VICTAS/Matsushita Koji: "There's no need to hide the name ESN."

[zeio]

「ESNという名を隠す必要はない。
世界最先端企業とのコラボなのだから」
https://victas.world-tt-s.com/news/page_731.html

「ESNという名を隠す必要はない。
世界最先端企業とのコラボなのだから」

2025年03月11日

『V>15 スティッキー』もまさに
そのHタッチの部類に入ります

世界最大のラバーサプライヤー、ドイツのESN。
昨年8月の世界イベントでは男子ベスト4のうち、3人がESN製のラバーを使用していた。
ESN商品戦略部長のフォーケル氏がVICTAS松下浩二社長と対談。
ラバーに懸ける熱い想いを語り合った。

◇◇◇

●ーまずは『V>15 スティッキー』の開発経緯についてお伺いします。

パトリック・フォーケル（以下PF） 数年前、VICTASと今後の新しいラバーのアイデアやトレンドについて話をしていた時、すでにトップ選手の間でシートに粘着性があるラバーが多く使われ始めているという傾向が出てきていたので、「一緒に開発をしませんか」と提案しました。その当時、日本のトップ選手やデューダ選手（ドイツ）も興味を持っていました。

　『V>15 スティッキー』を開発している中で感じていたことは、「Cタッチ」（中国ラバーに近い感触）と「Hタッチ」（中国的なラバーとテンションの中間、ハイブリッドタイプ）というカテゴリーは、当時まだ比較的新しい技術でした。特に市販品として確立されていないフィールドでもあったため、まずは選手と話を進める中で、今までテンションラバーを使っていた選手がいきなり『キョウヒョウ』のような中国系のラバーを使うと、差が大きすぎて順応するのに時間がかかり、苦労する面が多かった。

　ESNとして、選手にとって両方の良いところを取ったようなハイブリッド系のラバーを作れれば、移行がスムーズにでき、新たにプレーの幅が広がると考え、開発を進めていきました。その結果、現在Hタッチの部類のラバーが充実してきて、『V>15 スティッキー』もまさにそのHタッチの部類に入ります。

　HタッチとCタッチの境界線は必ずしも明確ではなく、『V>15 スティッキー』は硬度が52・5度で、スポンジ硬度では硬い部類になりますが、打球感は柔らかく感じます。

●ーCタッチは、スポンジ硬度、例えば55度以上で、トップシートは少し微粘着を持つという感じですか？

PF　粘着性が強くなればなるほど、硬度が硬くなればなるほど、よりCタッチのほうに寄っていく感じですね。

●ー発売までにかなり時間がかかりましたね。

松下浩二（以下松下）　最初は、優先順位が『V>20』や『V>22』で、その後に『V>15 スティッキー』を出そうという戦略でした。

●ー開発段階で、VICTASはESNにどのようなことを求めましたか？

松下　VICTASは、トップ選手からフィードバックを得るというパターンが多いので、その意見をまとめてESNに依頼し、日本のトップ選手やデューダ選手が使えるラバーを作ってほしいとお願いしました。『V>15 スティッキー』でスポンジが硬めのトップ志向のものを出し、その次に一般ユーザー向けのソフトを出しました。『V>15 スティッキー』は硬めなので、『V>15 スティッキー ソフト』のほうが一般の方は使いやすい。

PF　当時の開発の経緯を思い返すと、印象に残っている点が2つあります。ひとつは粘着性。微粘着と言っても、その粘着性は具体的に数値化できるものではないので、ユーザー一人ひとりの感覚で粘着性の強弱を判断します。最終的にユーザーに納得してもらえる粘着力が『V>15 スティッキー』に搭載されていることがひとつの大きな焦点でした。

　トップ選手志向のラバーの開発からスタートしたこともあり、硬めのスポンジ硬度のラバーは、どちらかというと重くなる傾向がありました。それで、一般ユーザーに使ってもらうことを念頭に置いて開発する中で、重量がどれくらいユーザーにとって重要なポイントになるのか、最終的に市販化に至るまでVICTASと一番長い時間をかけて議論したところです。実際に『V>15 スティッキー』の市販品の仕様が決定するまで、選手にいろいろなサンプルを試してもらったが、実際にデューダ選手がヨーロッパ選手権で準優勝した時も、その最終的な仕様のラバーでした。
ESNのような良いラバー工場と組んでいることを
宣伝したい。そのほうが信用も得られます

●ーそもそも、なぜ松下さんはESNとの協業を選んだのでしょうか？

松下　2010年に社長になり、「バタフライに勝ちたい」「日本一の卓球メーカーになりたい」と思っていました。社長に就任してから、日本のラバー工場にあいさつに行き工場を見たり、ESNも訪問して工場を見てニクラス（ESN創業者）さんとも話をしました。ESNの規模は大きく、会社を立ち上げてから短い期間で良いラバーを開発していたし、ニクラスさんの情熱を感じ、「手を組むならESN」だと思いました。

●ー「結局、ドイツラバーはみんな似ているでしょ」と、固定観念を持っている人がいます。

松下　同じところで作っていますが、レシピは全く違うし、その開発のコンセプトも全く異なります。たとえば「カレーライス」も同じ店でも、辛いのもあれば、甘いのもあるし、全く違う。

PF　ラバーを開発していく上で、やはりいろいろな要素が重要になってきます。トップシートの配合、スポンジの配合、シートの粒形状、それぞれのカテゴリーの中でもいろいろと小さい要素に枝分かれしていく中で、組み合わせは無限にできます。今もESNはその組み合わせのバリエーションを増やしていこうと、日々開発を進めています。

