Thread about Japanese Players

[zeio]

Interested to hear what you mean by best-case-scenario

They should consider their alternative/less ideal/possible lineups like Fukuzawa did for CHN. What would JPN do in the same situation with just 2 men and 2 women?

Mizutani and Hirano are both clearly aware of the beef between the Harimoto siblings and Hayata (no Harimoto1/Hayata for XD and either Harimoto2/Odo or Ito/Hayata for WD) so CHN could also take that into account and switch out WCQ/SYS (1-2 Togami/Harimoto2 at XTWC 2023). OTOH, the AI putting WD ahead of MD is also more logical, whereas the 3 of them and the SNS clearly overestimate their MD.

2025 Week #47 - November 18th
https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025_47_SEN_MD.html
https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025_47_SEN_WD.html

 

[Catenaccio]

Table Tennis Kingdom interviewed Kotomi Omoda. You need a subscription to read the full interview.

 

[Catenaccio]

@mikeytt Table Tennis Kingdom interviewed Yukiya Uda. You need a subscription to read the full interview.

Part 1
Part 2

Among other things (for example his back problems), Uda talked about improvements in his BH:

"My backhand, which had been a problem area, and table-top techniques like the push and stop. My forte is the chiquita, and I'd always viewed the push and stop as something I resorted to when I couldn't execute the chiquita. However, in this tournament, I managed to score points using the push and stop, too. Previously, if I couldn't execute the chiquita, it would complicate my tactical approach and I'd have to endure without scoring. Now, I can score even when the chiquita isn't feasible. My tactical range has broadened, and I can confidently aim for the chiquita when I want to."

Uda's new personal coach is Qiu Jianxin who is the father of Dang Qiu.

 

[JackJohnson]

@mikeytt Table Tennis Kingdom interviewed Yukiya Uda. You need a subscription to read the full interview.

Part 1
Part 2

Among other things (for example his back problems), Uda talked about improvements in his BH:

"My backhand, which had been a problem area, and table-top techniques like the push and stop. My forte is the chiquita, and I'd always viewed the push and stop as something I resorted to when I couldn't execute the chiquita. However, in this tournament, I managed to score points using the push and stop, too. Previously, if I couldn't execute the chiquita, it would complicate my tactical approach and I'd have to endure without scoring. Now, I can score even when the chiquita isn't feasible. My tactical range has broadened, and I can confidently aim for the chiquita when I want to."

Uda's new personal coach is Qiu Jianxin who is the father of Dang Qiu.

Going to be interesting when Uda plays Dang Qiu in a match if he is using Dang Qiu father as his personal coach.

Can Jianxin speak Japanese, how will they communicate with one another?

 

[Catenaccio]

Can Jianxin speak Japanese, how will they communicate with one another?

Yes, he can speak Japanese.

邱建新 | 邱卓球塾

卓球の世界的指導者の一人と称されている。長年にわたり、青森山田学園やドイツ・ニュルティンゲンの「バタフライ・テーブルテニス・センター（BTTC）」を拠点にトップ選手を指導。水谷隼選手のプライベートコーチを経て、現在は日本男子ナショナルチームのコーチ。2018年4月、Tリーグチーム「木下グループ」の総監督に就任している。

qtt.jp

 

[zeio]

They still have the habit of thinking in terms of best-case scenario. Are they not aware that the lineup could consist of as few as 2 men and 2 women?

XD M1W1
WS W2
MS M2
WD/MD W1W2/M1M2
MD/WD M1M2/W1W2

https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/upl...p-2025-Competition-Details-Playing-system.pdf


Mizutani
Matsushima/Harimoto2 vs WCQ/SYS
Hayata vs WMY
Harimoto1 vs LJK
Togami/Matsushima vs WCQ/LSD
Harimoto2/Odo vs SYS/WMY

Hirano S.
Matsushima/Harimoto2 vs WCQ/SYS
Odo vs WMY
Harimoto1 vs LSD
Togami/Shinozuka vs WCQ/LSD
Hayata/Ito vs WMY/KM

Fukuzawa
Harimoto1/Harimoto2 vs WCQ/SYS
Ito vs WMY
Matsushima vs LSD
Togami/Shinozuka vs WCQ/LSD
Hayata/Harimoto2 vs SYS/WMY

SNS (Social Networking Service)
1 Togami/Hayata (24%)/2 Matsushima/Harimoto2 (21%)/3 Harimoto1/Hayata (17%)
1 Harimoto2 (60%)/2 Hayata (16%)/2 Odo (16%)
1 Harimoto1 (62%)/2 Matsushima (35%)/3 Togami (3%)
1 Togami/Shinozuka (62%)/2 Matsushima/Shinozuka (12%)/Harimoto1/Matsushima (8%)
1 Ito/Hayata (52%)/2 Harimoto2/Odo (26%)/3 Harimoto2/Hayata (15%)

AI
Harimoto1/Hayata
Ito
Togami
Harimoto2/Hayata
Togami/Shinozuka

Just realized the lineups for Fukuzawa (4 men/3 women) and SNS (4 men/3 women for one with the highest votes) are invalid per the rules of equal number of men and women. The AI one is good.

 

[Catenaccio]

You can find results of the Mixed Team World Cup for the Japanese team here.

 

[Catenaccio]

I didn't know that Kawakami is just 16.

https://world-tt.com/blog/news/archives/313139

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

With Kaho Akae taking the WTT Feeder Düsseldorf II title last week, she moves from WR#49 to WR#41. She's also currently in the round of 16 at Feeder Parma. Tough to peak on the 2nd of a back to back tournament though.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

With Kaho Akae taking the WTT Feeder Düsseldorf II title last week, she moves from WR#49 to WR#41. She's also currently in the round of 16 at Feeder Parma. Tough to peak on the 2nd of a back to back tournament though.

its crazy how you can be top 50 in the world, and not in a national team.
the depth in Japanese table tennis is really impressive.

