Shi Shi Tennis Academy

A boutique, bilingual academy in the heart of Tokyo

Shi Shi Tennis Academy is not a sprawling complex with dorms or buses full of players. It was built deliberately small and personal by founder and head coach Shiori Fukuda. After a standout junior career in Japan, Fukuda moved to the United States, earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American recognition, and competed at the top tier of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I tennis with Pepperdine. She returned to Tokyo with a clear mission: deliver precise, modern, and human coaching to players who want measurable improvement without giving up their lives to a rigid academy schedule.

From the first conversation, the academy feels different. There is no generic intake speech or cookie-cutter plan. Sessions are bilingual in Japanese or English, parents are briefed in plain language, and every hour is planned around the player’s goals, constraints, and calendar. The result is a coaching experience that centers the individual rather than the institution.

Why Tokyo works for year-round training

Tokyo is a uniquely practical training base. The city’s dense rail network puts dozens of quality courts within reach, from central business districts to quieter residential pockets. Shi Shi Tennis Academy uses that network to meet players where it makes the most sense, both for performance and logistics. Regular training occurs at venues such as Otsukaen Tennis Center in Yoga, Takanawa Tennis Center near Shinagawa, Ariake Tennis no Mori Park in Koto, Kugayama Auto Tennis in Mitaka, and SENKO Shiomi Tennis Center near Shiomi Station. These facilities are known for reliable hard courts, solid lighting, and dependable maintenance.

Climate matters for development, and Tokyo’s seasons cooperate. Spring and autumn are temperate, ideal for higher volume and technical rebuilds. Summer brings heat and humidity that the academy treats as a training ally to sharpen pacing, hydration habits, and tactical economy. Winters are typically dry with plenty of playable days, and covered courts keep the calendar intact when wind or rain interferes. For families who value rhythm and routine, this consistency is a major advantage.

Facilities by network, not by campus

Shi Shi Tennis Academy follows a coaching-first model and does not anchor to a single campus. Instead, it selectively books courts at partner and public facilities that suit the session’s goals and the player’s commute. That choice pays off in several ways:

• Exposure to varied backgrounds, bounces, and winds sharpens adaptability for tournaments.
• Commutes can be minimized by picking a venue near school or work.
• Court type and lighting can be matched to the session purpose, whether evening serve mechanics or daytime pattern work.

Players can expect standard amenities at Tokyo tennis centers: locker rooms, restrooms, vending machines, and well-maintained hard courts. There is no on-site boarding, cafeteria, or resident life component, and that is intentional. Families who want a more traditional club environment nearby sometimes also explore the YC and AC tennis academy in Yokohama for comparison, then return to Shi Shi when they realize they prefer a tight, coaching-led format.

The coach and a clear philosophy

Fukuda brings a blend of Japanese technical rigor and American college competitiveness. Her playing background includes national-level success in Japan, a top Division I resume, and experience around the professional tour. Those experiences shape a philosophy that keeps sessions honest and productive:

• Technical work is specific and measurable. Expect targeted changes to contact height, spacing, swing path, and footwork templates rather than endless rallying without purpose.
• Tactical clarity beats volume. Players learn to build two or three reliable patterns based on their strengths, then attach simple score-based rules to manage risk.
• Mental habits are trained like strokes. Between-point routines, momentum resets, and scripted self-talk are rehearsed until they become automatic.
• Communication is a coaching tool. Sessions can be fully in English or Japanese, and parents receive clear explanations of what is being trained and why.

The tone on court is encouraging and direct. Praise reinforces what works. Corrections are framed as experiments to try in the next ball, the next rally, the next game. Juniors learn to self-assess rather than simply copy.

Programs that fit real life

This academy keeps the menu simple so families can schedule around school and work. The core options are:

• Private lessons. One-to-one coaching for fastest improvement, ideal for juniors with competition goals, adults seeking high-impact sessions, and time-pressed executives who want efficient progress. The published rate is ¥20,000 per hour for one person, with court fees paid separately by the client.
• Semi-private lessons. Two players share a focused session, useful for siblings or doubles partners. The published rate is ¥10,000 per person per hour, plus court fees.
• Group sessions. Custom formats for small groups or team tune ups. Pricing is quoted based on group size, frequency, and objectives.
• Trial sessions. A first look at the training style before committing to a regular block.

Lessons are available in Japanese or English. Sessions outside central Tokyo can be arranged when the calendar allows. A transparent travel fee applies for longer commutes, and the cancellation policy is clear: no charge two days prior, a partial fee the day before, and the full lesson fee on the day of the session, with weather exceptions. This clarity helps families build a season plan with no surprises.

How training actually works

Shi Shi Tennis Academy’s approach blends technical precision with match realism. Each block typically cycles through assessment, targeted drill work, live ball application, and take-home focuses for solo practice.

