Harimoto Tomokazu: "From now on, I want my FH to be central, and my BH to become peripheral."

[zeio]

Before heading for ATTTC 2025, Harimoto took an interview with Nikkei Sports and revealed a major shift of stance regarding his playing style, something that yours truly has advocated for a good while.

https://x.com/nikkei_sports/status/1975381682149896258/
日経電子版 スポーツ @nikkei_sports
Oct 7, 2025, 10:04 AM
卓球のアジア選手権団体戦（11～15日、インド）に出場する #張本智和 選手が出国前に取材に応じ「前回、その前とメダルを取れていない。（直近で）松島選手が梁靖崑選手（中国）に勝ち、戸上選手も調子がいいと思うのでチャンスはある。中国と戦う所まで行って１点を積み重ねたい」と語りました。 1/ https://t.co/FHrStubI95
(#HarimotoTomokazu, who will be competing in the Asian Table Tennis Championships (India, November 11-15), spoke to reporters before leaving the country and said, "I haven't won a medal in the last two years. Matsushima recently beat Liang Jingkun (China), and Togami seems to be in good form, so I have a chance. I want to get to the point where I can play against China and score points."
1/ https://t.co/FHrStubI95)

https://x.com/nikkei_sports/status/1975383811388285144
日経電子版 スポーツ @nikkei_sports
Oct 7, 2025, 10:12 AM
8月のWTT横浜で優勝後、国際大会のシングルスで早いラウンドでの敗退が続いたことを受け、最近はフォアハンドを強化しているとのこと。世界の潮流がバックハンドになっても中国の世界王者たちが最後はフォアで決めていることも念頭に、あえてバックを使わない練習に時間を割いているそうです。 2/
(After winning the WTT Yokohama in August, he suffered a string of early exits in singles at international competitions, and recently he has been strengthening his FH. Even though the global trend is toward BH, Chinese world champions have been finishing with FH, so he's been spending time practicing without using his BH.
2/)

https://x.com/nikkei_sports/status/1975385579220357414
日経電子版 スポーツ @nikkei_sports
Oct 7, 2025, 10:19 AM
「（自身は）フォアの強い選手が苦手。これからはフォアが軸になり、（得意にしてきた）バックがついでになるくらいにしたい。どこかで勝手にバックに頼るところがあるが、ロサンゼルス五輪に向けてそこは一回打開し、意識を大きく変える。１年２年と積み重ねたい」と強調していました。 3/3
("I'm not good against players with strong FH. From now on, I want my FH to be central, and my BH (which I've been good at) to become peripheral. I tend to rely on my BH in some ways, but I'm going to overcome that and make a big change in my mindset in preparation for the Los Angeles Olympics. I want to keep improving year after year."
3/3)

 

[zeio]

2023/9/8
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/26th-asian-table-tennis-championship.31859/post-423032

Yes to having the most balanced FH and BH. That's an interesting development. Looking back on my comments from 2017/2018, Tanaka and Togami were actually BH-oriented players just like Harimoto. The fact that Tanaka has 1 WTT title out of 1 final in 2023 and Shinozuka has 2 out of 2 in 2022 while Togami has 0 final appearances in this cycle says it all.

Also, I have forgotten that Uda 4-3 Xu Yingbin in QF, 4-0 Xiang Peng in SF, and 1-4 Xu Haidong in F of JBS back at WJTTC 2018. Check out in quote 2 Miyazaki's comment on the difference in philosophy between Japan and South Korea and you will see why Uda is good to have.

http://mytabletennis.net/forum/foru...0&title=wtt-feeder-otocec-2022-6-2026#1127880

You know what Togami is lacking the most? TT quotient. He has the skills but not the brain to get him through a winnable match. It has happened time and time again.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/table-tennis-backhand-video.19690/post-251275

Back in September, Japan and South Korea held a U12 and U15 joint training camp. Miyazaki was most impressed by the strong difference in philosophy.

http://sports.sina.com.cn/others/pingpang/2018-11-29/doc-ihmutuec4620460.shtml

　　宫崎义仁表示，在合练当中感受最强烈的是日韩两国教学方法的差异化，宫崎义仁举例说在联合训练当中，通常日本球员在反手击球之后侧身的幅度都不会很大，因为会考虑到还原的问题，但韩国的教练员在指导时强调一定要加大侧身的幅度，将脚迈出去，在韩国教练的亲身示范下，日本球员也看到了这样练习的威力，但因为在日本的训练体系当中，很少有这样的训练，所以合练中日本球员对这样的技术还不能很快掌握。
　　宫崎义仁总结说，“虽然日本和韩国两个国家都属于乒乓球比较强的国家，也都是亚洲国家，但是彼此之间训练体系和思路的差异化，的确是很让人觉得有意思的事情。”

