LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. to Launch "D-UNLOCK" with Dribble Designer Masakazu Okabe Across Six Schools in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area

LEIFRAS (Nasdaq:LFS) announced the June 2026 launch of 1v1 DRIBBLE ACADEMY D-UNLOCK across six schools in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Rhea-AI Summary

LEIFRAS (Nasdaq:LFS) announced the June 2026 launch of 1v1 DRIBBLE ACADEMY D-UNLOCK across six schools in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Developed with dribble designer Masakazu Okabe, the program combines his “99% Unstoppable Dribble Theory” with Leifras’ nationwide youth sports infrastructure of approximately 4,500 locations.

The curriculum standardizes Okabe’s 150,000-word dribbling analysis into reproducible coaching, aiming to build both technical skill and non-cognitive abilities such as confidence and resilience. LEIFRAS plans to expand D-UNLOCK nationwide to help foster a “culture of challenge” among children in Japan.

Argus May 26 session

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News Market Reaction – LFS

On May 26, the day this news came out, LFS closed 1.97% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the May 26 session.

Key Figures

Initial school sites: 6 schools Social media following: 2.4 million Unstoppable dribble theory: 99% +2 more

Initial school sites

6 schools

Launch of D-UNLOCK in Tokyo metropolitan area from June 2026

Social media following

2.4 million

Masakazu Okabe’s global dribbling coach presence

Unstoppable dribble theory

99%

“99% Unstoppable Dribble Theory” underpinning the academy

Theory length

150,000 words

Systemized analysis of dribbling technique used in curriculum

Domestic locations

approximately 4,500 locations

Leifras’ domestic network available for academy rollout

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: 2026-05-21

5 events

1. 2026-05-21

   Tokai Sports acquisition

   24h Move

   +1.4%

   Acquisition of 100% of Tokai Sports to expand school network.

2. 2026-05-14

   Ranked No. 1 clubs

   24h Move

   +1.1%

   Recognition as No. 1 in Japan by supported school club contracts.

3. 2026-05-12

   Fukuoka swimming contract

   24h Move

   -3.3%

   Re-selection for expanded swimming lesson support across 43 schools.

4. 2026-05-05

   Weekend club contract

   24h Move

   +5.5%

   Awarded management of junior high weekend club activities and strong sales growth.

5. 2026-04-28

   Kamikawa partnership

   24h Move

   -1.5%

   Partnership for sports-driven regional revitalization project in Hokkaido.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

non-cognitive skill development

1 terms

non-cognitive skill development technical

"World-Class Technique × Non-Cognitive Skill Development: Mr. Okabe's technical mastery..."

Non-cognitive skill development is the process of building traits such as perseverance, communication, teamwork, emotional control and adaptability that aren’t measured by tests but shape how people behave and learn. For investors, these skills matter because they strengthen workforce productivity, reduce turnover and improve the chances that training and technology investments pay off — think of them as the behavioral “muscles” that help a company get more value from its people over time.

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A Next-Generation Soccer School Uniting World-Class Dribbling Technique with Leifras' Nationwide Educational Infrastructure to Unlock Children's Potential

TOKYO, May 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: LFS) (the "Company" or "Leifras"), a sports and social business company dedicated to youth sports and community engagement, today announced the launch of "1v1 DRIBBLE ACADEMY D-UNLOCK" ("D-UNLOCK") across six schools in the Tokyo metropolitan area beginning in June 2026. Developed in strategic partnership with Masakazu Okabe, an acclaimed dribble designer, D-UNLOCK is expected to bring together Mr. Okabe's world-class technique and Leifras' leading position in youth sports education to cultivate both technical excellence and mental resilience in the next generation of competitive individuals.

Why "Dribble-Specific" Now: Unlocking the Potential of Japanese Children

In recent years, youth soccer in Japan has faced growing challenges tied to low self-esteem among children, characterized by a fear of making mistakes and hesitation to take risks due to peer pressure. D-UNLOCK is designed to go beyond a conventional skills academy by redefining dribbling as a vehicle for courageous self-expression. Grounded in Mr. Okabe's core philosophy, "Do not compare, do not criticize, and never stop trying," the academy is designed to treat mistakes as an essential part of the learning process, fostering a positive environment where children feel empowered to take on challenges with confidence.

The Globally Acclaimed Masakazu Okabe Theory: Transforming Intuition into a Structured Curriculum

Mr. Okabe has built a global presence as a dribbling coach, with a social media following exceeding 2.4 million and training experiences spanning Asia, Europe, and South America. D-UNLOCK marks the first structured youth program based on Mr. Okabe's "99% Unstoppable Dribble Theory," which has been highly praised by international football players. The program brings this expertise into youth sports education by transforming his dribbling philosophy into a structured curriculum. While dribbling is usually regarded as a matter of pure talent or raw intuition, D-UNLOCK aims to demystify the skill through a logical, teachable methodology grounded in Mr. Okabe's systemized 150,000-word analysis of the technique.

• Highly Reproducible Instruction: The curriculum introduces a unique methodology that structurally explains "why a player can get past a defender," breaking it down into actionable language.
• Standardized Coaching Quality: Utilizing Leifras' extensive operational know-how, Mr. Okabe's technique has been standardized into a scalable coaching manual, ensuring top-tier instruction quality across all school locations.

Leifras × Masakazu Okabe: Building a "Next-Generation Educational Infrastructure"

By uniting Leifras' robust nationwide sports school infrastructure with Mr. Okabe's proven technical expertise, the Company believes this partnership will generate meaningful synergy between scalable sports school operations and specialized youth sports education.

• World-Class Technique × Non-Cognitive Skill Development: Mr. Okabe's technical mastery, detailed in his 150,000-word theory, is integrated with Leifras' long-standing coaching methodology centered on "acknowledging, praising, encouraging, and motivating." This holistic approach is designed to nurture world-standard players by fostering balanced development across mind, technique, and body.
• Global Influence × Domestic No. 1 Network with Approximately 4,500 Locations: Leveraging Mr. Okabe's extensive digital reach for student acquisition, coupled with Leifras' rapid rollout capability across its approximately 4,500 domestic locations and rigorous safety standards, the Company believes it is well-positioned to scale these high-quality academies nationwide at an accelerated pace.

Future Outlook: Cultivating a "Culture of Challenge" Across Japan

Following the initial launch in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Leifras plans to expand D-UNLOCK to major cities nationwide. Through this expansion, the Company aims to transcend the boundaries of a traditional soccer school and foster a "culture of challenge" across Japan, inspiring children to confidently embrace new opportunities and view failure as a stepping stone to growth.

About LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Leifras is a sports and social business company dedicated to youth sports and community engagement. The Company primarily provides services related to the organization and operations of sports schools and sports events for children. As of December 31, 2025, Leifras was recognized as one of Japan's largest operators of children's sports schools in terms of both membership and facilities by Tokyo Shoko Research. The Company's approach to sports education emphasizes the development of non-cognitive skills, following the teaching principle "acknowledge, praise, encourage, and motivate." The holistic approach that integrates physical and mental development sets Leifras apart in the industry. Building upon deep experience and know-how in sports education, Leifras also operates a robust social business sector, dispatching sports coaches to meet various community needs with the aim to promote physical health, social inclusion, and community well-being across different demographics.

For more information, please visit the Company's website: https://ir.leifras.co.jp/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as "approximates," "believes," "hopes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "plans," "will," "would," "should," "could," "may," or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.

For more information, please contact:

LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.
Investor Relations Department
Email: IR@leifras.co.jp

Ascent Investor Relations LLC
Tina Xiao
Phone: +1-646-932-7242
Email: investors@ascent-ir.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leifras-co-ltd-to-launch-d-unlock-with-dribble-designer-masakazu-okabe-across-six-schools-in-the-tokyo-metropolitan-area-302781541.html

SOURCE LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is LEIFRAS (Nasdaq:LFS) launching with Masakazu Okabe in June 2026?

LEIFRAS is launching the 1v1 DRIBBLE ACADEMY D-UNLOCK across six Tokyo metropolitan schools in June 2026. According to LEIFRAS, the academy merges Okabe’s structured dribbling theory with its youth sports infrastructure to build technique, confidence, and resilience in children.

How does the D-UNLOCK soccer program by LEIFRAS (LFS) and Masakazu Okabe work?

D-UNLOCK turns Masakazu Okabe’s 150,000-word dribbling theory into a structured, teachable curriculum. According to LEIFRAS, it explains why players can pass defenders, standardizes coaching manuals, and integrates praise-based teaching to develop both technical skills and non-cognitive abilities in young players.

Where will LEIFRAS (LFS) first roll out the D-UNLOCK soccer schools?

LEIFRAS will first roll out D-UNLOCK at six schools in the Tokyo metropolitan area starting June 2026. According to LEIFRAS, this launch is the initial step before expanding the program to major cities nationwide across its domestic sports school network.

How large is LEIFRAS’ sports school network supporting the D-UNLOCK launch?

LEIFRAS reports a domestic network of approximately 4,500 locations that can support D-UNLOCK’s rollout. According to LEIFRAS, this scale, combined with Mr. Okabe’s digital reach, is expected to help expand high-quality dribbling academies nationwide at an accelerated pace.

What is Masakazu Okabe’s role in the LEIFRAS (LFS) D-UNLOCK initiative?

Masakazu Okabe provides the technical foundation through his “99% Unstoppable Dribble Theory” and curriculum design. According to LEIFRAS, his globally recognized dribbling expertise is standardized into manuals, ensuring reproducible, high-quality coaching across all D-UNLOCK school locations.

What future expansion plans does LEIFRAS (LFS) have for the D-UNLOCK soccer academy?

LEIFRAS plans to expand D-UNLOCK from the initial Tokyo-area launch to major cities across Japan. According to LEIFRAS, the goal is to use its nationwide network to foster a broad “culture of challenge,” encouraging children to embrace failure as part of growth.

How does the LEIFRAS (LFS) D-UNLOCK program aim to benefit Japanese children?

D-UNLOCK aims to counter low self-esteem and fear of mistakes in youth soccer by reframing errors as learning opportunities. According to LEIFRAS, the program focuses on “acknowledging, praising, encouraging, and motivating” to build courage, self-expression, and balanced development of mind, technique, and body.