What FUNROOTS does

FUNROOTS Co., Ltd. (株式会社ファンルーツ) is a Tokyo-based private sports education company founded in 2003 that operates a vertically integrated youth soccer business under its 'Football + One' coaching philosophy. The company runs three permanent soccer school locations in Tokyo — Komazawa, Roka Koen, and Osaki (co-branded with Puma) — offering training programs for children ages 2 through junior high, and operates the wholly-owned competitive club FC Toreros in Suginami ward. It also owns and operates the Funroots Park Ashikagaen facility in Setagaya, a 36m x 18m artificial turf field with fitness area, recreation room, and event space that is available for hourly rental to outside teams and event organizers.

The company's revenue is diversified across subscription-based school membership fees billed via direct debit, one-time event registration fees (tournaments, camps, clinics such as Skill-up Clinics and Technical Courses), facility rental at ¥8,800-¥15,400 per hour, premium international tour packages (approximately ¥500,000 per participant for England expeditions), and professional club management services through its Communication & Creative division. Booking is conducted through the third-party Picro platform. FUNROOTS supplements its recurring school business with a substantial event portfolio anchored by the annual COPA TOREROS international youth tournament held since 2010, recurring international clinic partnerships with VfL Bochum and Oxford City FC, and guest sessions featuring professional players from clubs including Manchester United and FC Barcelona.

Operationally, FUNROOTS employs between 11 and 50 staff and is founder-led by Representative Director Jun Hirano (平野淳). In 2025 the company announced strategic partnerships with I Peace, Inc. and Reju, Inc. to explore iPS cell technology applications in athlete injury treatment, rehabilitation, and performance optimization — an unusual vertical extension for a youth soccer academy that signals potential diversification into sports health and regenerative biotechnology. The company maintains its primary digital presence through Instagram (@funrootsacademy, @funrootsinternational), its website funroots.net, and the FUNROOTS EYE educational web magazine.

Name

FUNROOTS

Legal name

株式会社ファンルーツ

Website

https://funroots.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FUNROOTS Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based sports education company founded in 2003 operating youth soccer schools, the FC Toreros competitive club, an owned artificial-turf facility, and annual international tournaments under its 'Football + One' philosophy, serving families with children ages 2-12 across Tokyo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Soccer Academy

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Club Sports Programs (EDALAIAB), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF)

Keywords

• Youth soccer academy
• Soccer coaching services
• Youth sports education
• Sports facility rental
• International soccer programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Soccer School Fees: Weekly/monthly soccer school programs for children ages 2-12, with membership-based recurring fees billed via direct debit.
2. Facility Rental: Hourly rental of Fanroots Park artificial turf field (36m x 18m) for events, training, and sports activities.
3. Event Registration Fees: One-time fees for camps, clinics, tournaments, personal training sessions, and special events such as COPA TOREROS international tournaments.
4. International Programs: Premium overseas tours including England expeditions (approximately 500,000 yen for members) combining training, stadium visits, and homestay experiences.
5. Club Support Services: Operational support and management services for affiliated soccer clubs including FC Toreros.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FUNROOTS operates a network of youth soccer schools across Tokyo (Komazawa, Roka Koen, Osaki) offering recurring weekly training programs for children ages 2 through junior high school. The company also runs the FC Toreros competitive club, the annual COPA TOREROS international youth tournament, owns the Funroots Park sports facility (36m x 18m artificial turf field), and delivers international training tours, clinics, and camps.

Product overview

FUNROOTS operates as a multi-faceted football education organization built around the concept of 'Football + 1'. The core offering consists of the Funroots Academy (a network of soccer schools across Tokyo with locations in Komazawa, Roka, and Osaki), which provides training from preschool through junior high. The FC Toreros club competes at youth levels, while COPA TOREROS is an annual international youth tournament. The company operates the Funroots Park Roka Koen facility featuring a 36m x 18m artificial turf field. Supplementary services include personal training, technical courses, MTM/video-analysis clinics, skill-up clinics, fitness training, and international programs including overseas tours to England and Taiwan. Additional offerings encompass the GLOBAL CAMP (Oxford methodology program), FCC social initiatives, communication/creative services for club management, the FUNROOTS EYE educational magazine, and various events like mini tournaments, soccer tours, and parent-child programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FCトレーロス (FC Toreros): Football club brand operated by FUNROOTS for youth and junior youth soccer programs
• COPA TOREROS
• ファンルーツパーク芦花公園 (Funroots Park Roka Koen)
• エフプラスサッカースクール (F Plus Soccer School)