Yoshihito Miyazaki said that the strongest feeling in the joint training is the difference of teaching methods between Japan and South Korea. For example, Japanese players usually do not step around that much after making backhand shots, due to recovery concern. However, Korean coaches stress during the guidance that they must increase the range of the step-around and let the feet out. Under the personal demonstration of the Korean coach, the Japanese players also saw the power of such exercise. Still, because there is very little such training in the Japanese training system, Japanese players can't master this technique quickly.

Miyazaki concluded "Although both Japan and South Korea are relatively strong table tennis countries and Asian countries, the difference in training systems and philosophies between them is indeed very interesting."

I should point out that Japan used to stress about FH only, and they admit that neglect of the BH in the late 80s led to their decline. For this reason, they now stress so much about drilling the BH to the young players. Yet, Harimoto said in a recent TV program after losing to WCQ in the Youth Olympics singles final that he relied too much on the BH and once his weapon got sealed he was helpless.

For China, the BH has undoubtedly gained more weight in recent years, but the central philosophy of "反手得勢，正手得分(lead with BH, score with FH)" still dictates.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/2018-world-junior-u18-tt-championships.19700/post-251377

Tanaka's BH is so fast. Yu Heyi couldn't keep up, but the FH step-around saved game 2.

Tanaka = BH. Yu Heyi = FH. It's a contest to see who forces his own game on the other.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/table-tennis-backhand-video.19690/post-251415

If you folks have time, check out the WJTTC men's team final, especially Tanaka VS Yu Heyi and Togami VS Xiang Peng. The commentators(one of them an Australian player) couldn't help but noticed that Yu and Xiang stepped around a lot and the strength of their FH. Tanaka and Togami both played like Harimoto with lightning-fast BH and caused so much trouble. In Tanaka's case, he could've won if he would step around to finish those pop-ups.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/2018-world-junior-u18-tt-championships.19700/post-251968

Joking aside, Uda had this to say after losing to Xu Haidong in the final. Xu changed his service from the 2nd game. The topspin and backspin jab serve caused Uda tons of trouble. He was forced to use chiquita, but that turned into the BH rallies and he lost them all. Overall, poor receiving played the major part in his loss, and not taking the 4th game sealed his fate.

He also talked about how he beat Xiang Peng. Xiang Peng has a strong forehand but relatively weaker backhand. To avoid FH vs FH rallies which he couldn't come out on top, Uda stayed close to the table and focused on moving Xiang Peng around to force a weak return that he could finish off with the FH.

JBT F at WJTTC 2018
Tanaka vs Yu Heyi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fFT-aZeC_I
Togami vs Xiang Peng
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHtSbhv5H70

2023/10/7
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/19th-asian-games-hangzhou.31953/post-426508

The issue with Harimoto's FH is not stroke or footwork as it was back in 2018. Those have been alleviated in 2022. The issue is that Harimoto insists on staying close to the table when getting bombarded. He reverts to 貼/paste (blocking with a forward motion) on either FH and BH not because he can't counter with 帶/guide or 撕/rip, it's because the 點/point is not right (the specific point in the trajectory of the ball after bounce, think of it as timing) and so he often gets 頂/jammed. Aside from reaction time, that is the major reason players have to back off from the table when counterlooping.

At the WTT SCT Lanzhou, it can be seen he is more willing to take a few steps back.

2023/10/9
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/harimoto-forehand.32060/post-426674

After Team World Cup 2019, Harimoto said in an interview that his FH had been underestimated up until then. 4 years later...

「自分のフォアはなめられていた」16歳エース張本智和の苦悩
https://dot.asahi.com/articles/-/119000
「今まで、自分のフォアはなめられていた。でも、『簡単にフォアに打ってはいけない』というイメージを（相手に）させることはできたのかな」

Check out his FH at World Cup 2020. Arguably the best FH-BH balance and speed/spin/power/agility in his career.
https://youtu.be/dpQmOotrh4A?t=146

張本智和・17歳、巣ごもり期間にフォーム大改造 全ては卓球で世界を獲るため
https://rallys.online/forplayers/harimoto-number202011/

2023/11/7
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-champions-frankfurt-2023.32185/post-430654

Once again, check out the Harimoto back at World Cup 2020. I have no clue what caused him to deviate, but it's likely along the line what LGL touched on in early 2018 - coaching. Hayata has been rotating between multiple coaches recently probably for that reason as well.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/harimoto-forehand.32060/post-426674

