The Synergy between
Padel and Shikibo
Generates
Global Innovation.

Suzuki: It has been about two years since Mr. Taira and we at Shikibo first met. Have there been any significant changes during this time?

Taira: The possibility of padel becoming an Olympic sport in 2032 is increasing, and I strongly feel the momentum of the sport itself. Padel is already a popular sport in Europe and the Middle East, but its adoption is rapidly advancing in Asia as well. I feel that my career as a padel player is accelerating along with the sport.

Suzuki: So, the expansion of the sport is coinciding with your personal growth. What about your initiatives outside of playing the sport?

Taira: I am involved in the launch of a company that develops sports and wellness businesses across Asia. The perspective I value most is, "What kind of value can we provide to society through sports?" I want to handle not just facility development, but also the formation of communities centered around sports and health.

Suzuki: Our company also develops our business based on the core principle of "manufacturing that benefits society." For example, when polyester production first started in Japan, we were the first in the industry to establish the blend ratio of "65% polyester / 35% cotton" yarn, and this ratio has now become a global standard.

Taira: That's incredible. An innovation born from a passion for Monozukuri (the craft of manufacturing) was embraced and spread throughout the world.

Suzuki: Exactly. The theme of our current medium-term management plan, "TG25-27," is also "Transformation for Growth." We want to generate innovation—such as solving social issues with our textile technology and developing products that bring significant added value—to further elevate Shikibo's presence as a company.

Taira: I also want to thoroughly consider "What value can only an athlete provide?" and be ambitiously challenged to grow, not just in my sport, but in business as well.

Suzuki: Mr. Taira, you are active globally across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. What do you feel is the strength of Japan anew while operating in these regions?

Taira: The fact that Japan does not compromise on product quality is what I find wonderful about the country. Furthermore, the ability to continuously produce an item at the same high quality, once it has been created. I feel that this is the essence of Japanese culture and the true mark of its technology.

Suzuki: That truly is the essence of Japanese Monozukuri (craftsmanship/manufacturing). I also believe that the "attitude of meticulously responding to subtle needs" is another Japanese trait.

Taira: I often travel to the Middle East for padel expeditions, and I feel the trust in Japanese quality is very strong there. In particular, people there sometimes tell me directly that Shikibo's fabrics are "the best," which makes me feel very proud. It's by continuously providing high-quality products while meeting those needs that you have earned such high recognition and trust in the Middle East.

Suzuki: At the heart of Shikibo is our unwavering "commitment to quality." We incorporate the desire to provide "greater comfort and peace of mind" into our products, not only for fabrics destined for the Middle East but also, for instance, in our corporate uniforms and bedding products. Furthermore, since we also handle industrial materials and functional materials, we aim to deliver high-quality materials and products globally across all these fields.

Suzuki: From October to November 2025, the padel tournament "shikibo CHALLENGER" was held in Qatar. Mr. Taira, thank you for your hard work and efforts towards organizing the event.

Taira: The pleasure was mine. I was given a valuable opportunity to be involved in hosting the tournament, thanks to the cooperation of everyone at Shikibo and the local stakeholders. This may have been the first time a Japanese company has held a padel tournament overseas under its own name.

Suzuki: Taking advantage of the global rise in padel's popularity, we hope to enhance the presence of the Shikibo brand in regions other than the Middle East as well.

Taira: Padel is currently gaining particular momentum in Indonesia. There is practically a padel court within every kilometer radius on Bali, and it is rapidly spreading in Jakarta and Surabaya too.

Suzuki: Our company is also strengthening its manufacturing and sales in Asia, and Indonesia is one of our core bases. We consider it a very important market.

Taira: In Indonesia, padel courts have become places where "people naturally gather." If we can allow people to experience Shikibo's products in such venues, or hold events that offer padel experiences or introduce Japanese culture, I believe we can communicate the brand in a very natural way.

Suzuki: That's interesting. Speaking of the past, our company's "Mermaid Mark" used to be widely known in Indonesia. Many people say, "I wore a uniform made from the Mermaid brand fabric when I was a child."

Taira: That's a wonderful story. I believe that today, "grassroots touchpoints"—where people physically interact with or experience the brand—increase brand value more than SNS. For example, by utilizing the Mermaid Mark and collaborating with different industries like food, art, or agriculture, many possibilities open up.

Suzuki: I see. We tend to be constrained by a mindset focused solely on textiles, so receiving new insights from your perspective, Mr. Taira, is extremely valuable.

Suzuki: In addition to the Middle East and Asia, we are also aiming to pioneer new markets in Europe and the Americas.

Taira: Playing padel provides opportunities to connect with key figures and business leaders in various countries—people I normally wouldn't be able to meet. In terms of building such global human networks, I feel that as a partner of Shikibo, I can help broaden new possibilities.

Suzuki: Business is certainly born from "human connections." When we look back at turning points for a company, they are often triggered by a "chance encounter." I am hopeful that unprecedented connections may be forged through padel.

Taira: I believe the unique feature of padel is that new relationships are easily and naturally formed through routes different from sales or marketing activities. I see it as a highly social sport.

Suzuki: So, padel also holds great potential as a "venue for communication." Together with you, Mr. Taira, we hope to use padel as a catalyst to communicate Shikibo's new challenges to the world.

Taira: Fundamentally, I hold the belief that "I don't want sport to be concluded just for my own sake." I believe it is an athlete's responsibility to properly give back value to the people who cheer for me and the companies that support me.

Suzuki: Indeed, this conversation has clearly conveyed your passion and your willingness to challenge various things beyond the scope of a typical athlete.

Taira: I want to create new value using both wheels—sports and industry—together with Japanese companies like Shikibo that produce high-quality products. I would be delighted if we could leverage padel to deliver new value to the world alongside Shikibo.

Suzuki: Thank you. We, too, don't want to view padel merely as a corporate PR opportunity. Instead, we hope to connect your network and sensibilities to our marketing efforts and the creation of new business opportunities. An athlete and a corporation challenging together and growing together. It would be fantastic if we could create such a positive cycle.

Taira: Thank you very much. My motto is, "If I'm going to do it, I aim for No. 1." I will not neglect my efforts toward growth, and I want to continue challenging myself to become a bridge that connects "people to people" and "companies to society" through padel.