Thread about Japanese Players

[tzifos]

@tzifos Sato is sponsored by Nittaku, but the blade and rubbers she uses in matches are not from Nittaku. The video you posted is a Nittaku video, so for that video Sato used some Nittaku equipment. She is definitely not sponsored by Butterfly.

I previously read that she uses long pips on the BH (which rules out DO Knuckle) and @belllfador's guess sounds reasonable.

PLAYERS | Nittaku(ニッタク) 日本卓球 | 卓球用品の総合メーカーNittaku(ニッタク) 日本卓球株式会社の公式ホームページ

日本卓球(ニッタク=Nittaku) は卓球用品の総合メーカーです。公式ホームページでは卓球のラバーやラケットなどの卓球用品/卓球製品の紹介や、卓球の動画や全国の卓球場検索などのコンテンツなど盛り沢山です。

www.nittaku.com

Yes, that is a bit strange, sponsored by Nittaku but using other company/nies' equipment ! Especially the blade, it shouts "I am BTY" !! And blade is the easiest of all to hide for example using only the handle from other manufacturer!

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

That is a completely different setup from what she uses in the recent games.
View attachment 42294
The blade look like Diode V with a wrap.View attachment 42295
The pips have yollow sponge, that smels Victas. I will bet on P1V in 1mm.
The red rubber have red/pinkish sponge. Can be Zyre 03.

You have a very keen eye.

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[Catenaccio]

With her win over Hashimoto, Sato will earn at least 580 points for the US Smash and overtake Nagasaki in the world ranking. If Ito loses to Harimoto, Sato will also leapfrog Ito. In any event, Sato will be the 6th highest ranked Japanese player (or better) and hopefully gain automatic entry for the Europe Smash (the ranking update might be too late for the cut-off date). Fingers crossed that Nakazawa will select the Hashimoto/Sato pairing at the Europe Smash 🍀

Just daydreaming, but imo it would be awesome if Harimoto/Hashimoto/Sato were the 3 highest ranked Japanese players on 3 January 2028 (the cut-off date for Olympics selection) and Hashimoto/Sato would play WD.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

With her win over Hashimoto, Sato will earn at least 580 points for the US Smash and overtake Nagasaki in the world ranking. If Ito loses to Harimoto, Sato will also leapfrog Ito. In any event, Sato will be the 6th highest ranked Japanese player (or better) and hopefully gain automatic entry for the Europe Smash (the ranking update might be too late for the cut-off date). Fingers crossed that Nakazawa will select the Hashimoto/Sato pairing at the Europe Smash 🍀

Just daydreaming, but imo it would be awesome if Harimoto/Hashimoto/Sato were the 3 highest ranked Japanese players on 3 January 2028 (the cut-off date for Olympics selection) and Hashimoto/Sato would play WD.

Mima Ito's 2025 US Smash points won't expire until July 13 so she will still be ahead of Sato unless Sato makes the Finals. Most likely Hitomi won't make the Europe Smash based on ranking, but it's very possible (since she beat WMY) she could get a Host Wildcard or WTT Nomination.

 

[NextLevel]

With her win over Hashimoto, Sato will earn at least 580 points for the US Smash and overtake Nagasaki in the world ranking. If Ito loses to Harimoto, Sato will also leapfrog Ito. In any event, Sato will be the 6th highest ranked Japanese player (or better) and hopefully gain automatic entry for the Europe Smash (the ranking update might be too late for the cut-off date). Fingers crossed that Nakazawa will select the Hashimoto/Sato pairing at the Europe Smash 🍀

Just daydreaming, but imo it would be awesome if Harimoto/Hashimoto/Sato were the 3 highest ranked Japanese players on 3 January 2028 (the cut-off date for Olympics selection) and Hashimoto/Sato would play WD.

That Hashimoto and Sato are not playing women's doubles is a criminal act. MNSHO....