 

[zeio]

2025/1/1
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...ll-play-for-another-4-years.35128/post-501084

Miyazaki advocated the BH style but was surprised at the footwork training of South Korean players. I've written for years that South Korean players being among the streakiest and hence inconsistent have produced some of the most powerful upsets and Uda playing like a South Korean player could be a great asset under the right circumstances but Miyazaki and Baba decided fairness of the selection system was more important. What can you do?
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/whats-wrong-with-harimotos-fh.21649/post-285606
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/oshima-vs-harimoto-4-3.20062/post-257563
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/26th-asian-table-tennis-championship.31859/post-422750

【卓球】水谷隼＆吉村真晴が語る「日本の卓球の課題と未来への危機感」
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/322fe284966cd563572753fafd4dd5f68fad0892

2024/12/27(金) 6:00配信
卓球王国

日本選手全体の「同質化」と「対応力不足」を水谷さんが指摘

　東京五輪金メダリストの水谷隼さんとリオ五輪銀メダリストの吉村真晴が卓球の「深い話」を初めて交わした卓球王国の対談。テーマは「レシーブ」。水谷さんは日本選手全体の「同質化」と「対応力不足」を指摘。
　特に「張本智和がやりだすとみんな一斉に真似る」スタイルの画一化に危機感を覚えるという。
　吉村選手も「水谷さんの話を聞いて、ぼくは日本代表全体に危機感を感じた」と同調。日本選手が相手主体の対応力を磨くことが重要だと訴えた。さらに、水谷さんは「日本卓球には韓国のような爆発力が必要」と、世界の頂点を目指すための改善点を提案した。


＜卓球王国2025年2月号・卓球王国PLUSより抜粋＞

Mizutani-san points out the "homogenization" and "lack of adaptability" of all Japanese players

In this Table Tennis Kingdom interview, Mizutani Jun, gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, and Yoshimura Maharu, silver medalist at the Rio Olympics, had their first "deep conversation" about table tennis. The theme was "receiving." Mizutani-san points out the "homogenization" and "lack of adaptability" of all Japanese players.

He said he especially feels a sense of crisis about the standardization of style, where "when Harimoto Tomokazu starts doing something, everyone starts imitating it at once."

Yoshimura agreed, saying, "After listening to Mizutani-san's talk, I felt a sense of crisis about the entire Japanese team." He stressed the importance of Japanese players improving their ability to adapt to opponents. Furthermore, Mizutani-san suggested improvements to aim for the top of the world, saying, "Japanese table tennis needs explosive power like Korea."

2025/2/22
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...n-cup-2025-shenzhen-2-19-23.36119/post-510021

Harimoto needs to train a BH loopkill against underspin. All the point patterns where he loses dramatically are basically ppl pushing long to his BH to invite his slow weak opening loop, and then counterloop it with heavy af spin to get the advantage in the rally.

I remember that he used to have a really early timing BH fast opening loop which drove everyone nuts when he first started out coz it was taken so early. But now he waits, but it is always a weak slow ball.... just why???!!!

That's the softness of his game that he said he's lost. For those shots, he needs to receive with the FH by turning the corner to exert pressure on the other side.

I have real-life experience with that. I visited a university club in the early 2010s and played 2 members there (a quiet night), winning the first one (inverted penhold twiddler with LP) in 3 games and losing the second one (single-side inverted penholder) in deuce after 4 games. The second guy told me after the match that he should've lost because of his grip (inferior BH) but he noticed that I never stepped around to receive with the FH the whole time and that gave him room to breathe. I didn't tell him that that's the whole point I switched to shakehand but like what Liu Jiayi said about European players, my footwork had become lazy and my table tennis "philosophy" took precedence over making the opponent uncomfortable.

2025/2/23
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...n-cup-2025-shenzhen-2-19-23.36119/post-510141

His FH is actually pretty nice now, pivoting introduces extra risk which may not pay off in today's game. Harimoto simply needs to increase the power of his BH opening loop against underspin. Everyone is catching him on this weakness now. It is so predictable and easy. Push long to Harimoto's BH, wait for that weak opening loop and then crush it with a counterloop. Harimoto BH is only strong against topspin really.

So either he goes back to his younger days where he did this super quick off the bounce BH opening loop, or leverage his muscular strength to play the BH loopkill just like Darko Jorgic or the CNT players. I'm sure a player of his BH level can train it easily.

