2026 Catan Japan Championship Kicks Off! First Chubu Tournament Sees Over 30% New Participants for Third Consecutive Year!

GP Inc., a toy manufacturer headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, and led by Representative Director Shuji Yonekawa, commenced the 2026 Catan Japan Championship on April 12, 2026. The first regional tournament in the Chubu area saw 141 participants, exceeding the 139 participants from the previous year. The new participant rate in the Chubu region has consistently surpassed 30% for three consecutive years (44% in 2024, 40% in 2025, 36% in 2026), suggesting a growing player base for Catan and an increasing number of people enjoying board games annually. The championship will feature 8 venues nationwide, including the newly added Tohoku region (Morioka). The total capacity has been increased across all regions, with over 1,400 participants expected for this large-scale event. Regional tournaments are scheduled as follows: Chubu (April 12), Hokuriku (April 19), Tohoku (May 31), Kansai (June 14), Kyushu (June 21), Hokkaido (July 5), Chugoku/Shikoku (July 5), and Kanto (July 19). The final will be held in Tokyo on August 2, 2026, with the winner representing Japan at the 2027 Catan World Championship. Catan, considered the origin of the board game boom, has sold over 45 million units globally.