In conjunction with the ongoing “Uniqlo All-Japan Junior Tennis Championships” (sponsored by the Japan Tennis Association and the Mainichi Shimbun), children with overseas roots were invited to the Ariake headquarters (Koto Ward, Tokyo) of global apparel giant Uniqlo to play a simple tennis-style game called “Tennipin.”

The event was held on August 27th by the Tennis Association and the FR Foundation (chairman: Tadashi Yanai, Chairman and CEO of FR), which was established by Fast Retailing (FR), which operates Uniqlo and other brands. About 50 children from the Muslim minority group “Rohingya,” who fled persecution in Myanmar and came to Japan, and who live in Gunma, Saitama and other areas, and about 20 of their guardians participated.

Tenipin is a sport that takes its name from tennis and table tennis (ping pong), and is used by the association as a simple game to help children become familiar with tennis. It is played in pairs, with rackets attached to the hands. Players hit sponge balls against each other on a court with a net in the middle, competing for points.

First, members of the association introduced the rules while playing a mini-game. The children chased the ball, cheering. Muhammad Assad (10), who participated, said, “We all had fun together.” May Tota Nak (10) said with a smile, “It was difficult to match the bounce. It was fun to serve to the opponent.”

The children then visited the tournament being held at Ariake Tennis Forest Park (in the same ward).