Kihara: "There were many times I just wanted to quit table tennis..." (#1215)

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Hayata updated her Instagram Stories on losing 3-4 SYS at WTT Montpellier 2026, how it's made up a little for the disappointment at Paris 2024.

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Yahoo users don't buy Hayata's post, with some calling it self-centered, which is more or less as expected.

【卓球】早田ひな「パリ準決勝の後悔を少し晴らすことができた大会」孫穎莎との戦いに思い <WTTチャンピオンズ モンペリエ>
https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/sports/4d5b2a02cd704bf6a0502229d48cf7ed
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3c519d20dea827a49cad49a789631cf63513e34a/comments
dra********
22時間前
想像力がかけてる選手。一時でもトップを張った選手には、態度やコメントは想像力を膨らませたうえで発する必要があると思う。
一挙手一投足を測られてしまうから。
負けた時に直ぐに怪我を言い訳にしたり、ポジティブさを演出したいのだろうけど今回のような発言をしたり、一方で勝ったときには舌をだしておちゃらけたり。同年代に比べて陽の目を浴びるまで苦労した分、TOPに執着してるんだと思うけど、プライド高いように映ってる。
(This athlete lacks imagination. When you’ve reached the top—even if only for a while—you need to exercise a bit more foresight regarding your attitude and the comments you make.
After all, every single move you make is under the scrutiny.
When she loses, she's quick to use injury as an excuse—perhaps in an attempt to project a positive image—yet she ends up making remarks like the ones seen here. Meanwhile, when she wins, she acts all playful and cheeky. Having struggled longer than many of her peers to finally step into the spotlight, she's likely fixated on staying at the top, but it just comes across as having an inflated sense of pride.)
56 concur, 6 ic, 57 hmm

oji********
19時間前
試合を見ました。素人の見解ですが、世界選手権の時に比べると、孫選手の凡ミスがとても目立ちます。これが彼女の最高レベルとして、ほんのわずかな差だと想定すると、危険です。まあ、早田ひながだれよりも現実がわかるはずです。
(I watched the match. From an amateur’s perspective, player Sun’s unforced errors stand out significantly compared to how she played at the World Championships. It would be dangerous to assume that this is her peak level and that the margins are razor-thin. Then again, Hayata Hina is surely the one who understands the reality of the situation better than anyone else.)
7 concur, 1 ic, 0 hmm

xzi********
21時間前
みうみまひなトリオの全盛期が重なったオリンピックを観たかったなぁ。
3人揃ったオリンピックすら1度も見れなかったのは残念でした。
(I really wish I could have seen an Olympics where the prime periods of Miu, Mima, and Hina all overlapped.
It’s a shame that we never even got to see a single Olympics where all 3 of them were present.)
16 concur, 9 ic, 9 hmm

ynp********
23時間前
本調子じゃなかったものの、優勝したのは結局孫選手。流石としか言いようが無いです。
(Even though she wasn't at her best, player Sun still ended up winning the title. All I can say is: truly impressive.)
80 concur, 1 ic, 4 hmm

違反コメント
20時間前
マッサージちゃん
(Massage-chan)
12 concur, 1 ic, 5 hmm

【卓球】早田ひな「あの時あの舞台でできていたら…また違う景色が」全敗中の強敵に敗れた胸中は
https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202611020001292.html
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f7c7974b3f050afb77e0cd4b7d22e02e2ce0c2ad/comments
swq********
18時間前
シャシャが本調子ではない事ご存知でございませんか?!みんな知ってますよ。対戦相手の事あまりリサーチされないのでしょうか。
勘違いしてせいぜいフルセットまで行った事を家宝にして喜んでいたら幸せですね。
(Are you not aware that Shasha isn’t at her best right now?! Everyone else knows. Do you not bother to do any research on your opponents?
If you’re happy enough to treat the fact that you managed to push the match to a full game—due to a simple misunderstanding of the situation—as some kind of prized treasure, then I suppose that’s just lovely for you.)
60 concur, 3 ic, 54 hmm

t_r********
17時間前
復帰戦の孫に対して負けてこのコメントじゃね。
そもそも早田の一番の問題は大舞台で必ずコンディションを崩すことでしょ。五輪で手首を大きく負傷したのはもちろん、その前にも世界選手権団体でもコンディション不良、その後もコンディション不良。
あの舞台でなぜ力を発揮できないかって、試合をする前の段階でもうそうなってるんですよね。
(To lose to Sun—who was playing her first match back—and then offer a comment like that...
The fundamental issue with Hayata is that she consistently fails to be in proper condition for major events. Beyond the serious wrist injury she sustained at the Olympics, she also struggled with poor physical condition at the World Team Championships and on other occasions as well.
The reason she can’t perform to her full potential on the big stage is that the problems are already present before the match even begins.)
36 concur, 2 ic, 31 hmm

