Japan Street Fighter Pros Form First Ever Player Association

In most sports in the world, there is a player association. This association has the responsibility of looking out for members' (players') interests to ensure that they are able to perform at their best while also not ruining themselves in any way.

The presence of player associations is huge as it helps players stand up for themselves and avoid exploitation as much as possible. However, so far, there is none for esports, and considering many now consider it a sport on par with other traditional sports, this is something that should be addressed.

It does seem like strides are being made in this regard, as Japan now have their first player association to represent the interest of esports professionals. 

This association is being spearheaded by the top players in Street Fighter: Tokido, an Evo winner and legend in the scene. There's also the current Evo winner, Kawano, and other veterans, including Momochi, Gachikun, and Nemo.

These players have come together to form a player union to ensure that their interests are looked after. However, the scope of their powers currently seems to be restricted to Street Fighter League, but there are hopes that things could grow from here.

The association just started, but they have already held talks with the Japanese esports Union (JeSU) and Capcom about how the organizations can work together.

In an interview with 4gamernews, which you can read here, the players talked about the reasons behind forming the player association. They mentioned that the association would be helpful, especially when dealing with schedules, as some players who work part-time find it difficult to make important tournaments or matches due to conflicts. 

When asked if they would expand, they answered that it is currently limited to Street Fighter League, but there is some hope that if professionals from other games have problems, perhaps there will be a way to help and maybe grow the association to accommodate other titles. 

This is a huge step for the legitimization of esports and the fact that the Japanese FGC is at the forefront is something to be excited about. Where will they go next? We don't know, but we like the direction this is heading.