Let's All Try This Trending Sport! Pickleball Event Report

The “Social Good Neighbors (SGNs)” project began with the idea that, through social apartments, “we can all have fun working together to make small, positive changes in the world, one step at a time.”

So far, we’ve organized activities that incorporate small acts of social good into everyday life, such as “plogging” — which combines jogging with picking up litter—and “KIFUBAR,” an event where you can make donations while enjoying a drink.

In this report, we’ll share highlights from our latest event, the “Pickleball Event,” which we held recently!

Why Pickleball? A Sport “Anyone Can Easily Enjoy,” Chosen from an SDGs Perspective

Have you heard of the sport “pickleball,” which is all the rage right now?
Originating in the United States, it’s a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. In recent years, it has been featured more frequently on TV and social media in Japan, rapidly gaining popularity.

Since the pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court and the ball is made of lightweight plastic, the game doesn’t rely heavily on athletic ability or muscle strength. This makes it incredibly accessible—anyone can enjoy it, regardless of gender, age, or prior sports experience.

From the perspective of the SDGs, it aligns with Goal 3, “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at every stage of life,” and Goal 5, “Achieve gender equality,” making it the perfect sport to embody the SGNs Project’s concept of “having fun together.”

Actually, we had planned this event once before, but unfortunately, it was canceled due to rain. The organizing team had been waiting for another chance, thinking, “We absolutely want to give this another shot…” when we came across the exciting news that a new indoor court was opening in Tokyo! Our staff won the battle for reservations and successfully secured the court.

We immediately began accepting registrations via “ Neighborland,” the app exclusively for residents, and to our surprise, it was so popular that we reached capacity in just half a day! Many participants shared comments like, “I’ve always wanted to try this, so I thought this was a great opportunity to join.”

▲Sansan Pickleball Court Ikebukuro, opening in July 2026

Off to the court! We started with the basics

On the day of the event, 13 residents from various properties joined us. Since they lived in different buildings, most of them were meeting each other for the first time. Although some looked a little nervous at first, by the time we stepped onto the court, conversations had naturally begun to flow.

We rented two courts for this event and spent a full two hours getting active. About 60% of the participants were trying pickleball for the first time. So, we began the first half of the event with practice sessions divided into “beginner teams” and “experienced teams.”

A staff member from our company—who is a huge fan of pickleball—joined the beginner team as an instructor. They carefully taught the basics, such as how to grip the racket (paddle) and how to hit the ball.

One of the great things about pickleball is how quickly you can get the hang of it. Even participants who initially missed the ball or struggled to control their power were able to sustain rhythmic rallies just a few dozen minutes later. Exclamations like “Wow, that’s amazing! We kept it going!” and “This is fun!” rang out from all around, and smiles began to spread.

Beginners and Experienced Players Team Up for a Match

Once they’d mastered the basics and gotten used to the ball, it was finally time for the second half of the event. From here on, beginners and experienced players teamed up to take on doubles matches!

While the experienced players skillfully supported the beginners and capitalized on their opponents’ weaknesses to score points, there were also moments of great excitement when a beginner’s return took an unexpected trajectory and landed perfectly.

When a point was scored after a fierce rally, the partners naturally high-fived each other with beaming smiles!

Whether it was congratulating each other on great plays or chatting casually on the bench during breaks… enjoying the sport together seemed to completely break down the barriers between properties and melt away the tension of meeting for the first time.

Seeing everyone working up a pleasant sweat together—regardless of gender or skill level—truly embodied the SDGs themes of “Gender Equality” and “Good Health and Well-being.”

A Community That Extends Beyond the Event Itself

Time flew by during the intense games, and the event wrapped up smoothly with a group photo at the end.
As it was time to leave, participants naturally started inviting one another, saying, “Let’s all go grab lunch together afterward!”

Furthermore, this led to discussions about starting a “Pickleball Club.”
To make it easy for people other than the participants this time to join, they also launched a community within the residents-only app’s “Circles” feature (a function that allows residents to create hobby groups with one another).
The organizer remarked, “I’d actually been thinking about starting a club like this for a while.” Friends around him were already affectionately calling him “Club President.”

It wasn’t just about planning the event and calling it a day; the experience sparked the birth of a resident-led community that will continue to foster ongoing interaction… This pickleball event truly succeeded in providing the kind of opportunity that Social Good Neighbors aims for—a place where everyone can come together and have fun.

When people hear terms like “SDGs” or “social good,” many might find them a bit daunting or feel a bit intimidated. However, as seen here, the very act of getting healthy exercise through a sport that everyone can enjoy on an equal footing—and the resulting creation of a sustainable community that extends beyond the boundaries of a single building—is in itself a commendable step toward social good.

Because life in a social apartment involves daily interaction, it’s an environment where it’s easy to try new things.
At SGNs, we’ll continue to incorporate the SDGs into our initiatives and deliver programs that bring a little excitement and positive change to your daily lives.

We look forward to seeing you all at our next event!

▼What Is the Social Good Neighbors Project?
These days, we’re hearing terms like “ethical,” “food waste,” and “SDGs” more and more. Many of us want to do something good for society but aren’t sure exactly what to do. This project began with the idea of using social apartments as a platform to start making a positive difference in the world, little by little, “together and with fun.”
Through various social good activities, we’ll take on challenges that we’re all eager to try together, creating opportunities to gradually shift our awareness.

(Text and photos: Hashimoto)