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Today we introduce a product from Sai Co., Ltd., a sponsor of BLUEROSE presents Yokohama Open 2026: “biyeoji cream”.
The product description says: “A rich moisturizing cream blended with CBD and naturally derived ingredients, soaking deep into dry skin.
Fragrance-free, non-sticky and easy to spread, the cream protects the skin from reactive oxygen and brings it moisture and a healthy balance.
Use it for skin concerns and for looking after your body.
It is an anti-doping product, and top athletes can use it too.”
So what is this CBD we keep hearing about? Before introducing the product, we looked into it!
Is CBD (cannabidiol) safe?
— The basics worth knowing now, and the science behind them —
What is CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the natural compounds found in the cannabis plant.
The cannabis plant contains more than 100 compounds known as “cannabinoids,” and of these, CBD is the one that has drawn particular attention in recent years.
There is one common misunderstanding here.
CBD has nothing at all to do with getting “high” or “stoned.”
The compound that acts on the mind is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and CBD has no such effect.
That is why CBD is being studied around the world for purposes such as pain care, managing inflammation and relaxation.
How has Japan’s Cannabis Control Act changed?
On December 12, 2024, Japan revised its Cannabis Control Act for the first time in about 70 years.
The big change in this revision is the shift away from regulating by “part of the plant” toward regulating by compound.
• Regulated → THC (the compound with psychoactive effects)
• Not regulated → CBD that contains no THC
In other words, CBD products that contain no THC are legal when properly managed and handled through the correct procedures. That position is now much clearer.
The revision sets out to do two things at once:
• encouraging progress in medicine and research, while
• preventing abuse and illegal use
It is designed to hold the two in balance.
The official view of the WHO (World Health Organization)
In 2017, the WHO published an official view on CBD.
Its conclusion was very simple: there is no evidence that CBD has potential for abuse or dependence.
Then in 2018 it published a more detailed review report, which assessed CBD as:
• generally safe
• low in public health risk
• possibly of medical value
That was its assessment.
This view from the WHO has been a major push behind the acceptance of CBD in countries around the world.
Can athletes use it? WADA’s decision
In 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) formally removed CBD from its list of prohibited substances.
This is a very important point.
• CBD → OK to use
• THC and other cannabinoids → still prohibited
Since that decision, professional athletes, too, have been using CBD for purposes such as:
• recovery after training
• managing inflammation
• sleep and mental balance
and their numbers are growing.
Take care with CBD products made overseas
When choosing CBD, the biggest thing to watch out for is the risk of THC contamination.
In fact, surveys of CBD products made overseas found:
• THC detected in about 65% of products
• THC detected in about a quarter of products even when labeled “THC-free”
These are among the findings that have been reported.
In Japan, THC may be illegal even in trace amounts, which means risks such as:
• breaking the law
• for athletes, a positive doping test
cannot be ruled out.
For peace of mind in Japan: “isolate”
There are three main types of CBD product.
• Full spectrum
→ contains all compounds (risk of THC)
• Broad spectrum
→ THC removed, but other compounds included
• Isolate
→ CBD only (99% purity or higher)
For use in Japan, the safest choice is an isolate product.
With nothing extra in it, the risk can be kept to a minimum.
It is the type most strongly recommended, especially for:
• athletes
• anyone who wants to avoid legal risk
If that is you, this is the one to choose.
Always check the certificate of analysis (COA)
The biggest clue to whether a CBD product can be trusted is whether it has a certificate of analysis (COA) from a third-party lab.
A COA lets you check:
• how much CBD it contains
• whether any THC was detected
• whether heavy metals or pesticides are present
among other things.
Four points to check!
• THC is ND (below the detection limit)
• The CBD content matches the label
• Harmful substances are below standard limits
• Testing by an independent third-party lab
If all of these are in place, it seems fair to say the product is quite reliable.
How athletes overseas use CBD
Since WADA’s decision, quite a few athletes have used CBD openly.
• NFL and NBA players → muscle fatigue and inflammation management
• Fighter Nate Diaz → has spoken openly about using CBD after fights
• Marathon runners and triathletes → recovery after long hours of exercise
Its natural origin and low dependence potential have drawn attention to it as an alternative to conventional painkillers.
Scientific evidence on chronic pain
Recent research has suggested that CBD may help with chronic pain.
• A 2024 review
→ 42–66% of users reported reduced pain
• Suppressive effects on inflammatory cytokines also confirmed
• Cases of reduced opioid use also reported
CBD acts on the body’s endocannabinoid system and is thought to take effect through:
• adjusting pain signals
• suppressing inflammatory responses
That, at least, is the current understanding.
In summary: CBD is a promising option, “if you choose well”
Judging from current research, CBD:
• has low dependence potential
• is relatively safe
• may help with chronic pain and inflammation
On the other hand,
• choosing the wrong product carries risks
• effects vary from person to person
These points matter too.
Research will keep moving forward, but the right knowledge and a safe choice of product are the key to making good use of CBD!
My review (pool × desk work × sleep)
And so, having done all that research and feeling reassured, I started using it!
I have piriformis syndrome myself, and my job is mostly desk work.
To be honest, the discomfort and pain after sitting for long hours had bothered me for a long time.
Those of you who have played with me probably know already…
So I applied a suitable amount of biyeoji cream, mainly around the painful areas.
The first thing I noticed after I started using biyeoji cream was that everyday movement felt easier! (I can already hear you saying, “Oh, come on…”)
The pain after desk work in particular eased, and there were more days when I thought, “Today feels a lot better.”
As for the pool side of things: anyone who plays will know there are moments when, in a stance for an elevated cue, you want to put your weight firmly on your left foot.
Before, whenever I tried to take that stance, pain would come up on my left side, I would shift my weight away without meaning to, and my form never settled.
Now I can stay down with my weight on my left foot without strain, and focus on the shot without worrying about my form or the pain!
Not that it makes the object ball go in…
Even so, the sense of security while I play is completely different.
Something else I personally liked was the quality of my sleep.
Since I started putting the CBD cream behind my ears before bed, I’ve found I fall asleep more easily, and my body feels less heavy in the morning.
👉 Was That Miss Really About Technique? — Conditioning, for Billiards Too.
I feel this “sense of being able to relax” could help people whose work involves a lot of travel, or athletes on the road and on long journeys.
Travel by bullet train or plane tends to tense the body and nerves before you know it, and using it as a way to look after yourself in that time is one option, I think.
Of course, how it feels will differ from person to person, but in my case—less pain, a steadier stance, better sleep—overall, I feel the benefit.
If you, too, are:
• someone who spends a lot of time at a desk
• living with chronic pain
• feeling that something is off in how your body moves, in pool or other sports
I’d really like you to give it a try.
There will be a sales booth at the finals venue of BLUEROSE presents Yokohama Open 2026, and Sai is also sponsoring prizes for the top finishers!
Do take this chance to try it for yourself.
*This review is based purely on personal experience. Please use your own judgment according to your health.
👉 Billiards resources from Japan and around the world, organized by purpose: Billiards in Depth (latest updated hourly)