quc********
17時間前
そんなこと言ってるようじゃあ、これからも勝てないわ。スンインシャも4年に1回しか巡ってこないオリンピックと年何回もやってるWTTチャンピオンズとでは準備も仕上がり具合も違う。要するに力の入れ方がまったく違うのだ。今回善戦したからといって、五輪でまた善戦さらには勝利できるかと言えば、まったくその逆だろう。一々成果があったなどというのではなく、どの大会でもいいから、さっさとスンインシャに勝つところを見せろよと言いたい。
(If that’s the kind of thing being said, then there’s no chance of winning in the future, either. The preparation and level of readiness for the Olympics—which only come around once every four years—are completely different from those for the WTT Champions events, which take place multiple times a year. In short, the amount of effort and focus poured into them is entirely different. Just because there was a strong performance this time, it doesn’t mean the same—let alone a victory—can be expected at the Olympics; in fact, the reality is likely the exact opposite. Instead of constantly claiming that there were "positive takeaways," I’d say: just show us a win against Sun Yingsha—in any tournament, it doesn’t matter which one—and be done with it.)
40 concur, 1 ic, 23 hmm

gpv********
19時間前
本気でそう思っていらっしゃるなら残念です。
明らかに調子の悪い相手、過去の結果。今はそこまで人前で語る時ではないかなぁ。
直向きな気持ちはわかります。
(If you genuinely believe that, it’s a pity.
Given that the opponent is clearly struggling, and considering their past results—well, perhaps now isn’t the right time to be discussing this so openly.
I do understand your earnest intentions, though.)
43 concur, 1 ic, 45 hmm

ynp********
20時間前
なぜ負けたかをコメントしてほしい。
明らかに本調子じゃなかった孫さんを称えるコメントのひとつも無い。
孫さんは早田さんを称えていました。
そういうところも含めて差はデカいな。
(I’d like to hear some comments on why she lost.
There isn’t a single word praising Sun, even though she clearly wasn’t at her best.
Sun, for her part, had words of praise for Hayata.
The difference between them—in that regard, too—is significant.)
96 concur, 6 ic, 36 hmm

yui********
19時間前
相手が試合出る前10日ぐらいやっと練習できたらしい、それでも負け、もう美和に期待するしか無い
(Apparently, the opponent only managed to get in about 10 days of practice before the match—and [Hayata] still lost. At this point, there’s no choice but to pin our hopes on Miwa)
41 concur, 1 ic, 35 hmm

yur*****
20時間前
早田選手は自分のことばかりですね
孫穎莎選手を気遣うコメントや称えるコメントありませんか
(Hayata seems to be focused entirely on herself.
Couldn't she have offered a word of concern or praise for Sun Yingsha?
)
80 concur, 1 ic, 28 hmm

nob********
19時間前
違う景色なんてあり得ないのです。あと1点、一セットは果てしなく遠い。
(There is no such thing as a different outcome. That one extra point—that one additional set—is infinitely far away.)
48 concur, 4 ic, 25 hmm

zhb********
20時間前
あれだけ絶不調の孫さんに勝てないのにこれからも1000%無理だわ!!!何行ける気になってんのよwwやめてくれよマジで何十回ガッカリさせてんの!!!日本の卓球ファンの為にも考えていただけませんかね!!!団体中国戦以外は何も言わんよwwww
(If you can’t even beat Sun-san when she’s playing this poorly, then you’ve got a 0%—no, a -1000%—chance of ever winning in the future!!! What makes you think you even stand a chance? Seriously, give it a rest! How many dozens of times are you going to let us down?! Could you please, for the sake of Japanese table tennis fans, just stop?! I won’t say another word—as long as you don’t count the team match against China, that is! lolololol)
50 concur, 2 ic, 24 hmm
 
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says Shoo...nothing to see here. - zeio
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Hayata can't help but admits she was dumb.