Products and services

• Funroots Academy Soccer Schools Recurring weekly soccer training programs for children from toddler age (2) through junior high school, delivered at three permanent Tokyo school locations (Komazawa, Roka Koen, Osaki). Membership-based with direct debit billing.
• FC Toreros Competitive Club Selective competitive soccer club for junior youth and youth players based in Suginami, Tokyo, providing intensive training and competitive match play as a talent pathway to high school and professional soccer.
• COPA TOREROS International Tournament Annual international youth soccer tournament organized since 2010 under the motto 'Football Connects the World', featuring multiple age categories and international club participation.
• Funroots Park Roka Koen Facility Rental Hourly rental of a 36m x 18m artificial turf field with fitness area, recreation room, and event space located in Setagaya, Tokyo. Available to teams, clubs, and event organizers for training and competitions.
• Personal Training Sessions One-on-one personalized soccer coaching sessions targeting specific skill areas and individual improvement goals.
• International Training Programs (England Tours) Premium overseas training tours including 8-day England expeditions (~500,000 yen for members) combining professional coaching, stadium visits, homestay experiences, and matches with Oxford City FC.
• GLOBAL CAMP Oxford Football Method International training program developed jointly with Oxford University and Ignite Sport UK, combining English language learning with football training using the Oxford Football Method.
• Mama & Kids Parent-Child Soccer Parent-child soccer programs for children aged 2-4 years and their guardians, priced at 1,100 yen per person or 5,500 yen for a 6-session ticket.
• Mini Funroots Cup Tournament Tournament events for age categories U7 through U12, including the King of Three tournament at 11,000 yen per team (4-6 players).
• Summer Camps and Seasonal Excursions Seasonal soccer camps and excursions including summer training camps, nature excursions, and outdoor activities for enrolled youth players.
• VfL Bochum Clinic Special training clinic bringing German Bundesliga coaching methodology to Japanese youth players, priced at 3,300 yen for members and 4,400 yen for general participants.
• Soccer Zammai Tour

Quantifiable outcome

• 21 years of continuous operation with growing program portfolio
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VfL BochumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 November 2025German Bundesliga club providing academy coaches for special training clinics in Japan. FUNROOTS hosts VfL Bochum coaches for youth development programs, bringing world-class German training methodology directly to Japanese participants. Partnership has been repeated annually since 2024.
• I Peace, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to explore iPS cell technology applications in sports. Jointly developing solutions for athlete injury treatment, rehabilitation acceleration, and performance optimization. I Peace provides iPS cell expertise while FUNROOTS contributes sports industry insights and athlete access.
• Reju, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartneriPS cell-derived ingredient company (iPSF) developing beauty and health solutions. Partnership aims to bring regenerative health technologies to sports applications including athlete recovery and long-term wellness programs.
• Oxford City FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnglish football club enabling overseas training programs for FUNROOTS participants. Joint training sessions and matches arranged during England expeditions. Part of Oxford Football Method international collaboration with Ignite Sport UK.
• Ignite Sport UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK sports education organization co-developing the 'Oxford Football Method' program delivered in Japan. Justin Merritt serves as UEFA A licensed instructor and Oxford City FC representative. Programs combine English football training with academic-style methodology.
• FC Barcelona (Youth Academy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish club youth academy (La Masia tradition) participants join King of Three tournament finals as special guests, providing international competition exposure for Japanese youth players.
• Manchester UnitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional player Mount participated in FC Toreros training session as special guest coach, providing world-class training insights and motivation for Japanese youth players.
• Kosei Gakuen Junior/Senior High SchoolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational institution providing training grounds for FC Toreros junior youth operations. Venue partnership enables club practice sessions in Suginami ward.
• Puma Soccer School OsakiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-branded soccer school at Osaki location under Puma equipment partnership. Operates as part of FUNROOTS school network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Kawasaki Frontale Soccer School: J-League club-affiliated soccer school network operating across Kanagawa and Tokyo, targeting youth development with club pathway integration — a key domestic competitor using a similar regional-club-affiliated academy model.

Broad incumbents

• FC Barcelona Escola Tokyo: Global La Masia-affiliated soccer schools operating in Tokyo under the FC Barcelona brand — a comparable premium youth soccer school model leveraging international brand equity and methodology licensing.
• Bayern Munich Youth Academy Programs: German Bundesliga club's global youth development initiatives including Japan clinics — comparable international partnership model that FUNROOTS itself replicates with VfL Bochum and Oxford City FC.

Direct peers

• ASPIRE Academy: Qatar-based elite youth multi-sport academy offering residential training, international competition exposure, and holistic player development — directly comparable to FUNROOTS' integrated academy/club/tournament model with a strong international partnership layer.
• Global Premier Soccer: US-based youth soccer training and events operator offering camps, clinics, and club services — directly comparable in its multi-program youth soccer school and event portfolio structure.
• Coerver Coaching: Global youth soccer coaching methodology and licensed program provider — comparable in that both businesses monetize coaching IP through partner/school networks rather than purely direct academy operations.
• IMG Academy: US-based youth sports academy providing sport-specific training, performance services, and college-prep pathways — comparable in its multi-revenue (tuition, camps, events, facility) approach and methodology-led positioning.
• Challenger Sports: North American youth soccer coaching and camp operator (British Soccer Camps brand) — comparable in international-coach-led clinic programs and youth-focused camp/event revenue model.
• JFA Academy Fukushima: Japan Football Association's residential youth academy combining elite coaching, education, and international exposure — directly comparable in target market (Japanese elite youth players) and methodology-intensive approach.

Emerging players

• KidZania Japan: Tokyo-based indoor facility operator delivering structured educational and recreational experiences for young children — comparable facility-based business model targeting Japanese families with young kids (overlapping with FUNROOTS' parent-child segment).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/funrootsacademy
• Xx.com/funrootsacademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/funrootsacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/funroots

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FUNROOTS