More athletes eye dual careers for life after sports while filling labor gap
Players for a three-on-three basketball team balance practice with farming while providing a boost to the local community. (Photo by Hiroshi Tanda)
HIROSHI TANDA
August 10, 2025 22:34 JST
CHIBA, Japan — A new trend is developing in Japan’s sports world where professional and amateur athletes embrace farming, aiming for a dual career that leverages their physical strength and popularity to offer a future after sports and a boon to struggling rural areas.