Thread about Japanese Players

[Catenaccio]

Congrats to Hitomi Sato for reaching a career best number 8 position and becoming the 3rd highest ranked Japanese player 🔥

 

[Catenaccio]

[Table Tennis] Coach Nakazawa intends to continue with the "Miwa-Hina" pair; "0-11" defeat was "extremely damaging"; further strengthening planned for the Los Angeles Olympics... Asian Games​

It's unlikely, but I hope that Nakazawa will give Hashimoto and Sato a chance during one of the next Smash tournaments.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

It's unlikely, but I hope that Nakazawa will give Hashimoto and Sato a chance during one of the next Smash tournaments.

Oddly enough, Sato/Hashimoto's incredible match which they won against SYS/WYD seemed to mark the end (or near end) of the doubles pairing. From what I can remember, the only time they played doubles after that was at the following 2025 All Japan Doubles where they lost to Yuka Umemura/Maki Shiomi. Even when the two have been at the same tournament, they chose to pair with others... Honoka with Adrian Diaz and Hitomi with Saki Shibata (same T-League team). They both have had very successful treks in singles and are both targeting the Olympics. So despite the public clamoring to see the two pair up again, perhaps it's a mutual decision... at least up until now. Things can change and maybe we see them pair up at the World Championships next year if they both secure spots.

 

[Catenaccio]

Even when the two have been at the same tournament, they chose to pair with others... Honoka with Adrian Diaz and Hitomi with Saki Shibata (same T-League team).

I think the Sato/Shibata pairing might be due to contractual obligations. In addition, NER is too restrictive in doubles imo. However, it does not explain why Hashimoto/Sato didn't play together at the Star Contender in Astana. Due to lack of participants, NER didn't seem to be an issue at that tournament. For example, there were 4 China/China pairs in WD.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Congratulations to Mao Takamori, 2026 China Youth Smash U19 champion

 

[Catenaccio]

Hashimoto was unfortunate with the refereeing in her QF against CXT. First, there was the controversial side call in G4 when she was leading 10:9. In addition, the expedite rule should have come into effect in G4 at 6:8.

Time stamp at the start of G4 is 1:55:17

Timestamp at 9:9 is 2:07:55 => a lot more than 10 minutes had elapsed before they played 18 points in G4.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Hashimoto was unfortunate with the refereeing in her QF against CXT. First, there was the controversial side call in G4 when she was leading 10:9. In addition, the expedite rule should have come into effect in G4 at 6:8.

Time stamp at the start of G4 is 1:55:17

View attachment 43782

Timestamp at 9:9 is 2:07:55 => a lot more than 10 minutes had elapsed before they played 18 points in G4.

View attachment 43783

She was robbed

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Japan National Team members updated. Hitomi is in. Mima is out.

Men keep the same players, but the ordering has changed... Sora now #1. Shinozuka now #4.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Japan National Team members updated. Hitomi is in. Mima is out.

View attachment 43811

Men keep the same players, but the ordering has changed... Sora now #1. Shinozuka now #4.

View attachment 43812

Why 7 women and only 5 men

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Since the All Japan and WTT Champions Asia are taking place at the same time, the JTTA is expecting top players will choose WTT Champions due to it directly affecting Olympic selection. Because of that, the JTTA has made a small change in the selection for the 2027 World TT Championships selection. Instead of the winner of the All Japan automatically getting selected, after Asian Champs secured spots remaining selections will be by world rankings (14 days prior to entry deadline for 2027 WTTC).

 

[zeio]

Why 7 women and only 5 men

JTTA: All because of our rigid selection system...

 

[Catenaccio]

Congrats to the Japanese Women's Team on winning the Asian Championship!