 

[Singshasha]

Is this real?

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Singshasha]

Table Tennis Kingdom interviewed Kotomi Omoda. You need a subscription to read the full interview.

Are you able to share the full article? It is behind a paywall.

 

[driversbeat]

Mizutani and Hirano Sayaka predict lineups for Japan at Mixed Team Cup

Sayaka
1. Matsushima/Miwa
2. Odo (Reason: Never played WMY and can possibly take 1 game with serves)
3. Tomozaku
4. Togami/Shinozuka
5. Hayata/Ito

Mizutani
1. Matsushima/Miwa
2. Hayata (Potential on the big stage)
3. Tomokazu (Thinks Liang Jingkun will play singles)
4. Matsushima/Togami (Doesn't think the gold medal MD pair are that spectacular)
5. Odo/Miwa (Pair that Japan has been trying to groom and has decent results)

Host
Harimoto siblings (As Xmas present to viewers)
Ito
Matsushima
Togami/Shinozuka
Hayata/Miwa

(Host was criticised for not knowing about Lin Shidong's losing record against Tomozaku and how he was placed in 3rd singles during Asian Champs just to avoid that matchup)

SNS (Social Media Poll)
1. Togami/Hayata
2. Miwa (60%, Hayata 16%, Odo 16%, Ito not even shown but 8%)
3. Tomozaku (62%, Matsushima 35%)
4. Togami/Shinozuka (62%, Matsushima/Togami 12%)
5. Ito/Hayata (52%, Odo/Miwa 26%, Miwa/Hayata 15%)

AI (tendency to look for chances to win 3-0 and seems to rely on prominent news)
1. Hayata/Harimoto
2. Ito
3. Togami
4. Hayata/Miwa (AI picked WD for 4th match while the program decided to go with MD)
5. Togami/Shinozuka

Mine
Odo/Matsushima
Miwa
Tomokazu
Matsushima/Togami
Odo/Hayata

No one got it right. Guess they're saving the best for the final.

 

[zeio]

20251122スポーツリアライブ〜SPORT Real＆Live〜张本美和cut [With Harimoto1's part cut out]
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1T5UMBdE7r
Harimoto1 picked:
Togami/Hayata
? (TV Tokyo skipped WS and WD for unknown reason)
Matsushima (at first) but then Harimoto1 (as if he was forced by the crew to pick himself)
? (TV Tokyo skipped WS and WD for unknown reason)
Togami/Shinozuka

Harimoto2 picked:
Matsushima/Odo
Harimoto2
Ito/Hayata
Togami/Shinozuka

【公式】開幕直前！新しい国別対抗戦 混合団体ワールドカップスペシャル｜卓球ジャパン！11月29日
https://youtu.be/McUa9XgwrQ8
Tanaka picked:
Hayata/Togami
Harimoto2
Harimoto1
Togami/Matsushima
Hayata/Ito

Hirano Sayaka picked:
Matsushima/Harimoto2
Ito
Harimoto1
Togami/Matsushima
Hayata/Ito

 

[zeio]

View attachment 39362
No one got it right. Guess they're saving the best for the final.

Well, at least we now know the MT did carry the WT.

XTWC 2025
CHN 8-5 JPN

XTWC 2023
CHN 8-6 JPN

 

[Catenaccio]

Results of JTTL Final 4

Kyowa Kirin won the men's final

Denso Polaris won the women's final

 

[driversbeat]

Mine
Odo/Matsushima
Miwa
Tomokazu
Matsushima/Togami
Odo/Hayata

Only missed out by one player 🫣 Not using Shinozuka and Hayata is certainly a choice.

Not the player I would have substituted though. Given what's happened over the past few days I would have opted for an all-member lineup in hopes of bringing the entire team together.

Revised lineup
Ito/Shinozuka
Odo
Tomokazu
Togami/Sora
Hayata/Miwa

 

[Catenaccio]

WTT Finals HK

XD Group
Harimoto / Matsushima vs Robles / Xiao 3-0 (9,9,13)
Harimoto / Matsushima vs Lim / Shin 0-3 (-12,-10,-5)
Harimoto / Matsushima vs Calderano / Takahashi 3-2 (6,-10,-5,12,10)

MS R16
Sora Matsushima vs WCQ 3-4 (6,9,-4,12,-10,-4,-9)
Tomoko Harimoto vs Simon Gauzy 4-2 (-5,5,9,-5,8,7)

WS R16
Miwa Harimoto vs WMY 2-4 (-6,-8,11,-6,9,-7)
Honoka Hashimoto vs Satsuki Odo 0-4 (-8,-7,-6,-10)
Mima Ito vs Miyu Nagasaki 3-4 (10,-12,8,9,-6,-11,-4)
Hina Hayata vs KM 0-4 (-5,-6,-6,-5)

 

[driversbeat]

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-finals-hong-kong-2025.35838/post-555103

The next generation might be taking over/take over soon and it's not necessarily a bad thing.

Odo > Hirano
Nagasaki > Hayata
Kihara > Ito

Round out with Miwa and Hashimoto and you've got a really solid team.

Obviously Hayata and Ito are still ahead but in terms of technique and potential their juniors may have more to work with.

 

[Catenaccio]

WTT Finals HK

XD SF
Harimoto / Matsushima vs Sun / Wang 0-3 (-6,-8,-4)

MS QF
Tomoko Harimoto vs Felix Lebrun 4-3 (-12,8,10,3,-8,-7,9)

WS QF
Satsuki Odo vs KM 2-4 (-6,4,9,-14,-4,-10)
Miyu Nagasaki vs SYS 0-4 (-10,-6,-6,-1)