The Unlimited Business Promotion Association is organizing a participatory event that combines culture, arts, and sports.

"2026 Unlimited Sports Festival"

This event will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at Yanmar Stadium Nagai (Sumiyoshi Ward).

 

■What is the Unlimited Sports Festival?

This event began in 2017 as the world's first attempt to allow athletes with and without disabilities to compete on the same field and under the same rules.

This is a place where you can grow as a person, towards a future of an inclusive society where everyone respects one another on equal footing and celebrates each other's efforts—a place where you can encounter new values.

Last year, the event was also held at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, attracting approximately 8,300 visitors. Aiming to create a space where everyone can interact on an equal footing, the project is expanding year by year in collaboration with companies, local governments, and community organizations.
 

■Karateka Kiyou Shimizu appointed as ambassador

This year, we have appointed karateka Kiyou Shimizu as an ambassador who embodies the spirit of "Unlimited." Together with Ms. Shimizu, who continues to take on challenges and connects her aspirations to the next generation through sports, we will widely promote the value of this event.
 

Karateka/Mikihouse affiliated: Kiyou Shimizu

A karateka from Osaka Prefecture, she achieved two consecutive world championships and seven consecutive All-Japan championships, and won a silver medal in women's kata at the Tokyo Olympics. She retired from competitive karate in 2024 and is currently dedicated to promoting Japanese culture and nurturing the next generation.
 

■Supporters appear as event hype team

Sign Singer®︎ Sho Kyoryoku

Inspired by a TV drama, she began learning sign language and now works as a "sign singer®," combining sign language and singing. She tours nationwide, performing at over 250 events annually with her soothing singing voice and sign language performances. She also uses YouTube and TikTok to promote a world where "no one is left behind."
 

Wheelchair YouTuber, Mako Shibuya

Raised in Yamagata Prefecture, he worked as an apprentice thatched roof craftsman, preserving Japan's rich cultural heritage. However, in July 2018, he suffered a spinal cord injury in a fall, resulting in a disability that requires him to use a wheelchair.
Hoping to give hope to others who use wheelchairs, she openly shares her life on YouTube and social media.

 

Para-athlete Shinji Horikoshi

She is a member of the NTT West Japan Track and Field Club. She participated in swimming during elementary school and started track and field when she entered junior high school. She competed in track long-distance events at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Paralympics, and has competed in marathon events since the 2016 Rio Paralympics, winning a bronze medal in Tokyo.

 

Kohei Kobayashi, a futsal player with autism

He plays for FC Barcelona Genuin. He is from Osaka Prefecture. He started playing disabled football in 2016 and represented Japan at the World Championships in 2018. In 2022, he moved to Spain and became the first Japanese player to appear in and score a goal in the Spanish league for people with intellectual disabilities. He is currently also involved in support activities.
 

■Tournament Overview: "2026 Unlimited Sports Festival"

Venue: Yanmar Stadium Nagai (1-1 Nagai Park, Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 546-0034)

Date and time: July 25, 2026 (Sat) 10:00-19:00

Contents:

[Competitions] Track and field competitions (sprints, middle distance, relays, long jump, javelin throw), esports, official Mölkky tournaments, official Boccia tournaments

[Culture & Arts] Opening (chews flavors!), Performance (ONETRIBE), Cafe where ordering takes time, Unlimi Art, Universal Dance Festival, Improvisation! Name Art Message, Signed Singer Stage

[Sports] Sports Excitement Booth Experience (OSAKA SPORTS PROJECT), Deaf Sports Experience, Amputee Soccer Experience, Running & Core Training/Stretching Class, Footbag, Karate Stage & Experience

[Services] Trainer booth, food truck, welfare nail salon

[Events] Planned activities include a bread-eating race, sports tag, and a toothbrush-making workshop.

Participation fee: Free admission and viewing. *Competition entry is subject to a fee.

Official page: https://kinki-unlimited-para-at.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlimispofes/