On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, NAOYA, a totally blind esports player and employee of ePARA, Inc., spoke at the Esports Research Network Conference 2026 (ERNC2026), an international academic and industry conference held at the University of Tsukuba in Japan.
In Business Session 2, he joined a discussion on social participation and international exchange through esports, as well as collaboration between national and local governments and private companies. Drawing on his lived experience and ePARA’s work, he shared how esports can connect people with one another and with society.
Esports Through the Lens of Diplomacy and Public Policy
The session compared esports to a “Swiss Army knife” with many different uses, exploring its potential beyond competition. Examples included Cloud9’s engagement with fans and partnerships with universities, and FITGMR’s work in health and talent development. These initiatives highlighted the importance of bringing together the knowledge and strengths of the public and private sectors.
The discussion also emphasized that investment in tournaments needs to be accompanied by trust with local residents and existing communities, clear goals, and sustained cooperation. During the Q&A, the conversation expanded to ethical challenges in international business and the sustainability of business models that rely less heavily on sponsorship.
This was NAOYA’s first time speaking at an international academic conference. It offered a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge and ideas with three speakers with extensive experience. Japanese and English captions generated by Pocketalk’s AI translation and interpreting service appeared on the venue’s screens, while NAOYA participated by listening to Pocketalk’s audio interpretation.
Speakers in ERNC2026 Business Session 2
| Name | Profile |
| Jordan Whitaker Affiliation:The College of William & Mary, USA Title:Director of Esports | Whitaker advances esports education, student career development, and international exchange. Drawing on his experience in national security and expertise in public policy, he connects universities with industry to promote intercultural understanding and public–private collaboration. As moderator, he explored the uses of esports in domestic and foreign policy and its social value from multiple perspectives. |
| Emily Gonzalez-Holland Affiliation:Cloud9 Esports Titel:Senior Director of Operations | Gonzalez-Holland entered esports after conducting psychology research related to U.S. Navy training and simulation. With more than a decade of industry experience, she oversees operations, long-term strategy, and partnerships at Cloud9. Based in Tokyo, she also focuses on developing the Japanese market. In this session, she discussed public–private collaboration, fan engagement, and cultural exchange. |
| Kristin Anderson Affiliation:FITGMR Title:CEO & Co-Founder | Anderson moved from investment banking into health and wellness. Through science-based training, she supports esports players’ physical and mental health and competitive performance. She also works with governments, educational institutions, and esports organizations to develop players and coaches. In this session, she emphasized trust between the public and private sectors and the importance of sustained support. |
| NAOYA Affiliation:ePARA Title:Esports Player, Narrator, Voice Actor, and Engineer | Blind from birth, NAOYA plays Street Fighter 6 using sound cues. He also works as a narrator, voice actor, and engineer. Drawing on his lived experience of disability, he works to improve game accessibility and create opportunities for people with and without disabilities to connect. |
Games Create Connections and Encourage People to Pursue Their Goals
NAOYA described how he has enjoyed games by relying on sound since childhood and now competes in Street Fighter 6. With support from Pocketalk, he shared his thoughts in Japanese with fellow speakers and participants from overseas.
Even when people feel unsure about how to interact with someone with a disability, playing a game together can lead naturally to conversation. Drawing on his everyday experience, NAOYA explained how gaming can help lower barriers between people.
He also shared examples of fellow players, including one who developed a controller to suit their physical needs and went on to compete in an overseas tournament. These experiences showed how games can create opportunities for people to pursue their dreams again.
Creating an environment that people can readily participate in also requires equipment and support staff suited to different disabilities. NAOYA stressed the importance of inviting local government officials and policymakers to experience these activities firsthand and deepen their understanding by meeting and listening to the people involved.
Taking on Global Challenges Together with Hawk Gaming Group
As an example of international collaboration, the session also introduced ePARA’s work with Hawk Gaming Group, a gaming and esports company based in Saudi Arabia.
On September 24, 2025, ePARA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the company at the Japan–Saudi EXPO Investment Forum, held at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai venue. The two companies are advancing collaboration that connects Japan and Saudi Arabia through barrier-free esports.
The session introduced the “ePARA × Saudi Vision 2030” initiative, supported by a subsidy program for petroleum refining technologies and related initiatives in oil-producing countries administered by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). It also covered the strategic partnership with Hawk Gaming Group, their joint activities at EVO 2026, and prospects for future exchanges between the two countries.
During the discussion, ePARA employee Teruo Hosogai also introduced some of the company’s initiatives. ePARA actively develops and shares examples in which people with disabilities take the leading role. He explained that, as these examples gradually reach audiences around the world, they could help international events such as the Esports World Cup and Esports Nations Cup become more accessible in the future.
ePARA will continue sharing lived experiences and practical work in Japan and internationally, working with researchers, businesses, and public authorities to build a society in which everyone has more opportunities to realize their potential.
About ERNC2026 and Its Role in Connecting Research and Practice
ERNC2026 was an international esports conference held at the University Hall of the University of Tsukuba from Tuesday, September 15, to Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Its theme was “Bridging Gaming Heritage and Esports Futures: Transformations, Traditions, and Tomorrow.” With the aim of connecting gaming’s cultural heritage with the future of esports, the conference brought together 163 researchers, educators, and industry representatives from 30 countries, including Japan, to share their knowledge of esports.
The three-day program is summarized below.
| Date | Main Program |
| Tuesday, September 15 | Opening remarks; a panel on the roles of gaming companies and public institutions; a keynote on the history and future of esports in Japan; and academic presentations on health, psychology, competitive performance, and related topics. |
| Wednesday, September 16 | Panels on the use of esports in domestic and foreign policy and the role of academia; a keynote on gaming culture and digital society; and academic presentations on law and ethics, communities, media, business, and related topics. |
| Thursday, September 17 | A panel on grassroots education and player careers; a keynote on community-centered development; academic presentations on education, AI, diversity, international exchange, sustainability, and related topics; and closing remarks. |
The Session Featuring NAOYA
| Item | Details |
| Date and time | Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. |
| Venue and session | Main Hall, University Hall, University of Tsukuba / Business Session 2 |
| Theme | Esports – A Swiss Army Knife: Government Use for Domestic & Foreign Policy Objectives |
| Moderator | Jordan Whitaker, Director of Esports, The College of William & Mary |
| Panelists | Emily Gonzalez-Holland (Cloud9 Esports), Kristin Anderson (FITGMR), and NAOYA (ePARA) |
| Main topics | Public–private collaboration; education and health; accessibility; international exchange; local communities; and sustainable business development. |
Acknowledgments
We sincerely thank Jordan Whitaker, Director of Esports at The College of William & Mary, for guiding the discussion; Tsubasa Shinohara of the University of Tsukuba and Yu Nishioka of Pocketalk for supporting the conference and this speaking opportunity; and everyone else who helped make it possible.
It was a pleasure to meet Sayo Okamoto of GAKU during the conference and discuss a range of topics, including our collaboration with Hawk Gaming Group. We look forward to opportunities to work together in the future.
In preparing for the session, we held a series of discussions with Dr. Tsubasa Shinohara, Jordan Whitaker, and Mr. Nishioka using Pocketalk, which helped us prepare successfully for the event. We are especially grateful to Dr. Shinohara for his considerable care and coordination in arranging our participation. We sincerely appreciate this valuable opportunity.