As Miyazaki pointed out in an article back in 5/2019, the world has adapted to the BH-oriented game of JNT players with countermeasures and that they should take a page from South Korea.

They need more Uda.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/whats-wrong-with-harimotos-fh.21649/post-286082

The world has responded to this. Even if it is not a player from a strong country, fast shots can be returned if the opponent's reflexes are good and the racket angle matches up. Foreign players with good physiques can reach even if they swing left and right. Countermeasures for the chiquita were also devised, and the feature of contemporary Japanese table tennis with a huge focus on BH has become hard to score.

"Especially now that the plastic ball has slowed down and the amount of rotation has decreased, it is the FH that has the decisive power. BH is a little under-powered. This is an era to seize the timing with BH and finish with FH. This is how South Korea teaches the younger generation," said Miyazaki.

...Even if Japan's BH has become stronger, “It still comes down to the FH," said a Chinese official.

2025/3/16
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...ongqing-2025-11-16-mar-2025.35822/post-513461

SF
Harimoto vs WCQ
G1 97, 910, 1210
G2 39, 511
G3 611
G4 511
Fell back into his same old habit after G1.
G5 32, 34 TO for Harimoto, 36, 66, 68, 78, 711
Displayed some willingness to use his FH more but overall still not committed.

 

[zeio]

2025/4/19
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...orld-cup-macao-2025-4-14-20.35712/post-519910

Harimoto's BH opening loop against underspin has been so stale and lukewarm. I counted points where ppl pushed long to his BH with pace, and he pretty much never wins those points. The pattern is push long and then crush his BH opening loop. Hugo did it with extreme prejudice for so many points too. If he wants to improve his results, this has to be worked at. Either do early timing BH loops like what he did in his early career, use more variation (heavy topspin / no spin openings), get better placement (esp down the line opening BH loops - where is it?), or just train to open with more power. This (late timing, weak spin, mid depth) BH opening loops just ain't gonna cut it at the top level.

Hugo played well especially his FH but not amazingly well enough to warrant this degree of destruction to Harimoto...

Harimoto has addressed the BH issues in the interview with Butterfly after Paris 2024. I'll see if I can find time to translate it later.

---

Finally have the motivation to get the translation out (@blahness). Here is the specific part of Harimoto's Butterfly 5-part interview after Paris 2024 where he said he couldn't hit the BH any harder and that his body wasn't used to turning the corner.

Despite noting LYJ had increased his FH usage after 2023, throughout the interview, he was very resistant to the idea of pivoting to use his FH when his BH was in a bind, especially against those deep pushes.

パリ五輪男子シングルスベスト8　
張本智和インタビュー③
https://www.butterfly.co.jp/takurepo/interview/detail/024824.html

バックにツッツキが来ると分かっていても
何をすればいいのか分からない怖さを初めて体験した

――樊振東との差も縮まっていると思いますが、今回の対戦ではどのように感じましたか？

張本　そうですね。結局3対2の6ゲーム目も7ゲーム目も、7-7から1本も取れなかったので、惜しいとはいえ、フルゲーム12-10でも11-9でもなく、11-7なので、完敗まではいかないけど、実力の差を見せつけられたと思います。
　7-7からの1点というのが本当にあれだけ遠いのかと思いました。7-7までは簡単に7点取っているのに、そこから1点も取れない。それはすごく思いましたね。
　特に7-7でレシーブでツッツキされて、下回転のボールをバックドライブして、それをカウンターされた時点で、次も正直ツッツキが来ると思っていましたが、何をすればいいか分からない。バックにツッツキが来ると分かっていても何をすればいいのか分からない怖さを初めて体験しました。相手のレシーブが分かってるのに何をすればいいか分からない......。
　じゃあ、「もうちょっとバックドライブを速く強く打てばいいじゃん」と言われても、あの時の自分にこれ以上強くは打てない。同じドライブをしたらまた同じ失点をする。回り込んでも、体が慣れていないし凡ミスにつながる。あの7-7の1本は結構心を折られましたね。
　相手は普通のプレーをしてツッツキをして、こちらも普通のプレーをしてバックドライブして、それをカウンターされてブロックできなかった。あの1点で心が折れました。

Even though I knew he was going to make a backspin,
I experienced the fear of not knowing what to do for the first time.

--I think the gap between you and Fan Zhendong has narrowed. How did you feel about this match?