【あの人のこの技が凄い!】早田ひな「孫穎莎(中国)のフォアドライブ」
https://o-koku.com/news/あの人のこの技が凄い-早田ひな-孫穎莎--muc79lew

https://weibo.com/7883778703/Rjfq6heK5
更厉害的是,她会根据赛事级别调整正手弧圈的使用方式。在世乒赛、奥运会这种顶级大赛,她更多使用威力80~100的强力弧圈;而普通WTT赛事中,会穿插威力0~20的柔和弧圈,观察我方的应对状态。能通过不断调动对手、观察对手反馈来构建比赛节奏,必须拥有极高的技术功底,以及非常充裕的比赛余量。

青年时期的孙颖莎和我打法类型相近,都是依靠力量强行压制对手。但2023德班世乒赛交手时,我强烈感受到她的技战术体系已经进化得更加精密。我自己的职业生涯一路走来,也慢慢体会到:打球不能只靠发力强攻,活用慢球、在强攻之外寻找回合变化同样重要。正因如此,我比从前更深刻地理解:她的技术有多精湛,战术选择的精度有多高。
 
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https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...frankfurt-2026-november-3-8.39968/post-595110
WS SF
Hayata WR6 (5) 4-1 Harimoto WR3 (2) (7, -5, 7, 8, 8)
Odo WR13 4-1 Winter WR10 (-6, 10, 9, 8, 10)

Cunning CNT:
keikaku-doori-death-note.png


...
Harimoto's painful memories of losing to Hayata at WTT CS Frankfurt 2025 resurfaced during this match, admitting that she still has room to improve when it comes to tactics against lefties.

【インタビュー】張本美和 涙の準決勝敗退「ここでまだ自信を失わずに2027年からの五輪レースへ再出発|WTTチャンピオンズフランクフルト2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmqOUjunBbU

張本美和 準決勝敗退後に涙ぐむ「ずっと上がれるわけじゃない」来年からの五輪レースへ決意【卓球 WTTフランクフルト】
https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/tabletennis/news/2026/11/042895.html
試合後、涙ぐみながら取材に応じた張本。敗戦の悔しさとともに語ったのは、2027年1月から始まるオリンピックレースに向けた思いだった。

アジア選手権から3大会続けて戦ってきた日々について、「本当にすごく収穫が多い日々でした」と振り返った。

「たくさんいろんな種目も出させていただいたり、こうやってチャンピオンズになると、また海外の選手と、ヨーロッパも含めたいろんな選手とも試合ができました」

今年は国際大会で結果を残し、成長を実感してきた一方で、連戦を通じて改めて競技の難しさにも直面した。

「今年は割と成績から見ても、どんどん上がっていってる印象だったので、そんなずっと上がれるわけじゃないっていうのを肌で感じられた3大会でした」

その言葉には、勝ち続けることの難しさと、さらなる成長を目指す思いがにじむ。今回の早田との対戦でも、課題が明確になったという。

「左利きの選手に対しての戦術っていうところで、まだあんまりうまくないなっていうのは、この3大会、アジア選手権含めてやっていて、試合をやりながら思っていました」

早田については「決まったと思っても決まらない」と語り、「自分がどんなに攻めていても、下がってでも食らいついてくる」と、その粘り強さを称えた。

そして、来年から始まるオリンピックレースに向けて、今回の経験を前向きに捉えた。

「来年からオリンピックレースが始まる中で、こうやって課題をいろんな選手とやって見つけられたので、そこは帰ってまた練習できたらいいなって思います」

続けて、「ここでまだ自信を失わずに、また次の混合団体W杯、そしてファイナルズで頑張りたいと思います」と、年内に残された大会への意欲を示した。

来年に向けて必要なことを問われると、張本は「来年からがより勝負になってくると思う。課題を直すだったりとか、もう1個1個の技術の質を上げる」と語り、技術面での課題を挙げた。

さらに、今後の大会で経験を積むことに加え、心身のコンディションを整える重要性も強調した。

「ファイナルズではもう16人しかいないので、そこでは1試合でも多くできるように。来年に向けて、やっぱり一番大事なのは、まずはあと2か月、体も休めて、戦う土台を作るっていうのを目標に、これから頑張りたいと思います」
(After the match, Harimoto spoke to the press, her eyes welling up with tears. Beyond the frustration of defeat, she shared her thoughts on the upcoming Olympic qualification race, which begins in 1/2027.

Reflecting on a stretch that included the Asian Championships and two subsequent tournaments, she remarked, "It was a period that proved to be incredibly rewarding."

