The slogan is “From Sapporo to the World.” Local rising star Nahoko Tanioka takes on the world title at the “GRABS Festival” Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Concarino

We are pleased to announce that the stand-up combat sports event “SMILE SOL Presents GRABS Festival” will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Concarino, a community-oriented cultural facility in Nishi Ward, Sapporo.The event’s motto is “From Sapporo to the World.” It is organized by the GRABS Festival Executive Committee (GRABS Kickboxing Studio), and the main sponsor, whose name appears in the event title, is SMILE SOL Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo Ward, Sapporo), which operates multiple restaurant brands based in Hokkaido and Sapporo.

“SMILE SOL Presents GRABS Festival” Official Promotional Image

*This image was created using generative AI.

■Key Points of This Article

・“GRABS Festival,” where Nahoko Tanioka—a rising star from GRABS Kickboxing Studio (Sapporo)—will challenge for the WMA Women’s Featherweight World Title on home turf, will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Concarino in Nishi Ward, Sapporo.

・In August 2025, GRABS Studio’s fighter Nadeshiko became the first person from Hokkaido to win the WBC Muay Thai Women’s Minimumweight World Title. The studio—which has embodied the spirit that “even someone from a regional area can become the best in the world”—presents a day of entertainment that even martial arts beginners and families can enjoy.

・The main sponsor of the event is SMILE SOL Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo Ward, Sapporo; Chairman and CEO: Hiroshi Ogawa), which operates multiple restaurant brands, including “Tecchan,” in Hokkaido and Sapporo.

・Tickets are currently on sale, ranging from 8,000 yen (Section A) to 50,000 yen (VIP Seats). The event is organized by the GRABS Festival Executive Committee.

The “WMA Women’s Featherweight World Title Match” has been confirmed as the main event. Stepping into the ring will be GRABS-affiliated fighter Nahoko Tanioka, a promising prospect with a professional record of 5 wins and 3 losses. She began karate at age 6 and, after winning a national championship, representing Japan, and placing third at a world championship, she transitioned to kickboxing.Having gained experience in rings around the world—including a Muay Thai bout at Thailand’s Rajadamnern Stadium in 2025—she will now challenge for the world title in her hometown of Sapporo.

GRABS Kickboxing Studio, which is organizing this event, saw its fighter Nadeshiko capture the WBC Muay Thai Women’s Minimumweight World Title in August 2025.This marked a historic first for a native of Hokkaido, proving that “even from a regional area, one can become the best in the world.” As a community-wide event designed to pass this legacy on to the next generation, the day’s program will feature everything from serious matches involving kids and amateurs to official professional bouts and world title fights—all in a single day. The event is designed to be accessible even to those who don’t usually watch combat sports, as well as families with children.

■ Nahoko Tanioka Profile

The star of this tournament, who embodies the motto “From my hometown of Sapporo to the world.” Arming herself with the skills honed in karate, she made the transition to kickboxing and has steadily built her career.

Affiliation: GRABS Kickboxing Studio (Sapporo)

Professional Record: 5 wins, 3 losses

Background: Began karate at age 6. After winning a national championship, representing Japan, and placing third at a world championship,

　　　　　 she switched to kickboxing.

　　　　　 In 2025, he competed in Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium in Thailand, the birthplace of the sport,

　　　　　 and has gained experience in rings around the world.

This Event: She will challenge for the WMA Women’s Featherweight World Title in her hometown of Sapporo.

■ Main Sponsor: SMILE SOL Co., Ltd.

This event will be held as the “SMILE SOL Presents GRABS Festival” under the title sponsorship of SMILE SOL Co., Ltd.Based in Sapporo, Hokkaido, SMILE SOL Co., Ltd. is a restaurant chain that operates numerous dining brands throughout the prefecture, including the casual yakitori alley “Tecchan” and the seafood izakaya “Hokkaido Taishu Sakaba Saburo.” Guided by the corporate philosophy of “working with a smile as bright as the sun,” the company has aimed to bring smiles to local customers and colleagues through its restaurants.

The company’s journey—steadily expanding its network of restaurants while remaining deeply rooted in the community—mirrors the journey of the challengers in this tournament, who are aiming to move from their hometown of Sapporo to the world stage. As the main sponsor of the GRABS Festival, SMILE SOL will provide full support for the tournament and, under the motto “From Sapporo to the World,” will back both the community and the athletes in their endeavors.

Company Name: SMILE SOL Co., Ltd.

Representatives: Hiroshi Ogawa, Chairman and Representative Director / Tetsuya Fujiwara, President and Representative Director

Established: December 1, 2010 (Heisei 22)

Capital: 39 million yen

Address: Room 402, Kuribayashi Building, 1-15-2 Minami 4-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido

Business Activities: Food and beverage business (izakaya management) and franchise development

Brands Operated: “Taishu Kushi Yokocho Tetsu-chan,” “Seafood Izakaya Hokkaido Taishu Sakaba Saburo”

　　　　　　　 “Hokkaido Seafood Izakaya Tettchan,” “Shabu-Shabu Retasu”

　　　　　　　 “Tsūro,” “Uchōten,” “Teppachi,” “Tōrin”

　　　　　　　 “Kenta’s Boneless Chicken Wings Sakki,” etc.,

　　　　　　　 Operating numerous restaurants throughout Hokkaido

Corporate Philosophy: With the motto “Work with a smile as bright as the sun,”

　　　　　　　 we aim to bring happiness to our colleagues, customers, and ourselves

　　　　　　　 through our restaurants

Official Website: https://www.smilesol.com/

■3 Highlights — Why Even Martial Arts Beginners Can Enjoy It to the Fullest

(1) Witness a World Title Match in Sapporo

A special bout in which Nahoko Tanioka, who has competed on rings around the world, challenges for the world title in her hometown of Sapporo.