Harimoto That's right. In the end, I couldn't score a single point from 7-7 in the sixth and seventh games, when the score was 3-2. It was close, but the full game was 11-7, not 12-10 or 11-9, so while it wasn't a complete defeat, I think it showed the difference in our skills.
I wondered if a point from 7-7 really was that far away. I'd easily scored seven points up to 7-7, but then I couldn't score a single point. That really struck me.
Especially at 7-7, when he made a backspin on the receive, and I back-driven the ball with a backspin, and he countered it, I honestly thought he was going to make another backspin, but I didn't know what to do. For the first time, I experienced the fear of knowing a push shot was coming to my backhand, but not knowing what to do. I knew how my opponent was going to receive it, but I didn't know what to do...
So even if someone told me to "just hit the backhand drive a little faster and harder," I couldn't hit it any harder than I did at that time. If I tried the same drive, I would lose the same point again. Even if I circled around, my body wasn't used to it and it would lead to simple mistakes. That 7-7 score really broke my spirit.
My opponent played normally and hit a push shot, and I played normally and hit a backhand drive, but it was countered and I couldn't block. That one point broke my spirit.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

Harimoto really wants to break 2000

 

[zeio]

What will Harimoto be like playing FH-oriented once again after World Cup 2020, given his bulk now? What and how long will it take to get his crappy footwork right?

FULL MATCH | Yukiya Uda vs Lin Yun-Ju | MS R32 | #ChinaSmash 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFzQ-R31Udk

FULL MATCH | Truls Moregard vs Yukiya Uda | MS R16 | #ChinaSmash 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9qh-ujrFd8

FULL MATCH | Yukiya Uda vs Lin Shidong | MS QF | #ChinaSmash 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a0cWH0MQnw

 

[NextLevel]

What will Harimoto be like playing FH-oriented once again after World Cup 2020, given his bulk now? What and how long will it take to get his crappy footwork right?

FULL MATCH | Yukiya Uda vs Lin Yun-Ju | MS R32 | #ChinaSmash 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFzQ-R31Udk

FULL MATCH | Truls Moregard vs Yukiya Uda | MS R16 | #ChinaSmash 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9qh-ujrFd8

FULL MATCH | Yukiya Uda vs Lin Shidong | MS QF | #ChinaSmash 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a0cWH0MQnw

I don't think it is so much forehand oriented (is Hugo forehand oriented? if the answer is yes, then I stand corrected...) so much as to just stop freaking holding the table to the point that people can hit your middle in 10 nanoseconds because you don't give yourself a chance to defend it. Play a bit further back and stop passing the ball back to the opponent, play some rips as well.

 

[songdavid98]

"What would JesusMa Long do?"

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Harimoto really wants to break 2000

it ain't gunna happen if he continues to use girly blade innerforce type blade.

 

[NextLevel]

it ain't gunna happen if he continues to use girly blade innerforce type blade.

Ma Long used an innerforce type blade...

 

[longle]

Ma Long used an innerforce type blade...

and WCQ, Sun Yingsha, Wang Hao..

 

[zeio]

The FH at 4:4 of G4 was key to the win and turned the tables that he failed to capitalize unlike Moregard. Could've finished in 5 games or even 4 if Harimoto committed to the FH sooner.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...rld-cup-macao-2026-3-30-4-5.38996/post-570146
MS R16
Harimoto WR4 4-3 QD WR11 (-11, -8, 10, 11, 9, -8, 6)
G2 03, 53, 55 Harimoto made a 2 sign after tapping his blade edge LOL, 65, 68, 78 QD served into the net another time, 79, 89, 811
G3 31, 33, 53, 56 TO for Harimoto, 76, 77, 97, 910, 1210 slight net for Harimoto
Late TO for JNT as well. What are they up to?
G4 31, 34, 54 Harimoto needs more FH like this, 55 dead net for QD, 75, 79, 89 TO for QD, 99 a crucial FH loopkill for Harimoto, 109, 1010, 1110 FH flickkill for Harimoto, 1111, 1211 FH soft flick for Harimoto, 1311 FH loop for Harimoto
The RTHK32 color commentator also notes that it came down to the FH for Harimoto.
G5 14, 24, 27, 77, 78, 98, 99, 109 slight net for Harimoto, 119
Comeback made possible after Harimoto forced QD into FH rallies.
G6 02, 12 QD off the table, 22, 23, 43, 44, 64, 65, 75 faint corner edge for Harimoto, challenge for toss angle successful for Harimoto, 78, 88 slight net for Harimoto, 811
The match flow changed after the challenge. 1 out of 7 points for Harimoto after that.
G7 10, 11, 21, 23 slight net for QD, 53, 55, 75 dead net for Harimoto, 95 crucial FH for Harimoto, 105, 106, 116