"I had the opportunity to compete in many different events, and when it comes to Champions, I was able to face a wide variety of international players, including those from Europe."

While she has seen growth and achieved strong results in international competitions this year, the grueling schedule of consecutive tournaments also brought home the inherent difficulty of the sport.

"Looking at my results, it felt like I was on a steady upward trajectory this year; however, these three tournaments served as a stark reminder that you can't just keep rising indefinitely."

Her words reveal both the challenge of maintaining a winning streak and a deep-seated drive for further improvement. She noted that her recent match against Hayata, in particular, brought specific areas for development into sharp focus.

"Throughout these three tournaments—including the Asian Championships—I realized that my tactics against left-handed players still leave much to be desired."

Regarding Hayata, she praised her tenacity, noting, "Even when I think I’ve hit a winning shot, she manages to keep the rally alive—no matter how hard I attack, she stays in the fight, even from deep back."

Looking ahead to the Olympic qualification race starting next year, she chose to view this experience in a positive light.

"With the Olympic qualification race beginning next year, being able to identify these specific areas for improvement against various opponents is valuable. I look forward to taking these lessons back to training."

She added, "I haven't lost my confidence, and I’m determined to give my all in the upcoming Mixed Team World Cup and the Finals," expressing her commitment to the remaining events this year.

When asked what is required for the year ahead, Harimoto pointed to technical aspects, stating, "The real challenge begins next year. I need to address my current weaknesses and elevate the quality of each individual technique." Furthermore, in addition to gaining experience in upcoming tournaments, she emphasized the importance of maintaining her physical and mental condition.

"There are only 16 players left in the Finals, so I want to play as many matches as I can there. Looking ahead to next year, my main priority for the next two months is to rest my body and build a solid foundation for future competition—that is what I’m going to focus on from here on out.")
 
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Proof that Hayata has been hiding the erratic recovery trajectories of her forearm injury that I wrote about during WTT CT Almaty 2026.

【卓球】早田ひな 直近1か月は絶不調だった…救いは「ジブリの映画鑑賞」
https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/403492?page=1
 早田は17日、都内で日本代表の公開練習に参加。練習後の取材では、直近1か月のコンディションが非常に悪かったことを明かし、「左手首の治療の一環で手首の感覚が失われちゃって練習が積めなくて、自分でも珍しいくらい心がやられてしまった。心もやられているからなのか風邪をもらっちゃって。(前週の)WTTチャンピオンズマカオはギリギリ生きているくらいの感じできつかった」と振り返った。

 そんな苦しい日々の中で救いとなったのは「ジブリの映画鑑賞」だったという。「年齢やタイミングによって感じることも変わってくる。今は答えがないものを自分で『こうだな』と落とし込んでいくのがすごく好き。モヤモヤした感情を取っ払ってくれて、自分がスッとまとまった人間になる」とリフレッシュ効果を口にした。

 なかでも心に響いた作品として「君たちはどう生きるか」を挙げ、「正しく生きようと思っても悪い方向に持っていかれることもあったり、そういう中でも自分を律して、『自分がどう生きたいか』を常に考えていくことが大事みたいな作品だと捉えた」と感想を披露。さらに「(現実にも)通ずるものはあると思った。SNSでいろんなことを言われる中でも、自分が何のために競技をやっているのか、何のために頑張っているのかを忘れずに頑張ることができたら、それだけで幸せなんじゃないかと思った。人間として成長させられた」と力説した。

 ジブリ作品のパワーもあってか「(日本で)合宿に入ってからは心と体の余裕だったり、元気度が上がってきているので、いつもの状態に戻ってきた感じはする」と復調を実感。19日に開幕する愛知・名古屋アジア大会へ「手首の感覚も結構良くなってきた。試合だけに全力で臨めるように準備していきたい」と前を向いた。
(On the 17th, Hayata participated in a public training session for the Japanese national team in Tokyo. Speaking to the press afterward, she revealed that her physical and mental condition had been extremely poor over the past month. "As part of the treatment for my left wrist, I lost some sensation in it, which made it impossible to train properly. I was so mentally drained—it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Perhaps because my mental state was so low, I even caught a cold. Competing in the WTT Champions Macao (last week) was an ordeal; I was barely hanging on," she recalled.

During these difficult times, watching Studio Ghibli films provided a much-needed lifeline. "How I perceive these films changes depending on my age and where I am in life. I really enjoy taking things that have no clear-cut answers and finding my own personal meaning in them. They help clear away any lingering, muddled feelings, allowing me to regain my focus and center myself," she explained, describing the refreshing effect they had on her.

