Kenko Soft Tennis Highlighted in Colorado Tennis Newspaper -- December 22, 2008

Tokyo, Japan - December 22, 2008 - Nagase Kenko Corporation would like to extend its best for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year and enclose below a recent article which appeared in the fall edition of Colorado Tennis, the official publication for tennis lovers, published by the Colorado Tennis Association since 1976. You can read the article on page 26-27 by clicking here to access the full newsletter , which is also included below.

Article posted courtesy of the Colorado Tennis Association

Are You Ready for Soft Tennis?

Soft Tennis is a strange animal. Sort of a cross between tennis and badminton, the game originated in Asia in the 1870s, played in a school setting as part of a physical education curriculum. Soft Tennis gained popularity and spread to a more mainstream audience, and has become the choice version of tennis for about 40% of players in Japan. A slower, more strategic version of the game, Soft Tennis emphasizes longer rallies and a focus on cardiovascular fitness, hand-eye coordination, ball placement and footwork.

The "soft" in Soft Tennis is the inflatable rubber ball. Unlike a standard felt-covered version, the pressure can be adjusted to accommodate faster speeds and greater spin, allowing players to tailor the game to suit their ability and training objectives. Its composition also makes it more difficult to generate as much force when hitting the ball, keeping the ball on the court. The current popularity and growth of Soft Tennis is reflected in the creation of the International Soft Tennis Federation and the World Soft Tennis Championships, which began in 1975 and have been held every four years since. The International Soft Tennis Federation has more then forty-five actively participating member countries/regions. In 1990, Soft Tennis became an official exhibition game at the OCA's Asian Game of Sports, and an official event, in 1994, at the Hiroshima Games. More importantly, there are a number of well- promoted and proactive campaigns to get Soft Tennis recognized by the International Olympic Committee as an official Olympic event.

As a result of this increased recognition and interest in the game, Nagase Kenko Corporation, one of Japan's leading Soft Tennis product and sporting goods manufacturers, is now moving to launch Soft Tennis across the US and within other markets around the world.

A closer look at the equipment

Soft Tennis racquets are very similar to those used for regular tennis because they have the same shape, length and material. However, there are several differences beginning with their lighter weight. While the strings of the racquet are made out of the same material, they're more flexible and have lower compression to meet the softer ball. The funny-looking pink thing is the ball pump.

Kenko Soft Tennis balls are light, hollow and inflatable, and their performance varies depending on how much air is inserted. That helps to prolong rallies and to keep the ball on the court. Inflating the ball is similar to filling up a basketball. You take the pump insert the pin into the blue dot. Once you are satisfied with the pressure, you take it out and are ready to go!

Putting Soft Tennis through its paces

After rigorous testing, and more than a thousand laughs, testers all had a positive reaction to the ball. Spin shots and extreme angles were marvels to behold (the ball "eggs" up when you hit with heavy spin, and guessing where and how far the ball would bounce became part of the challenge). The Soft Tennis ball doesn't fly nearly as far as a standard tennis ball, which enables players to really swing out on their groundstrokes. By controlling the amount of air in the ball, you can completely change how you need to play the game. Pump the ball way up, and you get a ball that plays closer to a standard ball. Deflate it a bit and watch how the game changes. Spin, angles and quick feet become essential as you'll find the entire court coming into play.

While few of the testers thought it translated well to traditional tennis, one tester who has undergone several shoulder surgeries thought the system would be great for rehabbing when you're not allowed to hit a standard tennis ball. All remarked at how confident you feel when you hit out on the ball, although the transition back to normal balls was a bit challenging for the first few minutes.

Although Kenko manufactures specific racquets for Soft Tennis, everyone who played with the ball felt more enthusiastic when playing with their own sticks. The extreme lightweight feel of the Soft Tennis racquets didn't win over many advanced testers, although some said they didn't mind the feel.

For kids, the Kenko ball acts quite differently than the balls introduced as a part of the QuickStart format. On the plus side, the Kenko ball has a slightly lower bounce (when properly inflated), resulting in more swings in the contact zone. On the negative side, rallying proved more of a challenge as off-center hits produced that tricky spin and ended the rally.

Whether you are looking to add something really unique to your training sessions, rehab a shoulder injury or just want to laugh out loud and have a great time, check out Soft Tennis. Find out more at KENKOSOFTTENNIS.com

For more information on Soft Tennis, NKC, products, services and sports marketing programs, please visit http://www.kenkosofttennis.com.

You can also view an introductory video at Soft Tennis Video, place orders online, or contact the representative indicated below.

About Soft Tennis

Whether you are a beginner, highly skilled, or somewhere in between. man or women, adult or child, senior or junior, fast or slow, tall or short, tennis player or not, Soft Tennis is for YOU.

Originating in Asia in the 1870's, Soft Tennis has become the choice version of tennis for about 40% of players in Japan. It is also becoming increasingly popular in other areas of the world. A slowed down and more strategic version of the game, Soft Tennis emphasizes longer rallies and a more exciting performance that is accessible to every age and ability level right from the very first serve.

The key to Soft Tennis is the use of an inflatable soft, rubber ball. Unlike the standard felt-covered version, the pressure can be adjusted. Players can speed up or slow down the game to suit their ability and training objectives. Its composition also makes it more difficult to generate as much force when hitting the ball. This keeps the ball on the court. The result is longer rallies and a focus on cardiovascular fitness, hand-eye coordination, ball placement and footwork. Soft Tennis offers a game and learning tool that can be rapidly mastered by beginners, but which challenges even the most accomplished player. That is why Soft Tennis is gaining a following both by experienced players and teachers who view it as a training aid, as well as players who enjoy the sport on its own.

About Nagase Kenko Corporation

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Nagase Kenko Corporation is a leading global sporting goods manufacturer whose Air Safety Baseball&trade is used by youth leagues on every continent. It presently employs a staff of over 250 individuals around the world. It maintains four Japanese manufacturing facilities and three regional sales offices in Osaka, Fukuoka and Hokkaido. In addition, it maintains an extensive network of agents, distributors and representatives who help to manage its sales and marketing and promotional activities around the world.

Keith Rabin
KWR International, Inc.
email: kenko@kwrintl.com
tel. +1-212-532-3005