“I want to get better”—a technically focused school that responds to that passion. LEIFRAS x Dribble Designer Masakazu Okabe to open a dribble-specialized school in Spring 2026!

LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (LEIFRAS CO.,LTD., Nasdaq: LFS, Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director & CEO: Kiyotaka Ito), which operates children's sports schools and supports community development for club activities, is pleased to announce the establishment of a "Dribble-Specialized School" in partnership with Dribble Designer Masakazu Okabe.

LEIFRAS, which has been supported for its coaching that helps children love sports, is now venturing into providing "technique." We will establish a specialized school focused on improving technical skills, introducing the methods of Dribble Designer Masakazu Okabe, who has coached Japanese national team players and international star players.

■ Three Features of This Project

1. Manualization of World-Class Coaching

Okabe's theories will be standardized as an original curriculum. Through video teaching materials and manuals, a system will be built to ensure that any instructor can faithfully reproduce the Okabe method, achieving consistent high-quality instruction across all locations.

2. Fusion of Achievements

We will combine Okabe's "technique," with over 200 million total SNS views, with LEIFRAS's "non-cognitive skill development" to nurture players who excel in mind, technique, and body.

3. School Operations Utilizing LEIFRAS Sports School's Existing Infrastructure

By applying LEIFRAS's nationwide management system and safety standards as they are, we will operate a safe and secure school.

■ About Masakazu Okabe

A dribble specialist instructor with a dribble theory that allows anyone to beat opponents. His dribble videos distributed on YouTube and other social media platforms have garnered over 200 million views, and he currently provides dribble instruction worldwide from his overseas base. He has a wealth of experience, including collaborations with Japanese national team football players and renowned international star players.

He also works as a "Dream Designer" to convey the wonder of challenging oneself, the importance of gratitude, and activities to enhance one's sensitivity to happiness. Based on his experiences through soccer, he gives lectures on the importance of pursuing dreams and the courage to challenge.

Official Website: https://dribbledesigner.com/

■ Comment from Masakazu Okabe

I wanted to create a place where I could seriously engage with children who genuinely feel, "I want to get better."

At this school, we will focus on each individual and significantly increase the time they spend touching the ball.

What is necessary to improve is not talent, but the quantity of challenges.

More challenges mean more failures.

But I believe that failure is a fragment of success.

Failure is not the end.

It is a hint for success and a crucial process in the midst of growth.

By coming to this school, children will change their perception of failure.

They will no longer be afraid to take on challenges.

I believe that this change is what truly leads to technical improvement.

Until now, dribbling has been said to be about "instinct."

However, there is always a reason for the moment you beat an opponent.

I have structured those reasons and verbalized them as a theory.

By delivering it as a reproducible technique, we will create an environment where any child, in any region, can reliably grow.

World-class 1-on-1 ability and a heart that keeps challenging.

From this school, we aim to produce players who represent the world, and leaders who challenge not only in soccer but also in various other fields.

I will approach this project with great ambition.

I sincerely look forward to walking this path with all of you.

■ Background and Purpose: Meeting Children's Needs with a School for Mastering More Advanced Techniques

The "LEIFRAS Sports School" operated by LEIFRAS aims to be a sports school where children, even those new to sports or not good at them, can enjoy sports through coaching that "recognizes, praises, encourages, and inspires." We thoroughly eliminate corporal punishment, abusive language, and win-at-all-costs principles in our coaching, and instead focus on developing children's non-cognitive skills such as leadership and cooperativeness.

In recent years, there has been increasing demand for "more specialized technical coaching" and "thoroughly honing individual skills."
To meet these demands, while building upon the philosophy of our existing schools, we are newly establishing a technically specialized school.

We will develop players who are strong in mind, technique, and body, incorporating not only technical skills but also the non-cognitive skill development that LEIFRAS Sports School values. By integrating Okabe's brand power and methods with LEIFRAS's nationwide operational base, we will create new added value.

■ Future Developments

Our company will continue preparations for the opening of a flagship dribble-specialized school in Spring 2026, as a new soccer school that ignites the ambition of children who "want to get better."

Further details will be announced sequentially as they are decided.

【Company Overview】

Company Name: LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (LEIFRAS CO.,LTD.)

Listed Market: Nasdaq Capital Market

Ticker (US Stock Code): LFS

Headquarters: Ebisu Garden Place Tower 20F, 4-20-3 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Date of Establishment: August 28, 2001

Representative: Representative Director & CEO Kiyotaka Ito

Capital: 784,666,480 yen (including capital reserve)

Business Activities: Sports School Business, Event Business, Alliance Business

Club Activities Support Business, Community Collaboration Business, Healthcare Business

After-school Day Service 'LEIF' Business

Website: https://www.leifras.co.jp/

IR Website: https://ir.leifras.co.jp/jp/

【Contact Information for This Matter】

For details regarding this matter or interview requests, please contact us at the following:

■ Contact for General Customers and Corporations

LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. Inquiry Form

https://leifras.co.jp/contact/form/

■ Contact for Media Representatives

LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department

Email: pr_@leifras.co.jp

TEL: 03-6451-1343

FAX: 03-6451-1342