Through his efforts of coaching and now directing tournaments, Beach Cities’ Ken Shoji has become a pivotal figure in the world of junior tennis, both in Southern California and internationally.

Born in 1981, Ken grew up in Torrance alongside his parents and two older sisters, all of whom played a part in his desire to play tennis. With Ken’s father being an avid club player, his older sisters were first exposed to the sport, beginning to compete locally on the junior level. Following in their footsteps, Ken first picked up a racquet at the age of five and began training with his father. As he began to progress on the court, Ken received instruction between the ages of seven and eighteen from coaches Lee DeYoung, John Carrizosa and Pedro Alipio, all of whom have taught for many years out of Palos Verdes. Over the next handful of years, Ken played competitively on SoCal’s junior circuit, testing his skill within USTA tournaments. While he enjoyed playing, Ken decided to set the racquet aside when he was 18, as his time as a junior came to a close.

Unknowing what his future entailed and whether tennis fit into it, Ken stepped into a career away from the sport. He spent six years working as an insurance agent among other roles, all the while playing tennis socially to meet new people. It was at this point when a few of his newfound friends started to ask Ken for lessons, and beginning in 2005, Ken would take up coaching part-time. Ken’s life balancing both a full-time job and coaching on the side would last for the next five years, before a life-changing call from a close friend, Aki, set him on a new path. Aki inquired if Ken would be interested in coaching tennis in Tokyo, Japan, and he enthusiastically jumped at the opportunity. 

Mastering his craft alongside some of the best coaches in Japan, Ken learned valuable skills that he would use throughout his entire career. Ken began to implement the lessons and tactics he learned in Tokyo, as he returned to Torrance after a year and a half overseas. As he resumed coaching in his hometown, Ken became the assistant coach at West Torrance High School, all the while coaching at the South Bay Tennis Center. Following a brief stint at both locations, Ken found the place that he still calls home to this day, accepting a position at the Palos Verdes Tennis Club (PVTC) in 2012. 

At PVTC, Ken would embrace his gift of coaching and assisting junior players, helping many progress onto the next stages of their tennis journeys, both in and after high school. Building a successful life for himself in the sport he grew up loving, the next years would be especially fruitful for Ken, both professionally and personally. In 2017, he was recognized as the USPTA District Pro of the Year for his efforts on court. It was also at this same time when his wife, Mayu, gave birth to their first child, Sola. Just a year later, Ken would go on to be awarded the title as PVTC’s Coach of the Year, while also welcoming the birth of the family’s second child, Lily. 

A few years removed from these milestones, Ken would be promoted at PVTC in 2021, receiving the title as their Director of Junior Tennis. His role would then expand once more in 2023, as he began to direct tournaments at the club. With the assistance of former board director and member, Chad Macallister, the pair were able to apply for a few tournaments and began running them about a year ago. 

In feedback from both players and their parents, Ken has been heralded as a responsible, fair and welcoming director, who leads his tournaments with class. Ken’s approach to tennis is rooted in a deep respect for sportsmanship and effective communication. He believes that respect for oneself and others is fundamental to the sport and strives to instill these values in his players. Ken also emphasizes the importance of communication in tournament management, recognizing that clear and frequent communication is key to success. His desire to help elevate tennis, grow the sport and build community in his hometown is a trait that one can notice in their first meeting with Ken, as he truly cares about his players, beyond just their results on court. In his time at PVTC, Ken is immensely grateful for the support he has received, especially from the club’s General Manager, Dana Smith, Assistant General Manager, Nate Bly, and Director of Tennis, Mike Wojnarowiczs.

The most challenging aspect of Ken’s role as a tournament director is maintaining a high level of attention to detail, a skill that is crucial for the smooth execution of events. However, the most rewarding part of his job is witnessing the joy and sense of accomplishment that players experience after their matches. The positive feedback from players and parents further reinforces the impact of his work.

Ken has been an asset to both PVTC and the Southern California section, helping set the precedent for exemplary behavior from a tournament director and coach. Ken not only helps prepare his players for the next steps in their tennis endeavors, but also sets them up for success in the world outside of the sport. 

One of Ken’s most recent and implicated tournaments came this August, as he and his friend, Hiroki Moriya, hosted a qualifier for the Senko Cup, a world-class event held in Japan for boys and girls between the ages of twelve and sixteen. Ken ran this tournament on his home turf at PVTC, providing a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for local talent to earn the chance to play in the city of Yamanashi come September. In this qualifier, the top two players in each age division for both boys and girls earned the right to compete as part of Team USA against players from all over the world. A successfully ran event, Ken found the group that Hiroki and his assistant coach, Jennifer Kida, would be traveling with to compete in Japan.

The Senko Cup offers a unique platform for young athletes to compete against international talent, explore Japan, and develop valuable life skills. Ken’s efforts in facilitating this experience underscore his commitment to providing opportunities for young players to excel both on and off the court.

“My friend Hiroki Moriya is a tennis coach who works in Irvine and he has been assisting me with running the Senko Cup Qualifiers,” shared Ken. “This is actually our fourth time competing in this event, and I attended the first two times alongside Hiroki. This event is very unique and the experience for everyone is once in a lifetime. The friendships created spread across the world.”

As the Senko Cup has recently concluded, Ken’s players had a very successful trip. In team and individual competition, multiple of his players placed as finalists in their respective age divisions, bringing hardware back to the states. The event received great feedback from both players and coaches that attended, and everyone returned home safe and sound. Ken is set to kick off pre-qualifiers as early as October in his quest to assemble the team for the 2025 Senko Cup.