Thread about Japanese Players

[NextLevel]

Yes, it'll be interesting. Miwa will need to really be on her toes as she will often be on the receiving end of an attack of varying degrees depending on the quality of Honoka's chops. Hitomi has been able to make it work with Shibata winning 4 Feeder WD titles.

Oddly enough, Hina and Mima are top seeds in the Qualifying draw for WD. They are silver medalists in WD at both the 2019 WTTC and 2021 WTTC.

Watch as the draw has the Japanese teams on the same half and meeting early and killing any excitement lol... hope not.

 

[Catenaccio]

Decent draw for Hashimoto. Projected opponents below assuming she makes it this far.

R32 => Yuna Ojio (could be tricky because Ojio has lots of practice against her sister)
R16 => Qin Yuxuan
QF => Nagasaki/Kihara
SF => Miwa Harimoto

Imo, Hashimoto has a better chance against Harimoto (H2H is 1-2 at international level and matches tend to be close) than Ito (H2H is 0-7 at international level). In addition, Hayata is in the other half and might take out Ito.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Decent draw for Hashimoto. Projected opponents below assuming she makes it this far.

R32 => Yuna Ojio (could be tricky because Ojio has lots of practice against her sister)
R16 => Qin Yuxuan
QF => Nagasaki/Kihara
SF => Miwa Harimoto

Imo, Hashimoto has a better chance against Harimoto (H2H is 1-2 at international level and matches tend to be close) than Ito (H2H is 0-7 at international level). In addition, Hayata is in the other half and might take out Ito.

Without top Chinese lineup is not very exciting for this tournament. Looks like Tleague

 

[zeio]

Without top Chinese lineup is not very exciting for this tournament. Looks like Tleague

You're not alone.

[賽事] 2025WTT球星挑戰賽倫敦站10/21-10/26 ([Events] 2025 WTT SCT London 10/21-10/26)
https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/tabletennis/M.1760628957.A.617.html
→ tenka92417: 日本隊不休息的哦，一直比賽到11/9？ 10/18 00:40 (JPN won't rest and play until November 9th?)
→ tenka92417: 陳夢樊振東許昕馬龍都會打全運會，搞不好比較好看 10/19 08:40 (Chen Meng, Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin, and Ma Long will all be competing in the National Games, which might be more exciting)

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Decent draw for Hashimoto. Projected opponents below assuming she makes it this far.

R32 => Yuna Ojio (could be tricky because Ojio has lots of practice against her sister)
R16 => Qin Yuxuan
QF => Nagasaki/Kihara
SF => Miwa Harimoto

Imo, Hashimoto has a better chance against Harimoto (H2H is 1-2 at international level and matches tend to be close) than Ito (H2H is 0-7 at international level). In addition, Hayata is in the other half and might take out Ito.

It is a very good draw for Honoka. However, if Miyu Nagasaki makes it to the QF, she is very good against choppers.

 

[NextLevel]

It is a very good draw for Honoka. However, if Miyu Nagasaki makes it to the QF, she is very good against choppers.

So is Kihara... it will be interesting for sure....

 

[Catenaccio]

Last time Hashimoto played against Kihara and Nagasaki was in the T League during the 2024/25 season. The lopsided win against Nagasaki is most likely not representative and I wonder if Nagasaki was injured in that match. Nagasaki won 3 times against Haruna Ojio this season, but Hashimoto would be much tougher to beat.

 

[Catenaccio]

Below is a translation of an article from Yahoo Japan (the original article was published by Sports Hochi):

【Table Tennis】Miwa Harimoto to Compete in Women's Doubles with Unusual Partner Honoka Hashimoto, a Defensive Player: "Just Block Everything"... WTT Star Contender London

The World Tour Star Contender tournament in London begins its main draw on the 23rd. In the women's singles, Miwa Harimoto (Kinoshita Group), Japan's top-ranked player at No. 7 in the world, will compete in three events. For the women's doubles, she will form an unusual pairing with Honoka Hashimoto (Denso), ranked 11th and known as a defensive player.

With the doubles events set to return at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the team is experimenting with various pairings. Since her regular doubles partner, Satsuki Odo (Miki House), who she has played with since the May World Table Tennis Individual Championships, is not competing, Coach Nakazawa proposed, "Why don't you try pairing up?" "Hashimoto-san also said 'sure,' so we decided to give it a try. We're not overly focused on results; we just want to enjoy it," she said positively.