She highlighted *The Boy and the Heron* (*Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka*) as a film that particularly resonated with her. "I interpreted it as a story about the importance of self-discipline—even when you strive to live the 'right' way, you might still be pulled in the wrong direction. It’s about the necessity of constantly reflecting on how you truly want to live your life," she shared. She further emphasized, "I felt there were parallels to real life. Even when faced with all sorts of comments on social media, if I can keep sight of why I compete and why I work so hard, then that in itself is a form of happiness. It helped me grow as a person."

Perhaps thanks in part to the power of Ghibli films, she feels she is back on track. "Since joining the training camp (in Japan), I’ve regained some mental and physical breathing room, and my energy levels have improved—I feel like I’m returning to my usual self." Looking ahead to the Asian Games in Aichi/Nagoya, which begin on the 19th, she added, "The sensation in my wrist has also improved significantly. I want to prepare well so that I can give my absolute best in every match.")
 
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If she has been hiding it why would she then talk about it and the difficulties she had during this period. I am
Sure alot of players play through injury like SYS and WCQ but did not say anything. As they did not say anything although it does look like they were carrying some injury to me. I won’t say they are hiding it. It’s their right to speak about it if they want or was asked. But if they volunteer that information, I would not say they were hiding it from people. Playing with niggles or “small” injuries probably happen all the time. I am sure many do take injections and play through the pain at times. I really do not see that as a problem. Now I do understand that some may feel that if Hina Hayata was not in a good condition, she should let another take her place as there is a limit of participant per country. It can be construed that she went ahead to ahead and played and not allow a lower rank competitor gain points to overtake her. I definitely agree this could have been the case. But when are top ranked players in any sport ever known to be unselfish and insist they can play at their best even when they are pass it or carrying a strain or injury?
 
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If she has been hiding it why would she then talk about it and the difficulties she had during this period. I am
Sure alot of players play through injury like SYS and WCQ but did not say anything. As they did not say anything although it does look like they were carrying some injury to me. I won’t say they are hiding it. It’s their right to speak about it if they want or was asked. But if they volunteer that information, I would not say they were hiding it from people. Playing with niggles or “small” injuries probably happen all the time. I am sure many do take injections and play through the pain at times. I really do not see that as a problem. Now I do understand that some may feel that if Hina Hayata was not in a good condition, she should let another take her place as there is a limit of participant per country. It can be construed that she went ahead to ahead and played and not allow a lower rank competitor gain points to overtake her. I definitely agree this could have been the case. But when are top ranked players in any sport ever known to be unselfish and insist they can play at their best even when they are pass it or carrying a strain or injury?
September was tough physically and mentally as Hina mentioned in the article. Despite her condition, she made the finals of Contender Almaty losing to an in form Hirano. Also despite her poor condition, she did reasonably well at Champions Macao beating Huang Yu-Jie 3-0 before losing to WMY 3-2,11-7 which is not bad at all considering the competition. So I don't think it was the case that she took the place of another player but rather her condition was suboptimal. Thankfully, her physical/mental condition improved to play well at the Asian Games, Montpellier, and exceptionally well at Frankfurt. Regardless, she's under no obligation to publicly discuss her condition. I don't recall hearing SYS talk about her condition until after she lost to Paranang for example.
 
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I think it's endearing that she gives herself downtime to self-reflect and watch some Ghibli movies when she's feeling down.

Hoping she stays healthy, she has been steadily improving over the last couple of years. In her match against Kuai Man I felt her improved confidence was showing, with her willingness to step around and use her forehand more in the deciding games.
 
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I think it's endearing that she gives herself downtime to self-reflect and watch some Ghibli movies when she's feeling down.

Hoping she stays healthy, she has been steadily improving over the last couple of years. In her match against Kuai Man I felt her improved confidence was showing, with her willingness to step around and use her forehand more in the deciding games.
I agree. Before the last few tournaments, I feel that she was trying too hard to finish the point resulting in lots of mistake. Recently she seems more calm tactically and concentrating on just getting the ball back more then finishing the point. She did however do more pivots then I recall before which won her many points.

