Kakeru Steps Into Coaching Role for VARREL's Tokido

Jul 24, 2026
street fighter 6 kakeru tokido varrel

Kakeru had planned to step away from esports as a career. Instead, he is picking a new lane entirely, one that puts him behind the bench for a rival he grew up competing against.

Key Takeaways:

  • Kakeru will coach Tokido, who competes under VARREL
  • It marks Kakeru's first time working as a coach
  • Kakeru prepared by rewatching nearly all of Tokido's Street Fighter IV and V tournament matches

From Rival to Coach: Kakeru's New Role

Kakeru confirmed the news himself in a post on X, writing that he will take on the role of coach for Tokido going forward. He had assumed his path in competitive gaming as a job was coming to a close, but framed this move as a way to stay involved a little longer, just not as a player.

What pushed him toward the offer was the process of preparing for it. Kakeru said he rewatched almost all of Tokido's Street Fighter IV and Street Fighter V tournament matches before taking the position, and came away seeing a version of "the strongest JP" that looked different from his own path through the game. That, he said, is what made him want to take the role no matter what.

"After receiving the offer to coach, I rewatched almost all of Tokido player's Street Fighter IV and Street Fighter V tournament matches, and I saw a vision of the strongest JP in a form different from mine, so I couldn't hold back my desire to do it no matter what." — Kakeru, translated from a post on X

A Player Known for Studying the Game

Kakeru built his reputation as one of Japan's most technically minded competitors during the Street Fighter IV and V eras, often competing directly against Tokido at the highest level. That history is part of what makes this pairing notable. He is not stepping in as an outside hire studying Tokido cold. He is a longtime rival who has already spent years reading Tokido's habits from across the stage, and now says he is doing it again from a different angle.

Kakeru described the assignment as his first time working as a coach. He said his goal is what he called the completion of "Tokido JP," a phrase pointing toward refining Tokido's game rather than reshaping it from scratch.

What Comes Next for Tokido and VARREL

Neither Kakeru's post nor VARREL has laid out a timeline or specific tournament targets tied to the coaching arrangement. What is clear is that one of Tokido's sharpest historical rivals is now working to sharpen him further, at a moment when the veteran remains one of the most closely watched competitors in Street Fighter 6.

Source: Kakeru on X