Harimoto has built a strong women's doubles record, winning bronze with Miyu Kihara at May's World Table Tennis Individual Championships and securing four consecutive World Tour victories with Odo. Pairing with a defensive cutter-focused player is considered challenging for top modern right-shake attackers like her, as it demands high technical skill to handle the powerful returns from the cutter. "I am a bit worried about causing trouble," she admitted. However, drawing on her experience winning the All Japan Championships Cadet division in fourth grade with cutter-focused partner Mizuki Akagawa, she added, "Back then, I was just blocking. It's been a while since I paired with a cutter, but I have a mental image." She doesn't seem to have any particular apprehension.

Her new partner, right-handed shakehand cutter Hashimoto, has excelled in pairs with fellow cutters like Hitomi Sato, winning the 2019 World Table Tennis Individual bronze medal. She also conquered the World Tour in mixed doubles alongside cutter Satoshi Aida. What kind of synergy will emerge from this pairing with an attacking player, a common type among top athletes?

 

[Catenaccio]

WTT Star Contender London

WD R16
Harimoto/Hashimoto vs Hayata/Ito 2-3 (-8,9,7,-10,-3)

XD R16
Harimoto/Matsushima vs Coton/Lutz 3-2 (-12,5,-8,6,6)
Shin/Uda vs Chitale/Shah 3-2 (9,-9,-7,6,7)

WS R64
Yuna Ojio vs Leana Hochart 3-0 (6,5,9)

MS R64
Kazuhiro Yoshimura vs Finn Luu 3-0 (7,5,8)
Ryoichi Yoshiyama vs Paul Drinkhall 3-0 (7,5,10)
Mizuki Oikawa vs Andrej Gacina 1-3 (-9,-7,9,-9)

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

WTT Star Contender London

WD R16
Harimoto/Hashimoto vs Hayata/Ito 2-3 (-8,9,7,-10,-3)

XD R16
Harimoto/Matsushima vs Coton/Lutz 3-2 (-12,5,-8,6,6)
Shin/Uda vs Chitale/Shah 3-2 (9,-9,-7,6,7)

WS R64
Yuna Ojio vs Leana Hochart 3-0 (6,5,9)

MS R64
Kazuhiro Yoshimura vs Finn Luu 3-0 (7,5,8)
Ryoichi Yoshiyama vs Paul Drinkhall 3-0 (7,5,10)
Mizuki Oikawa vs Andrej Gacina 1-3 (-9,-7,9,-9)

I watched Harimoto Hashimoto playing together in doubles. Their first time so many excuses but the combo didn’t seem to work very well.
Hashimoto didn’t get the kind of balls she likes to play her best game

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

very happy for Kotomi Omoda, she won all japan university earlier today!

 

[Catenaccio]

WTT Star Contender London

WD
QF | Hayata/Ito vs Ng/Wong 3-0 (6,6,5)
SF | Hayata/Ito vs Qin/Zong 1-3 (5,-11,-9,-8)

XD
QF | Shin/Uda vs Cheng/Lin 1-3 (-5,3,-11,-9)
QF | Harimoto/Matsushima vs Kukulkova/Pistej 3-1 (7,7,-5,5,)
SF | Harimoto/Matsushima vs Cheng/Lin 1-3 (7,-9,-8,-5)

WS R32
Miwa Harimoto vs Diya Chitale 3-0 (1,8,1)
Miu Hirano vs Nina Mittelham 3-0 (4,6,5)
Honoka Hashimoto vs Yuna Ojio vs 3-2 (-7,8,7,-9,2)
Miyu Kihara vs Audrey Zarif 3-0 (6,4,6)
Miyu Nagasaki vs Ser Lin Qian 3-0 (6,5,5)
Hina Hayata vs Zhang Xiangyu 3-0 (8,8,4)
Mima Ito vs Zeng Jian 2-3 (6-10,5,-12,-9)

MS R32
Tomokazu Harimoto vs Luka Mladenovic 3-2 (5,7,-4,-8,7)
Kazuhiro Yoshimura vs Nicholas Lum 3-1 (6,5,-9,6)
Hiroto Shinozuka vs Tom Jarvis 3-1 (-9,5,2,8)
Ryoichi Yoshiyama vs Lin Yun-Ju 1-3 (10,-9,-9,-8)
Sora Matsushima vs Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 3-0 (7,10,9)
Yukida Uda vs Jules Rolland 3-1 (8,-8,7,5)
Yuta Tanaka vs Milos Redzimski 2-3 (-6,8,8,-8,-9)

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

WTT Star Contender London

WD
QF | Hayata/Ito vs Ng/Wong 3-0 (6,6,5)
SF | Hayata/Ito vs Qin/Zong 1-3 (5,-11,-9,-8)

