CoBREW Inc. (Musashino City, Tokyo; CEO: Eiji Fujiwara) and general incorporated association Asuhiro (Representative Director: Yusuke Shimitsu) will host a small-group dialogue event titled "ATHLETE NEXT LAB Vol.1" for current athletes, student athletes, and former athletes on Friday, July 31, 2026, at CoBREW KICHIJOJI (Musashino City, Tokyo). ATHLETE NEXT LAB Vol.1 This event will feature a career talk by Yusuke Shimitsu, former member of Japan's national water polo team, and a session by Eiji Fujiwara, CEO of CoBREW Inc., on the theme of "Talent That Gains Value in the Age of AI." Participants will engage in dialogue with one another to explore life beyond competitive sports. Growing Number of Athletes Facing Life After Competition For athletes deeply committed to their sport, "life after retirement" has long been a significant challenge. Should they continue competing? What career path should they take after retirement? Can the experience gained through sports be applied in society? In recent years, an increasing number of active athletes are beginning to consider career development alongside their athletic careers. Moreover, as AI advances and transforms the nature of many jobs, there is growing attention on non-cognitive skills that athletes possess—such as the ability to take on challenges, persevere, and achieve results within a team. In light of these societal shifts, this event aims to create a space for participants to discuss what comes after their competitive careers. Not About Receiving Answers, But About Exploring One's Own Potential ATHLETE NEXT LAB is not simply a lecture-style event. Through dialogue among participants, attendees will reflect on: - Strengths developed through their sport - Potential for applying these strengths beyond sports - Skills especially valuable in the age of AI - Their desired future selves five years from now By bringing together athletes from different sports and performance levels, the event aims to spark new insights an