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....