the world tournament, held a report session on Monday, May 25, 2026, at Toyohashi Kajō Elementary School in Aichi Prefecture, where she works. She spoke to the children about her challenges in balancing her roles as a teacher in the classroom and as an athlete, the details of the tournament, and her dreams.

Beach soccer is a form of soccer played barefoot on soft, deep sand using a special ball. It is played with 5 players per team. The sport is being promoted and popularized as a discipline governed by the International Football Federation (FIFA).


Turning Regret into Motivation: "I Want to Get Better"

The world tournament, 'ACAPULCO CUP 2026', was held in Mexico from April 9 (Thursday) to April 11 (Saturday), 2026, with teams from four countries: Japan, Mexico, the United States, and Brazil. Nishio participated in all matches and scored a goal against the United States.

At the report session, all 73 students, their parents, and community members gathered. A video of a scoring scene from the world tournament, played on white sand, elicited cheers of "Ooh!" and loud applause as Nishio's goal was shown. Japan finished the tournament in 3rd place, but Nishio expressed her determination, saying, "I'm disappointed, but I felt I want to get much, much better," and shared the confidence she gained on the world stage.

Days of Challenge: Continuously Asking "What Can I Do?"

Nishio, who discovered beach soccer during her university years, says she can still vividly recall the exhilaration she felt the first time she stepped onto a beach soccer court. Her soccer skills, honed over 10 years, were not applicable, and she chased the ball with all her might. The feeling of "being able to do what I couldn't before" that she experienced there is what made her fall in love with beach soccer.

At the report session, she revealed her mindset leading up to playing in the world tournament. "I had the least technical skill on the team. I thought about how I could contribute, how I could play for the team, and what I could do." Her answer was: "I won't lose in terms of running, so I'll run a lot. When my teammates are struggling, I'll run to help them. I'll pass the ball to the skilled players."

Through the world tournament, she shared what she learned on the global stage: "Even when selected as one of the 12 players for the Japan national team, there are many skilled players in the world. I learned to fight without backing down from bigger players. I learned not to think it's impossible, but to just try."

To Make Dreams Come True

Having realized her dream of participating in the world tournament, Nishio shared three principles for making dreams come true.

"Have a strong heart to get closer to the person you want to be. Believe that someone is watching you and keep trying."

"Take the initiative to jump into new environments. If you have the courage to take a step forward, something will change."

"Reflect on yourself every day. It's the same as reflecting on your lessons."

She then advised the upper elementary grades to "find the person you want to be," "once you find it, work diligently and don't give up," and "reflect on yourself to get closer to the person you want to be." She explained these concepts in easy-to-understand terms for the lower grades.

Next Dream is "World Number One" and Teaching

Regarding her future, she stated her next dream: "I want to become a beach soccer player who can compete more on the world stage. I aim to be number one in the tournament that decides the world's best."

The children who listened had many impressions and questions. They congratulated her, saying, "Scoring one goal is amazing." When asked what she would do to achieve her next dream, she firmly replied, "First, I want to acquire technical skills and increase what I can do. I want to watch the play of skilled players and make it my own." Nishio, in her second year as a teacher, also expressed her goal as an educator: "As a teacher, I want to become better at teaching."

Ms. Nishio's ongoing challenge to compete on the world stage will surely inspire the children of Kajō Elementary School.