Japanese Idol Group SKE48 Forms All-Female VALORANT Esports Team

Japanese Idol Group SKE48 VALORANT Team. (Image Credit: SKE48/Riot Games)

Japanese idol group SKE48 is officially entering the world of competitive gaming with the formation of an all-female VALORANT esports team.

According to a report by VALO2ASIA, the team will feature seven current SKE48 members and will be formally introduced during a press conference on August 19 at the SKE48 Theater in Nagoya.

While the full roster is yet to be revealed, two members have already been confirmed — Miyo Nomura from the 8th generation and Yua Kawamura from the 12th generation. Both shared their excitement about stepping into the esports scene, with Miyo stating, “I’m new to VALORANT, but I want to keep practicing and get stronger,” and Yua adding, “I’ve always loved gaming! I want to prove that girls can seriously compete too.”

SKE48 idol group (Image via SKE48)

The group’s move comes at a time when female representation in esports is steadily growing, but still faces stereotypes. The team hopes to challenge these outdated notions head-on. In their official announcement, SKE48 highlighted the goal of breaking the “esports is a male-only space” mindset and inspiring a new model of idols who not only perform on stage but also compete in professional gaming.

SKE48’s initiative is clearly not a one-off stunt. The team will be training at a specialized facility located in SPASPO Shinyukan, a hot spring inn in Tsu City’s Sakakibara Onsen. Their journey will be documented weekly on YouTube, giving fans a peek into their training routines and daily life. In addition, fan meetups and gaming events are in the pipeline to maintain close engagement with supporters.

Their efforts also tie in with broader local ambitions. With the 2026 Asian Games set to take place in Aichi and Nagoya, SKE48 plans to work alongside local governments and tourism groups to boost the regional esports ecosystem.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a group under the AKB48 umbrella has explored esports. Jakarta’s JKT48 formed a similar unit, Valkyrie48, which focuses on mobile esports. That group notably produced Jesslyn Callista, who went on to become a brand ambassador for BOOM Esports in the VCT Pacific league.