There has definitely been a improvement and I do hope that it translate into more
Wins against the CNT players. Against
Them, it almost
Seems like she tries too hard or gives them too much respect. Almost like me. Against some players who I constantly lose to, I just get mentally “confused” especially at key moments on to attack or defend, be aggressive or passive. And I fall apart even when ahead
 
says Shoo...nothing to see here. - zeio
says Shoo...nothing to see here. - zeio
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Kihara picked Sato over Hashimoto when asked which of the two was more difficult to face . Having struggled with her Tibhar medium pips?, she often thought about switching to double-inverted and even quitting for good...

木原美悠が明かす葛藤の日々「卓球やめたい」とも… 約10ヶ月ぶりの国際大会優勝で浮かべた涙の背景
(Kihara Miyuu reveals her days of inner conflict "even contemplating quitting table tennis"... and the story behind the tears she shed upon winning an international tournament for the first time in about 10 months)
https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/tabletennis/news/2026/11/042907.html
国際大会で全敗していたカットマン佐藤瞳に初勝利

WTTスターコンテンダー アスタナの女子シングルス決勝は、1時間8分にも及ぶ死闘となった。

対戦相手は世界ランク8位のカットマン、佐藤瞳(日本ペイントグループ)。国内では勝ったり負けたりのライバルだが、WTTでは過去4戦全敗と、分の悪い相手だった。

2人の対戦は接戦になることが多く、この試合も7ゲームマッチのフルゲームにもつれ込んだ。

「途中、本当にやばいって思う瞬間が何度もあって。でも、これがラスト1試合だから諦めずに頑張ろうという気持ちでした。この試合の前がミックス(小林広夢とのペアで混合ダブルス)の決勝で中国ペアに負けてしまったんですけど、シングルス決勝まで2〜3時間あり、その間、できるだけ体を休めて、練習は20分くらいで調整しました」

休息を取りながら、「今から佐藤さんと試合か〜」と、気が遠くなりそうだったという木原。

無理もない。前日の準々決勝でカットマンの橋本帆乃香(デンソー)、決勝の5時間半前にも大藤沙月(ミキハウス)と5ゲームマッチでフルゲームの激闘を繰り広げていた。

疲労は大きく、気力を保つだけで精いっぱい。

しかし、いざ決勝が始まるとアドレナリンが出て、疲れも吹き飛んだ。結果はゲームカウント4-3で木原が勝利。国際大会で初めて難敵から白星を挙げた。

佐藤と橋本、どちらがやりにくいか木原に尋ねると、「佐藤選手」と即答した。理由はこうだ。

「佐藤選手はとにかく粘り強い。どこに打っても(ボールが)返ってくるし、前後左右に振っても返ってくる。どれだけスマッシュを打ち込んでも返ってくるんです。橋本選手はサーブの変化や攻撃力がすごい。それが、2人の大きな差だと思います。自分はあまり体力に自信がないので、佐藤選手とやるときの方が、体力だけじゃなくメンタルも崩れやすいです」

試合後は涙をぬぐう姿が...「自分、よく頑張ったな」

3週連続で戦ってきた遠征最後の一戦。勝った瞬間に込み上げたのは、優勝の喜びよりも「3週間がやっと終わった」という安堵感だった。だが、ベンチに戻って一息つくと、目には涙があふれた。

「『自分、よく頑張ったな』みたいな気持ちが大きかったです。この試合は負けても悔いはない。ここまで全力を出し切ったのだから、負けたら実力の差かなって、試合の途中から思ってました」

最近、そこまでの気持ちになったことがなかったという木原。実は夏ごろ、プレーに気持ちが入りきらず、「海外遠征に行きたくない」と思ったこともあったそうだ。

「今の日本人選手は本当に強くなってきて、自分もそこまで行けるのかなって......。試合で負けても勝っても、結局どうなるか分からないし。そういう気持ちで負けが続いて『卓球やめたい』と思うことも何回もありました。そういう時期が一番辛いです」

明るい性格で、いつも笑顔の彼女が、そこまで思い詰めていたとは......。

「どうなるか分からない」の意味。そこには、日本女子の高い競技レベルと熾烈な代表争いがある。

10月5日に発表された最新の世界ランクは、3位の張本美和(木下グループ)が日本女子のトップ。

それに6位の早田、WTTチャイナスマッシュ(10月1〜11日)で準優勝し8位に浮上した佐藤が続き、さらに13位の大藤沙月(ミキハウス)、14位の橋本、18位の長﨑美柚(木下グループ)、そして19位の木原が続く。木原は7番目だ。