A few comments in no particular order:

• Referees are not paying enough attention. In the Hashimoto - WYD match, the expedite rule should have been enforced in G4. When 10 minutes had elapsed, Hashimoto was leading 7:6 and they were in the middle of the 14th point
• I think Nakazawa assumed that KM would be selected as a A/X player, so he selected Hashimoto as a B/Y. The CNT coach probably anticipated that and selected KM as the C/Z player so that KM wouldn't have to play against Hashimoto. CY (at the Singapore Smash this year) and WYD (at the China Smash last year) had won their most recent matches against Hashimoto before the final
• The day belongs to Hashimoto 🔥
• I hope that the female team members for the LA Olympics will be Harimoto, Sato, and Hashimoto
• I think Sato has a decent chance of being among the top 2 ranked Japanese players at the cut-off date
• Based on recent performances at WTT tournaments, it will probably be difficult for Hashimoto to qualify via WR, but I hope that she will prove me wrong. I just reread the criteria and the third spot is determined by a committee, so there is some chance she might be selected (for the team event and WD) despite not being the third highest ranked Japanese player
• Imo, a Hashimoto / Sato pairing at the Olympics would have a better chance of winning gold than other Japanese pairings. But it won't happen if Hashimoto doesn't qualify or is not selected

Edited after rereading the selection criteria.

 

[kindof99]

Congrats to the Japanese Women's Team on winning the Asian Championship!

A few comments in no particular order:

• I hope that the female team members for the LA Olympics will be Harimoto, Sato, and Hashimoto

Second on this

 

[Catenaccio]

For some reason, I was under the impression that all spots to participate in the Olympics were based on world ranking only -- probably because of a headline I had previously seen. However, I was incorrect.

Below is a summary of the selection/qualification criteria based on Gemini:

This document outlines the Japan Table Tennis Association's (JTTA) selection criteria for candidate players representing Japan at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games (approved by the Board of Directors on June 6, 2026).
Below is a summary of the key points:

1. Events and Quota Slots​

• Team Event: Mixed Team (max 3 men and 3 women, total 6 players per NOC).
• Individual Events: Men's/Women's Singles (2 each), Men's/Women's Doubles (1 pair each), and Mixed Doubles (1 or 2 pairs).
• Maximum per NOC: A maximum of 3 men and 3 women across all 6 events.

2. Selection Method for the Mixed Team and Singles Candidates​

• Men's and Women's Singles (2 players each):
• Selected based on the top 2 Japanese players in the ITTF Singles World Ranking published on January 3, 2028.
• Third Team Member (1 player each):
• Chosen by the High-Performance Headquarters within one week after the 2028 All Japan Table Tennis Championships (General Division), focusing on high international competitiveness in both singles and doubles.
• Doubles Pairs:
• Selected by the High-Performance Headquarters from among the already chosen candidates based on international competitiveness, provided Japan secures the respective quota slots. (If Japan qualifies two pairs for Mixed Doubles via world rankings, the second pair is chosen from the remaining members of the 6-person team).

3. Alternative/Substitute Candidates​

• Each NOC that qualifies a mixed team can name 1 alternate player per gender to cover potential injuries or withdrawals. These are selected by the High-Performance Headquarters prior to the JOC nomination deadline.

4. Player Eligibility & Supplementary Rules​

• Athletes must comply with IOC, Olympic Charter, and ITTF rules.
• Selection assumes Japan secures its quota through the 2027 Mixed Team World Cup or continental qualifiers. Athletes selected for the 2027 Mixed Team World Cup are required to participate as a prerequisite for selection (barring unavoidable circumstances like injury).

Source: 2028 Olympic LA Selection Criteria PDF

 

[backspacer]

Congrats to the Japanese Women's Team on winning the Asian Championship!

A few comments in no particular order:

• Referees are not paying enough attention. In the Hashimoto - WYD match, the expedite rule should have been enforced in G4. When 10 minutes had elapsed, Hashimoto was leading 7:6 and they were in the middle of the 14th point

I would have to re-watch but for expedite only the time the ball is in play counts. Any downtime like picking up balls, towel break or preparing to serve does not add to the timer.