 

[NextLevel]

There is a Calderano line - it divides players who can beat Calderano and players who cannot - I cannot see how Shinozuka crosses that line., In his last match, he hit some of the most powerful shots I can ever remember him hitting - but none of that is here. That players like Felix and Truls and Togami can cross it means it doesn't mean you can't use a different style to do it. But Shinozuka needs to find something. I am rooting for him a little - he needs to break his personal limiter like Saitama.

PS: So happy to be wrong - Shinozuka gets his Saitama moment and can now beat anyone.

 

[NextLevel]

In the chopper civil war, the twiddle chop that ended the resistance:

 

[J-fed]

Yokoi playing now. IDK her. I don't watch a lot. Just getting back into watching lately. She dropped the first game but dominating with her BH in this second

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Yokoi playing now. IDK her. I don't watch a lot. Just getting back into watching lately. She dropped the first game but dominating with her BH in this second

she failed this time, but next time will the the good one

 

[JackJohnson]

she failed this time, but next time will the the good one

Happy with Yokoi progress so far. Has made a lot of improvements and there have been times where I didn’t believe she could win and proving me wrong.

 

[M51]

What's the social media buzz in Japan right now, is Tomokazu still Japanese when he wins and Chinese when he loses?

 

[J-fed]

What's the social media buzz in Japan right now, is Tomokazu still Japanese when he wins and Chinese when he loses?

It is written.

 

[Catenaccio]

With his win over Felix Lebrun, Matsushima will become the highest ranked Japanese male player on 13 July 🔥

 

[NextLevel]

she failed this time, but next time will the the good one

not entirely convinced but the progress is impressive.

 

[Catenaccio]

Congrats to Matsushima on winning the US Smash🔥

He'll also overtake F. Lebrun and be ranked number 3 in the world on 13 July, his personal best so far.

 

[NextLevel]

Congrats to Matsushima on winning the US Smash🔥

He'll also overtake F. Lebrun and be ranked number 3 in the world on 13 July, his personal best so far.

Harimoto is going to lose about 1000 points next week when last year's Smash drops off - so Sora might end up #2.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Harimoto is going to lose about 1000 points next week when last year's Smash drops off - so Sora might end up #2.

As a semi-finalist, Truls has just enough points to hold off Sora for the #2 spot. Amazing tournament Sora. Not just his first Smash title, but the 1st Japanese player to take the Singles title at a Grand Smash. Also, a good tournament for Hiroto Shinozuka with wins over WRB and Hugo. A number of Japanese women were taken out by their compatriots. But special mention should be made of Hitomi Sato's performance in beating the venerated WMY and was just shy of taking down Finalist, Kuai Man.

 

[Catenaccio]

With her win over Hashimoto, Sato will earn at least 580 points for the US Smash and overtake Nagasaki in the world ranking. If Ito loses to Harimoto, Sato will also leapfrog Ito. In any event, Sato will be the 6th highest ranked Japanese player (or better) and hopefully gain automatic entry for the Europe Smash (the ranking update might be too late for the cut-off date). Fingers crossed that Nakazawa will select the Hashimoto/Sato pairing at the Europe Smash 🍀

With today's ranking update, Sato is the 6th highest ranked female Japanese player -- she will overtake Ito next week (after her points from last year's US Smash expire) and be the 5th highest ranked female Japanese player.

EDIT: The ranking from last week or earlier was used and Nagasaki received the last spot reserved for female Japanese players for the Europe Smash. Fingers crossed that Sato will get a wild card 🍀

 

[GhostBackhand]

I think in just a few years, nobody from CNT will be able to stop Sora Matsushima

 

[driversbeat]

Looks more and more likely that the remaining spots for 2026 ATTU and 2027 WTTC will be filled up by Hayata, Odo, and Hashimoto/Sato.

Personally I'd like for both choppers to go but Hayata is way ahead of everyone else and Odo is pretty much guaranteed to finish ahead of the chopping duo everytime they clash.