Average Age 67!? Akita's Senior Esports Team “Matagi Snipers” and Staff on Challenges, From Teaching PC Shutdowns [TGS2026]

The “Tokyo Game Show 2026” has been running for five days since September 17, including business days. At the Mouse Computer booth, a stage event with the intriguing theme “Matagi Snipers: Seniors Discuss the Future of Esports” was held.

In this article, I’ll share highlights from the event, including the real-life challenges unique to a senior esports team!

Taking the stage were Satoru Kaneko (hereinafter Mr. Kaneko), Director and Head of the Corporate Sales Division at Mouse Computer Co., Ltd.; Yu Domon (hereinafter Mr. Domon), Team Operations Manager for the Matagi Snipers at S2 Co., Ltd.;Mark25 (70) and NAGI (66), players for the Matagi Snipers; Mr. Musou Ogata, Secretary-General of the Akita Prefecture eSports Federation (hereinafter referred to as Mr. Ogata); and game caster Kuniyoshi Ebie.

On stage, Mr. Domon began by explaining the background behind the team’s establishment.

“Akita Prefecture has the most advanced aging population and the lowest birth rate in Japan. We thought we could turn the large elderly population to our advantage—if older people were vibrant and active, wouldn’t that energize the town? Furthermore, since Akita has a ‘Matagi’ culture, we decided to take on the challenge of shooting games and named the team ‘Matagi Snipers.’ That’s how it all began,” he said.

He explained that they started by holding a press conference, and coverage by local media helped attract applicants. However, the initial members were all people with no experience playing PC games and who didn’t even know how to use a computer.

Mr. Domon spoke about the challenges they faced in the early days: “We started with computer classes. We took our time, carefully teaching them one thing at a time—from how to shut down the computer to how to handle the physical cables.”

Furthermore, he revealed the behind-the-scenes story regarding funding—a challenge for many teams—explaining that by operating the team as part of the parent company S-Two’s business, employees took charge of operations to keep personnel costs down; they utilized the first floor of their own building to save on rent; and by receiving device donations, they were able to achieve a “minimalist” launch.

“When players give their all, it moves the fans. Even if we do PR, it’s meaningless if the players aren’t putting in the effort. Eventually, we want to be able to give back to our sponsors,” he said, sharing his vision for the future.

The conversation then turned to two players who are currently training online five days a week on weekdays.

Mark25, who is 70 years old, mentioned that while he sometimes faces negative reactions from people his own age due to their resistance to technology and gaming, he receives support from former colleagues at his old company. Although tinkering with PCs was originally a hobby of his, he wasn’t familiar with networking, and he said, “I’m happy that starting to play games has allowed me to experience the advancements in network technology.”

When asked about his motivation for practicing five days a week, he said, “I’m playing a 5-on-5 FPS, but character control and the basics of movement are difficult. Even after five years, my rank hasn’t gone up at all. However, since my opponents are human, it’s fun that the gameplay changes every time.It’s easy to get motivated to do better next time, and constantly thinking about how to win is what keeps me going,” he said, revealing his passion as a gamer.

On the other hand, he also faces challenges unique to older players. “Presbyopia is an issue. My vision gradually gets blurry, so I take supplements and wear a magnifying glass over my glasses. It’s getting harder to maintain my performance as I get older,” he remarked, offering a surprising insight.

NAGI, 66, reportedly receives strong support for his local activities from his family, who are originally from Akita.

“Every day, I finish my housework efficiently to make time for this. It’s like a treasure in my life,” he said.

She also noted that her team activities aren’t limited to just playing games: “I’m happy that we’ve created an environment where we can all consult with each other online to solve computer-related problems together.” She smiled as she mentioned how her social media posts went viral and brought her attention, expressing gratitude for being able to live each day with a sense of excitement.

Mr. Ogata of the Akita Prefecture Esports Federation, speaking from his perspective as a supporter of esports in the region, commented, “It’s difficult for esports events to turn a profit. It’s important to sustain them and take a long-term approach.”

He explained that they started by establishing a small “esports training center” with about five computers to build a community, and then used that foundation to move on to larger events.

One particularly interesting anecdote was that among the inquiries about the event, there was a request from a parent who said, “I’m worried because my child is playing games online with strangers. Could you introduce them to someone I know?” This clearly demonstrates how esports functions as a community hub that connects people.

Finally, Mr. Kaneko of Mouse Computer, which provides the devices, said,“I’ve always been a baseball fan, so I enjoy supporting sports. While our primary goal is to get people to buy PCs, there’s a matter of perspective. When we receive requests like, ‘We’re holding a tournament, so could you lend us PCs for free?,’ we work in collaboration with JeSU to address them (because, from a long-term perspective, this helps popularize PC gaming),” he said, explaining the manufacturer’s support system.

According to Mr. Kaneko, as of 2026, Mouse Computer’s PCs have been widely adopted not only for gaming but also in e-sports stadiums, commercial facilities, and schools, with a diverse lineup tailored to each facility’s specific needs and budget.

It was a meaningful stage—truly in the spirit of the Tokyo Game Show—that allowed us to experience the perspectives of the Matagi Snipers players, who overcome hurdles like age and presbyopia to simply enjoy gaming, as well as the organizers and manufacturers who support them.

Since we gamers will all grow old someday, this isn’t something that only applies to others…!