Supporting the development of the All Japan Alpine Ski U16
In order to develop the world's top alpine skiers, we have been supporting the All Japan Ski Association's (SAJ) U16 alpine ski team since the 2018/19 season in collaboration with Just Loving Ski (JLS) and J SPORTS. We support the activities of young skiers through crowdfunding, support for training expenses, and the production and broadcast of a program that follows the U16 alpine skiers.
(Alpine Skiing U16 World Challenge Season 7: A Signpost to the World Cup | J:COM Sustainability ActivitiesPlay Time: 26:00)
Project overview
Starting from the 2018/19 season, in order to develop alpine skiers who can reach the top of the world, we have been working with the general incorporated associations Just Loving Ski (JLS) and J SPORTS to support the Alpine Ski U16 team of the Ski Association of Japan (SAJ), a public interest incorporated foundation.
We will raise funds through crowdfunding, and J:COM will donate the funds to SAJ to carry out training activities. These activities will be broadcast and streamed as part of an activity report program.
Support details
Support system
Target amount: 1,000,000 yen
Application deadline: January 13, 2026
A project to support the training costs for the All Japan Alpine Skiing U16 Team to compete on the world stage.
Last season, we received your support and used it as training funds for skiers who are expected to perform well in the near future.
J:COM will support these young treasures as they take on the challenge of changing the future of Japanese alpine skiing.
Enrichment Activities
SAJ uses training funds to hold training camps (physical and on-snow technical training) and overseas expeditions (Alpine Timbra FIS Children's Cup). In 2022, training funds were used to publish a training manual to be used by all alpine ski athletes. In addition, from 2024, J:COM, as a media company, will be conducting "media training" for the next generation of athletes.
Activities
Training camp (physical and snow training)
Training camps will be held using the training funds. Physically, fitness checks and condition training will be conducted. On the snow, the athletes will ski on hard courses in various sets of slalom and giant slalom runs, and training will be conducted while measuring their times.
Overseas expedition (Alpine Timbras FIS Children's Cup)
The athletes selected at the training camp will represent Japan at the Alpine Timbras FIS Children's Cup, a world championship for youth athletes.
Training Manual
In 2022, training funds were used to create and publish a training manual for alpine ski athletes and coaches across the country.
(Alpine U16 Team Strengthening Support Project Media TrainingPlayback time: 1:01)
Media Training
Media training was conducted at the 3rd Alpine Skiing Talent Discovery and Development Project Training Camp held at Sugadaira Plateau on September 19, 2025.
The event aimed to improve the communication skills and self-expression abilities that are important for the next generation of athletes to succeed in the future. Athletes ranging from junior high school students to university students participated, and practiced creating self-promotional materials and communicating in front of a television camera.
Report Program
(Alpine Skiing U16 World Challenge Season 7: A Signpost to the World Cup | J:COM Sustainability ActivitiesPlay Time: 26:00)
2024/25 Report Program "Alpine Skiing U16 World Challenge"
Season 7: The Road to the World Cup
The program follows the U16 national team athletes who represent the future of alpine skiing. It follows their seniors who are competing in the World Cup, the world's highest level, and depicts their struggles towards the Youth World Championships.
- *The 2025/26 season report program is scheduled to be broadcast and streamed at the end of March 2025.
J:COM賞の贈呈
In the 2024/25 season, which marks the seventh year since the start of support, Ryoma Katayama, a participant in the first year, participated in the FIS World Cup, and as a result, we have established a new "J:COM Award" to honor the tireless efforts of athletes who have qualified to participate in the World Cup and to pray for their future success. As a supplementary prize, the awardee will receive an overseas expedition support fund (1 million yen for athletes who have qualified to participate in the World Cup for the first time, 200,000 yen for athletes who have participated in the World Cup for the first time).
- *The award winners for the 2025/26 season will be selected and presented in May 2026.
2024/25 season award ceremony (May 14, 2025, at SNOW AWARD)
(From the left J:COM Ohashi and Ryoma Katayama)
Ryoma Katayama (21 years old)
Born in 2003 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. He has steadily improved since his junior days, winning the Far East Cup (FEC) overall in the 2023/2024 season and earning an individual spot in the World Cup the following season. He has steadily gained experience by competing in a total of six races since the beginning of the 2024/2025 season.
Award comment
I am very happy to receive the "J:COM Award". As a participant in the first year of J:COM 's Next Generation Support Project, I believe that the reason I was able to reach the position of playing in the World Cup was because I was able to win a ticket to the Alpine Ski Lift when I was in junior high school and experience it through the project. If the U16 project continues in the future, I hope that there will be players like me who will not only play in the World Cup but also perform well at the World Cup, and I would like to work hard together with them. Please continue to support us.
(From the left J:COM Ohashi and Airen Watanabe)
Airen Watanabe (22 years old)
Born in 2003 in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. He has been a standout since his junior days, winning the National High School Ski Championships (Inter-High) while still a first-year high school student, and has steadily grown into one of the top skiers in Japan. He will compete in his first World Cup in the 2023/2024 season, and will expand the scope of his challenges by competing in a total of three races in the 2024/2025 season.
Award comment
I am truly grateful for receiving the prestigious J:COM Award. The season before last was my first time participating in the World Cup, and last season I was able to take on the big stage of the World Championships for the first time. I believe that the reason I have been able to continue this far is thanks to the support of everyone who has supported me since I was in my youth generation, and the warm encouragement of J:COM who has supported me for many years. The opportunities and experiences I received back then have led me to who I am today. Encouraged by this award, I will continue to work hard to aim even higher. I would appreciate your continued support.
[SNOW AWARD 2025] 1st J:COM Award acceptance speech (Ryoma Katayama/Airen Watanabe)
Acceptance speech
Please take a look at the video of J:COM Award presentation to Katayama and Watanabe at the SNOW AWARD and their acceptance speeches.
