NIIGATA, Japan – Yonex is excited to announce that its new R&D facility, the Yonex Performance Innovation Center, is fully operational as of July 2024 in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture.

To pursue Yonex’s purpose: to “craft a better future with unique innovations,” this facility aims to revolutionize the process in which the company uncovers new innovations. The facility is strategically located next to its existing manufacturing site to help drive quicker conversions from idea to product, while strengthening the analysis of the ways people play sports.

In order to introduce performance-driven innovations for different player levels and types, a richer analysis of diverse playstyles is necessary. To achieve this, the 25,400㎡ Yonex Performance Innovation Center allows researchers to utilize specialized courts that have been outfitted with equipment that captures detailed analytics. There is also a multi-purpose arena that can be converted into eight badminton courts or two tennis courts as needed, along with a gym and other facilities to support top-level training camps. Yonex has created six additional outdoor tennis courts that symbolize the surfaces of world tennis tournaments and allow the facility to support analysis and research for all real-world sporting scenarios and conditions.

Another major capability strength of this facility is its location adjacent to one of Yonex’s manufacturing sites. Accumulated data is linked to the manufacturing facility, leading to speedy prototype development in as little as 24 hours. This will allow Yonex to bring agile development to its equipment, embodying the philosophy of “fail fast” in the prototyping process and allowing product designers to test ideas and accelerate the rate of innovation.

Initially, the facility will support development with racquet sports such as tennis and badminton. Yonex will later expand the facility’s capabilities to also enhance its innovations within other sports, including golf and snowboarding. In addition to its research function, it will serve as a training ground for top players and junior athletes alike.

With an eye continually on opportunities for greater innovation, Yonex aims to advance sports development and revolutionize how it achieves and delivers performance equipment to its customers around the world.

* The facility is not planned to be open to the general public.

About the Yonex Performance Innovation Center

Main Facilities

Outdoor tennis courts

The facility is equipped with six tennis courts outside that symbolize the court surfaces of world tennis tournaments; four hard courts of two types, one natural grass court, and one red clay court.

Indoor courts

Multi-purpose Arena  (Minoru Yoneyama Arena) / Research Courts (SŌGEN/SORA Court）

The multi-purpose arena can be used as either eight badminton courts or two tennis courts. The research court uses advanced equipment to precisely analyze players’ movement, swinging action, impact with the ball, and general play style.

Other facilities

* Image for illustrative purposes

Outside of the courts, the facility is also fully equipped with a fitness gym, meeting rooms, showers, and a spa to accommodate training camps for top and junior athletes.

Name: Yonex Performance Innovation Center

Location: Nakayama, Takatou-machi, Nagaoka-shi, Niigata, Japan

Total surface area: 25,400㎡

Research and development building area: 5,109㎡

Research and development building floor area: 8,581㎡