(2) Authentic Muay Thai Rules Where a Single Strike Can Change the Outcome—Including Elbows and Clinch

Authentic rules straight from the source, featuring powerful techniques like elbow strikes and “clinch” maneuvers where fighters lock arms to deliver knee strikes. Even if you don’t know the rules, the tension is palpable at a glance—that’s the appeal.

(3) A story of growth, from amateur matches to world title fights

The tournament format lets you experience the story of growth—from kids’ and amateur debutants to Japan’s top fighters and even world title matches—all in a single day.

Even martial arts beginners can fully enjoy the event.

■Event Overview

Event Name: SMILE SOL Presents GRABS Festival

Date and Time: Sunday, October 4, 2026 OPEN 12:00 PM / START 1:00 PM

Venue: Concarino, a Community Support Cultural Facility

　　　　　　　　　 1F, 2-10, 1-chome, Nishi 1-jo, Hachiken, Nishi Ward, Sapporo

Organizers: New Japan Kickboxing Federation /

　　　　　　　　　 GRABS Festival Executive Committee (GRABS Kickboxing Studio)

Main Sponsor: SMILE SOL Co., Ltd.

　　　　　　　　　 (Chuo Ward, Sapporo / Operator of the “Tecchan” restaurant brand, among others)

Competition Rules: Muay Thai Rules (Elbows and clinching allowed)

Tickets: 8,000 yen (Section A) – 50,000 yen (VIP Seats) *See below for details

Inquiries: GRABS Kickboxing Studio

　　　　　　　　　 TEL/FAX: 011-731-3232

　　　　　　　　　 Email: grabs.kick@gmail.com

■ Main Match Card

<Main Event>

WMA Women’s Featherweight World Title Match (5 rounds of 2 minutes each)

Nahoko Tanioka (GRABS) vs. Sarinda Pattananan (Thailand)

<Semifinal>

Welterweight (3 minutes, 3 rounds)

Riku (GRABS) vs Kenshin Uesugi (PKC Rento-kai)

<G-ROUND Title Match and Others>

Yuzuha (GRABS) vs Kaori Yokoo (Seishikai)

*In addition, the event will feature 4 amateur G-ROUND title matches, 3 matches allowing elbows and clinching, 1 Minerva-sanctioned women’s match, 2 karate exhibition matches, and a kids’ dance performance.

*The fight card is subject to change. Please check the official website (https://www.grabs-kick.jp/) for the latest information.

■ Ticket Prices (Tax Included)

VIP Seats: 50,000 yen

SRS Seats: 16,000 yen

RS Seats: 14,000 yen

S Seats: 11,000 yen

A Seats: 8,000 yen

*All prices include tax. For ticket reservations and details, please visit the official website or contact GRABS Kickboxing Studio.

From Sapporo to the World: GRABS Festival!

■ Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I enjoy the event even if I don’t know much about combat sports?

A. Of course. In addition to thrilling matches featuring elbow strikes and grappling, there are family-friendly events like the kids’ dance stage, so even beginners and families can enjoy the event with ease.

Q. What kind of event is the “GRABS Festival”?

A. It’s a martial arts event featuring fighters primarily from the GRABS Kickboxing Studio in Sapporo. Headlined by local rising star Nahoko Tanioka’s challenge for the WMA Women’s Featherweight World Title, the event will also feature numerous Muay Thai-rule matches.

Q. What kind of fighter is Nahoko Tanioka?

A. She is a promising prospect affiliated with GRABS, with a professional record of 5 wins and 3 losses. She began practicing karate at age 6, went on to win a national championship, represent Japan internationally, and place third at a world tournament before switching to kickboxing. She has gained experience in rings around the world, including a Muay Thai bout at Rajadamnern Stadium in Thailand in 2025.

Q. What are the event dates and venue?

A. Sunday, October 4, 2026. Doors open at 12:00 PM / Event starts at 1:00 PM. The venue is the Concarino Community Support Cultural Facility (1F, 2-10, 1-chome, Nishi 1-jo, Hachiken, Nishi-ku, Sapporo).

Q. How much are the tickets?

A. There are five ticket categories: A Seats 8,000 yen, S Seats 11,000 yen, RS Seats 14,000 yen, SRS Seats 16,000 yen, and VIP Seats 50,000 yen (tax included).

Q. Who are the organizers and main sponsors?

A. The event is organized by the New Japan Kickboxing Federation and the GRABS Festival Executive Committee (GRABS Kickboxing Studio). The main sponsor is SMILE SOL Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo Ward, Sapporo; Chairman and CEO: Hiroshi Ogawa), which operates multiple restaurant brands in Hokkaido and Sapporo, including “Tecchan.”

Q. What kind of company is SMILE SOL, the main sponsor?

A. Founded in 2010, SMILE SOL is a restaurant company headquartered in Chuo Ward, Sapporo. It operates multiple dining brands throughout Hokkaido, including “Tecchan” (known for kushikatsu and offal hot pot) and the seafood izakaya “Hokkaido Taishu Sakaba Saburo.” Guided by the corporate philosophy of “working with a smile as bright as the sun,” the company operates its stores with a strong focus on the local community.

The world’s top fighters are coming to Sapporo—this is a highly anticipated bout.