World · East Asia & Pacific · 18 hrs ago
Poker gains popularity among young people in Japan
Poker is gaining popularity among young people in Japan.
A poker school for children opened in Tokyo in June, and some parents see lessons as a way to develop judgment, mathematical thinking and emotional control.
Players use their private cards and shared cards to make the strongest hand, while weighing the chances of winning.
The number of poker venues in Japan grew from more than 200 in 2022 to 400 in 2024, according to the Japan Poker Business Association.
Some companies are also using poker to assess students during recruitment activities.
Supporters describe poker as a mind sport, but caution that it could lead to illegal gambling, including online casinos.
The sources give no specific next steps for the schools or companies using poker.
Poker is gaining popularity among younger people in Japan, where it is used for lessons and some companies’ recruitment activities.
A children’s poker school opened in Tokyo in June 2026, and some parents see the game as a way to develop judgment, mathematical thinking and emotional control.
The game’s growth has been linked to attention from online videos and the availability of smartphone apps during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of poker-specialty venues in Japan rose from more than 200 in 2022 to 400 in 2024.
The article cautions that poker should not become a gateway to illegal gambling, including online casinos.
- Who
- Young people in Japan, including children taking lessons, are among those playing poker. Some companies also use the game in recruitment activities.
- What
- Poker is growing in popularity as a mind sport, extracurricular activity and recruitment tool.
- When
- The game began gaining traction in Japan around 2020; the article was published on Nov. 8, 2026.
- Where
- Japan, including Tokyo.
- Why
- The article points to online videos featuring Japanese players, smartphone apps that made home play easier during the COVID-19 pandemic, and interest in developing cognitive skills.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Japan’s first poker-specialty venue opened in Tokyo’s Akihabara district.
Poker began gaining traction in Japan.
The number of poker-specialty venues in Japan surpassed 200.
The number of poker-specialty venues reached 400.
A poker school for children opened in Tokyo.
University students played poker with a corporate recruiter in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
- First specialty venue
- Opened in Akihabara, Tokyo, in 2007
- Poker venues
- More than 200 in 2022; 400 in 2024
- Children’s poker school
- Opened in Tokyo in June 2026
- Poker class participants
- 14 elementary and middle school students gathered in late August
- Hiring activity
- Some companies use poker in recruitment activities
What people are saying
Poker is appealing because of the attractiveness of being a mind sport that requires intellectual skill.
A few years ago, programming was the big trend in extracurricular lessons, but that is now becoming a skill AI can replace.
I learned that poker isn't about luck, but that it is important to think in terms of probabilities.