自分は、オリンピックや世界選手権の代表の座をつかみ取り、世界の大舞台でメダル獲得に貢献できるのだろうか。そんな不安が木原の心を揺らしたに違いない。

本人も、遠くの目標を追う長い道のりは「本当に苦しい」と明かす。

ラバー変更で苦労した1年。さらなる変更で見えた復調の兆し

国際大会で1、2回戦負けが続いた今シーズン前半。そこへ光明が差したのは、今年4月のラバー変更がきっかけだ。

木原は2025年4月、用具契約をVICTASからTIBHARに変更した際、バック面の表ソフトラバーをスピード系から変化系のラバーに替えた。しかし、ややツブの高いラバーを使いこなすのに苦労し、1年経った今年の4月に再びスピード系に戻していた。

「自分のような異質型(ラケットのフォア面とバック面に異なるラバーを貼るタイプ)の選手だと、相手に慣れられてしまうので、もっと打球に変化が欲しいなと思ったんです。でも、変化が多い分、扱いが難しい部分もあって、例えばボールの回転量が多い選手と対戦したとき、自分の打球を上手くコントールできず悩んでいました」

この再変更によって、自身のイメージする打球の感覚を取り戻しつつあるが、課題がなくなったわけではない。

「異質型は一定のところまでは行けても、その上になかなか行けないと感じます。だから、昔から裏裏(フォア面もバック面も裏ソフトラバーを貼る)に転向したいと思ったことはちょくちょくありました。でも、最近はプラス面に目を向けて、ラケットを反転させて変化をつけられるから、いいやんって。以前もたまに反転させてましたけど、それをもっと増やして、自分の武器にできるように練習しています」

全日本選手権シングルス、ベスト4の壁をどう乗り越えるか

プレイベートでは今年に入り、普通自動車免許を取得した。普段から仲のいい4歳上の平野美宇と合宿に行ったそうで、「運転が楽しい」と笑顔を見せる。

そんな木原が今、目標にしているのは「一大会、一試合で全力を出すこと」

競技とプライベートのバランスを心がけ、気持ちを切り替えられるようになってから、「すごくいい循環で、気持ちよくプレーできるようになった」と話す。

木原は11月17日開幕のWTTコンテンダー イスタンブールに出場。そして年が明ければ、全日本選手権だ。

「いつもベスト4の壁が厚いので、それをどう乗り越えるか。一番高い表彰台に乗るのは全日本選手権までの一つ一つの大会で成長して、もっともっと強い自分を作りたいです」

悩める日々を越えて、木原は再び前を向き始めた。このまま上昇気流に乗って、もう一段階上のステージへ羽ばたく彼女を見たい。


文=高樹ミナ
(First-Ever Victory Over Defensive Specialist Sato Hitomi in International Competition

The women’s singles final at the WTT Star Contender Astana turned into a grueling battle, lasting one hour and eight minutes.

Her opponent was Sato Hitomi (Nippon Paint Group), a defensive specialist ranked 8th in the world. While the two are domestic rivals who frequently trade wins and losses, Kihara had lost all four of their previous encounters on the WTT circuit—a matchup that had historically proven difficult for her.

Matches between the two are often tightly contested, and this encounter was no exception, going the full distance in a best-of-seven series.

"There were many moments along the way where I thought, 'This is really bad.' But I kept telling myself not to give up, knowing this was the final match. Before this, I had played in the mixed doubles final—partnering with Kobayashi Hiromu—where we lost to a Chinese pair. I had about two to three hours before the singles final, so I focused on resting as much as possible, with only a brief 20-minute practice session to get ready."

Kihara admitted that while resting, the thought of facing Sato left her feeling overwhelmed.

It’s easy to see why: just the day before, she had engaged in a full-length, five-game battle against another defensive specialist, Hashimoto Honoka (Denso), and only five and a half hours prior to this final, she had played another grueling full-length match against Odo Satsuki (Miki House).

Exhausted, she was barely able to summon the mental strength to keep going.

Yet, once the final began, a surge of adrenaline took over, instantly washing away her fatigue. Kihara emerged victorious, winning the match 4–3—her first-ever win against this formidable opponent in an international tournament.

When asked which player was more difficult to face—Sato or Hashimoto—Kihara answered immediately: "Sato." Her reasoning is as follows: "Sato is incredibly tenacious. No matter where I hit the ball, it comes back—even when I move her around the court, front to back or side to side. She returns every single smash I throw at her. Hashimoto, on the other hand, has an amazing serve—with so much variation—and incredible attacking power. That, I think, is the major difference between the two. I don’t have much confidence in my own stamina, so when I play against Sato, I find that both my physical endurance and my mental state are more likely to crumble."