• Technical development. Groundstroke work zeros in on loaded base, early preparation, spacing, and shape variety. Serves are deconstructed into rhythm, toss placement, and a clean kinetic chain. Return training emphasizes split timing, contact height, and directional discipline. Red, orange, and green ball progressions are used with juniors to scale complexity appropriately.
• Tactical framing. Players identify two or three primary point patterns that match their tools: for example, a wide serve to set a first-ball forehand, or a deep backhand cross to open an inside-in forehand lane. Juniors are asked to journal what patterns generated free points or forced errors, then refine those in the next block.
• Physical preparation. Court-based movement circuits build first step, recovery balance, and change of direction. Conditioning aligns to the competition calendar rather than pushing athletes to exhaustion without context.
• Mental skills. Pre serve breathing, between point resets, and short cue phrases are installed early. Athletes practice momentum management and tempo control so routines hold up under scoreboard pressure.
• Educational guidance. Families exploring overseas study and play receive practical advice on targeting, highlight video building, and communicating with college coaches, drawn from Fukuda’s time inside Division I tennis.

Who trains here

The roster is intentionally small and diverse: ambitious juniors competing regionally or nationally, adults who want fundamentals that hold up in matches, and international residents who prefer to learn in English. Two outcomes keep appearing in testimonials. Adults report technique that finally transfers to tiebreakers and league play. Juniors say feedback is encouraging yet concrete, which keeps sessions upbeat while still demanding.

If you want a comparison point in the same broad geography, some families also look at Tennis O Holic International in Tokyo for group formats, then choose a hybrid where Shi Shi delivers high precision private work while group hitting happens elsewhere. The academy is happy to coordinate when it benefits the player.

Alumni and early success stories

Shi Shi Tennis Academy is a newer, boutique operation rather than a decades-old boarding school. That said, the early pattern is encouraging: adults reaching new UTR benchmarks and league milestones, juniors qualifying for higher flights at regional events, and several families progressing confidently toward the college pathway with realistic targets. Names and details are kept private unless families elect to share, but the through line is consistent coaching and accountability.

Community and culture

Culture is shaped by people rather than a campus. Regulars describe an environment where questions are welcome and small wins are celebrated. There is no wall of academy rankings or oversized squads chasing court numbers. The community looks like Tokyo itself: multilingual, efficient, and serious about using limited hours well. Transparency extends beyond the lesson to logistics such as court booking, travel time, and weather calls.

Costs, accessibility, and scholarships

Pricing is straightforward and publicly stated. Private lessons are ¥20,000 per hour for one person. Semi private lessons are ¥10,000 per person per hour for two players. Group sessions are quoted by request based on size and plan. Court fees are separate and typically paid by the client directly to the facility. A modest travel fee applies for longer commutes, communicated in advance. The cancellation policy is built for clarity and fairness, with weather exceptions noted. Scholarships are not advertised, which fits a boutique coaching model. Families seeking lower cost options often form stable small groups or book at off peak hours when court prices are easier on the budget.

What sets it apart

• Coaching pedigree that bridges Japan and the U.S. college system. This is invaluable for juniors eyeing overseas study or adults who want a modern, goal based practice structure.
• Bilingual instruction that lowers friction. International families and returnees integrate quickly when feedback and planning are available in Japanese or English.
• A networked, citywide training model. Instead of one backdrop, players experience multiple settings, which builds adaptability for tournaments.
• Clear pricing and policies. Parents can plan a term or a season without ambiguity.
• Individual attention with rapid feedback loops. Changes are targeted, tracked, and reinforced until they show up in match play.

Limitations to consider

• No boarding or resident life. Families seeking a full time residential model must assemble school and housing independently.
• Court availability depends on venues. Early planning helps secure preferred slots, especially after school and on weekends.
• Tournament travel and match coaching are case by case. This is a training hub, not a packaged travel team, though support can be arranged as needed.

How it compares in the region

Tokyo and the broader region offer several reputable programs, each with a different shape. Shi Shi stands out for precision and bilingual coaching embedded in the city. Those seeking camp style volume in Southeast Asia sometimes look to APF Academies in Bangkok for intensive holiday blocks, then return to Tokyo to maintain gains with Shi Shi’s private sessions. The academy is comfortable being part of a broader plan if that will serve the player’s long term development.

Future outlook and vision

As the client base grows, expect more small group clinics and periodic performance blocks around school holidays. The academy’s ties to the college pathway also position it to guide families on realistic targets and contact strategies. The vision remains steady: keep the player count manageable, raise the standard of each session, and use Tokyo’s infrastructure to make high quality tennis accessible. Measured growth will prioritize coach quality and session integrity over scale.

Practical details at a glance

• Where you will train. Quality facilities in Setagaya, Minato, Koto, Mitaka, and neighboring areas, selected to match your schedule and goals.
• Who you will work with. Shiori Fukuda, founder and head coach with experience spanning Japan’s national scene, Division I tennis, and the professional circuit.
• Language on court. Japanese or English, entirely your choice.
• How sessions are structured. Assessment, targeted drills, live ball application, and clear take home focuses for solo practice.
• How to start. Book a trial or first lesson, align on venue and time, and build a plan that fits your calendar.

Is it for you

Choose Shi Shi Tennis Academy if you value precision over pageantry and want a coach who can explain the why behind each change. It is a strong match for juniors who want measurable gains without leaving home, adults who want practice to translate into match competence, and families curious about the college pathway who prefer advice grounded in firsthand experience. If you need a boarding academy with cafeteria meals and 30 hours per week of squads, this is not the fit. If you want thoughtful, targeted, and accountable coaching that meets you at a convenient court and makes the most of every hour, you will feel at home here.