XD
QF | Shin/Uda vs Cheng/Lin 1-3 (-5,3,-11,-9)
QF | Harimoto/Matsushima vs Kukulkova/Pistej 3-1 (7,7,-5,5,)
SF | Harimoto/Matsushima vs Cheng/Lin 1-3 (7,-9,-8,-5)

WS R32
Miwa Harimoto vs Diya Chitale 3-0 (1,8,1)
Miu Hirano vs Nina Mittelham 3-0 (4,6,5)
Honoka Hashimoto vs Yuna Ojio vs 3-2 (-7,8,7,-9,2)
Miyu Kihara vs Audrey Zarif 3-0 (6,4,6)
Miyu Nagasaki vs Ser Lin Qian 3-0 (6,5,5)
Hina Hayata vs Zhang Xiangyu 3-0 (8,8,4)
Mima Ito vs Zeng Jian 2-3 (6-10,5,-12,-9)

MS R32
Tomokazu Harimoto vs Luka Mladenovic 3-2 (5,7,-4,-8,7)
Kazuhiro Yoshimura vs Nicholas Lum 3-1 (6,5,-9,6)
Hiroto Shinozuka vs Tom Jarvis 3-1 (-9,5,2,8)
Ryoichi Yoshiyama vs Lin Yun-Ju 1-3 (10,-9,-9,-8)
Sora Matsushima vs Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 3-0 (7,10,9)
Yukida Uda vs Jules Rolland 3-1 (8,-8,7,5)
Yuta Tanaka vs Milos Redzimski 2-3 (-6,8,8,-8,-9)

not very good results for JNT

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Check out this point from Hitomi. With the teams tied at 2-2 she is up against China's Zhang Rui in a victory match. Hitomi has been playing exceptionally well beating Miyuu Kihara recently 3-0.

 

[Catenaccio]

Congrats to Hashimoto who will be in the top 10 when the world rankings will be updated on October 28th 🔥

Odo's 1,000 points from her win in Montpellier will expire and SXY won't be able to overtake Hashimoto with today's loss.

 

[Catenaccio]

WTT Star Contender London

WS R16
Hina Hayata vs Xiaoxin Yang 3-0 (6,9,6)
Honoka Hashimoto vs Qin Yuxuan 3-0 (11,6,6)
Miu Hirano vs Miwa Harimoto 2-3 (7,-5,9,-1,-5)
Miyu Kihara vs Miyu Nagasaki 2-3 (9,10,-8,-4,-10)

WS QF
Honoka Hashimoto vs Miyu Nagasaki 3-2 (-3,-5,5,6,8)
Miwa Harimoto vs Yang Yiyun 3-0 (2,5,8)
Hina Hayata vs Zeng Jian 3-0 (6,8,5)

 

[Catenaccio]

WTT Star Contender London

MS R16
Sora Matsushima vs Tomislav Pucar 3-0 (6,4,9)
Hiroto Shinozuka vs Anders Lind 0-3 (-10,-6,-7)
Yukiya Uda vs Milos Redzimski 0-3 (-8,-7,-7)
Tomokazu Harimoto vs Kazuhiro Yoshimura 3-2 (3,-8,8,-4,6)

MS QF
Sora Matsushima vs Lin Yun-Ju 2-3 (-5,-9,7,4,-8)
Tomokazu Harimoto vs Anders Lind 3-0 (4,4,7)

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

SC London has been a great tournament for the Japanese women. Other than Mima Ito losing to Zeng Jian, who had a fantastic tournament, the Japanese women lost only to their compatriots. The selection for this Olympic cycle is going to be even tougher than the last.

 

[NextLevel]

SC London has been a great tournament for the Japanese women. Other than Mima Ito losing to Zeng Jian, who had a fantastic tournament, the Japanese women lost only to their compatriots. The selection for this Olympic cycle is going to be even tougher than the last.

Not by much, though without knowing how the events need to be filled out, and how many players are permitted to play per association, it is pretty much speculation.

 

[Catenaccio]

WTT Star Contender London

WS SF
Miwa Harimoto vs Honoka Hashimoto 3-1 (9,7,-10,5)
Hina Hayata vs Cheng I-Ching 3-1 (-11,10,6,6)

WS F
Miwa Harimoto vs Hina Hayata 4-3 (-5,-6,8,4,6,-6,9)

MS SF
Tomokazu Harimoto vs Lin Yun-Ju 3-1 (-5,9,3,10)

MS F
Tomokazu Harimoto vs Dang Qiu 2-4 (-11,-10,-12,9,7,-10)