Wiping away tears after the match... "I really gave it my all."

This was the final match of a three-week-long overseas tour. In the moment of victory, what welled up inside wasn't just the joy of winning, but a profound sense of relief: "These three weeks are finally over." Yet, once she returned to the bench and caught her breath, tears began to stream down her face.

"I felt a strong sense of, 'I really gave it my all.' I knew that even if I lost this match, I wouldn't have any regrets. I had poured everything I had into it—so if I ended up losing, I figured it would simply come down to a difference in ability. I was already thinking that way midway through the match."

Kihara admits that she hadn't felt this way in a long time. In fact, around the summer, she had struggled to find the motivation to play, even going so far as to think, "I don't want to go on these overseas tours."

"Japanese players have become so incredibly strong lately—it makes me wonder if I can ever reach that level... Whether I win or lose, the future is just so uncertain. Going through a string of losses with that kind of mindset—there were many times I just wanted to quit table tennis. That was the hardest period of all."

It is hard to imagine that someone with such a bright, ever-smiling personality could have been carrying such a heavy burden.

What does she mean by "the future is uncertain"? It speaks to the exceptionally high level of competition among Japanese women and the fierce battle for spots on the national team.

According to the latest world rankings released on October 5, Harimoto Miwa (Kinoshita Group) currently sits at number three, making her the top-ranked Japanese woman. Following them are Hayata in 6th place, and Sato—who climbed to 8th after finishing as the runner-up at the WTT China Smash (October 1–11). Next in the rankings are Odo Satsuki (Miki House) in 13th, Hashimoto in 14th, Nagasaki Miyu (Kinoshita Group) in 18th, and Kihara in 19th. Kihara currently sits in seventh position among them.

Will I be able to secure a spot on the Olympic or World Championship team, and can I contribute to winning medals on the world stage? Such anxieties must surely have weighed on Kihara’s mind.

She herself admits that the long road toward a distant goal is "truly grueling."

A year of struggle following a change in rubber—and signs of a recovery after further adjustments

During the first half of this season, Kihara faced repeated early exits, losing in the first or second rounds of international tournaments. A glimmer of hope emerged, however, linked to a change in her rubber equipment this past April.

In April 2025, when Kihara switched her equipment sponsorship from VICTAS to TIBHAR, she replaced the short-pips rubber on her backhand with a version designed for greater spin variation rather than pure speed. She struggled to master this rubber—which featured slightly taller pips—and ultimately reverted to a speed-oriented version this April, a year later.

"As a player who uses 'unorthodox' rubber combinations—having different types of rubber on the forehand and backhand—I’m always at risk of opponents getting used to my style. I wanted to add more variation to my shots. But that extra variation also made the rubber harder to handle; for instance, when facing opponents who generate a lot of spin, I struggled to control my own returns."

While this latest change has helped her regain the feel for the shots she envisions, it does not mean all her challenges have disappeared. "I feel that with my unorthodox playing style, I can reach a certain level, but it’s difficult to go any further. Because of this, I’ve often thought about switching to a 'double-inverted' setup—using inverted rubber on both my forehand and backhand. But lately, I’ve started focusing on the advantages of my current setup; I can flip my racket to create variations, which is actually a great asset. I used to flip it occasionally, but now I’m practicing doing it more often so I can turn it into a real weapon."

Breaking Through the 'Top Four' Barrier at the All-Japan Championships

In her personal life, she obtained her driver’s license earlier this year. She mentioned going on a training camp with Hirano Miu—who is four years her senior and a close friend—and smiled as she said, "Driving is fun!"

Kihara’s current goal is to "give everything I have in every single match at every tournament."

By striving for a balance between her competitive career and her private life—and learning how to effectively switch between the two—she says she has found "a really positive rhythm, which allows me to play with a great sense of ease."

Kihara is set to compete in the WTT Contender Istanbul, which begins on November 17th. Then, as the new year arrives, comes the All-Japan Championships.

"The 'top four' barrier has always been a tough one to break through. To reach the top of the podium, I want to grow with every tournament leading up to the All-Japan Championships and become an even stronger version of myself."

Having moved past a period of struggle, Kihara is once again looking ahead. I hope to see her ride this upward momentum and soar to an even higher level.

Text by TAKAGI Mina)
 
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