　卓球メーカーとひとつのラバーの開発をしていく中で、パッションやコンセプトについてもそれこそ十人十色なので、いくら同じ場所で作っているからとはいえ、同じラバーになる可能性はほぼゼロに等しい。どのメーカーも、思っていることや作りたいものは全く違う。メーカーのテイスト（特長）をしっかりと出して、「唯一無二の商品を作る」ということをモットーにしています。

●ー卓球メーカーはプロモーションにおいてESNの名前を隠そうとします。今回なぜVICTASはＯＫしたのでしょうか？

松下　逆に、なぜ隠したがるのか理解できない。会社はその限られた資源の中で発展していかなければならない。お金があったとしても、卓球のラバーを1から開発、立ち上げるのはとても大変で研究費もかかります。

　今の時代、自社工場を持たないファブレス（製造設備を持たずに設計や販売に特化し、製造を外部に委託するビジネスモデル）の企業が非常に増えている。ある意味、ESNのような良い会社と手を組むほうが時間も短縮できて、費用もかからない。そういう時代だから、隠す必要はない。逆にぼくからしてみれば、良いラバー工場と組んでいることを宣伝したい。そのほうが信用も得られます。

　2010年に訪問した時、「ESNのラバーは10年で世界に君臨する」と思っていた。この会社は2020年には世界のトップ選手が使えるようなラバーを供給する会社になると感じた。なぜなら、パッションがあり、ラバーを研究する人、開発と製造の人数が多いからです。　＜続く＞

"There's no need to hide the name ESN.
We're collaborating with the world's most cutting-edge company."

March 11, 2025

"V>15 Sticky" also falls into that category of H-Touch.

Germany's ESN is the world's largest rubber supplier.
At the world event in August last year, 3 of the top 4 men's players used ESN rubber.
ESN Product Strategy Director Forkel had a talk with VICTAS President Matsushita Koji.
They talked about their passion for rubber.

◇◇◇

●- First, I'd like to ask about the development process of "V>15 Sticky."

Patrick Forkel (hereinafter PF)A few years ago, when I was talking with VICTAS about ideas and trends for new rubbers, we noticed that top players were already starting to use rubbers with sticky sheets, so we proposed to them, "Why don't we develop one together?" At that time, top Japanese players and Duda (Germany) were also interested.

　While developing the V>15 Sticky, we felt that the categories of "C-Touch" (a feel similar to Chinese rubber) and "H-Touch" (a hybrid type, somewhere between Chinese rubber and tension) were still relatively new technologies at the time. As it was a field where they had not yet been established as commercially available products, we first discussed with the players that if players who had been using tension rubbers suddenly started using Chinese rubbers like Kyohyo [TL's note: Hurricane], the difference was too great and it took a long time for them to adapt, and they had a lot of trouble.

　As ESN, we thought that if we could create a hybrid rubber that combined the best of both worlds for players, it would make the transition smoother and broaden the scope of play, so we proceeded with development. As a result, there are now many H-Touch rubbers, and the V>15 Sticky falls into that category.

　The boundary between H-Touch and C-Touch is not always clear-cut, and the V>15 Sticky has a hardness of 52.5 degrees, which is on the hard side in terms of sponge hardness, but the feel of the ball when hit is soft.

●- C-Touch has a sponge hardness of, say, 55 degrees or more, and the top sheet has a slight adhesiveness?

PF　The stronger the adhesiveness and the harder the hardness, the more it feels like a C-Touch.

●- It took quite a while to release it.

Matsushita Koji (hereinafter referred to as Matsushita)　At first, the strategy was to prioritize "V>20" and "V>22", and then try to bring out "V>15 Sticky".

●- What did VICTAS want from ESN during the development stage?

Matsushita　VICTAS often gets feedback from top players, so we compiled that feedback and asked ESN to make a rubber that top Japanese players and Duda can use. We released the V>15 Sticky with a harder sponge for top players, and then released a soft rubber for general users. The V>15 Sticky is a bit harder, so the V>15 Sticky Soft is easier for general users to use.

PF　Looking back on the development process at that time, there are two things that made an impression on me. The first was the adhesiveness. Even though it was called "light adhesive," the adhesiveness was not something that could be quantified, so each user judged the strength of the adhesiveness based on their own sense. Ultimately, one of the major focuses was to ensure that the V>15 Sticky had an adhesiveness that would satisfy users.

　Since we started developing rubbers for top players, rubbers with harder sponge hardness tended to be rather heavy. So, as we developed it with general users in mind, we spent the longest time discussing with VICTAS how important weight would be to users, and this is where we ended up releasing it on the market. Before deciding on the specifications for the commercial version of the V>15 Sticky, we had players try out various samples, and when Duda won second place at the European Championships, he was using the final rubber.

I want to advertise that I work with a good rubber factory like ESN. That will give me more credibility.

●- First of all, why did you choose to collaborate with ESN?

Matsushita　I became president in 2010 and wanted to "beat Butterfly" and "become the number one table tennis manufacturer in Japan." After I became president, I went to a rubber factory in Japan to say hello and see the factory, and also visited ESN, saw the factory, and talked with Niklas (founder of ESN). ESN is large in scale, and they developed good rubber in a short period of time after starting the company. I felt Niklas' passion, and I thought "If I'm going to join forces, it has to be ESN."

●- Some people have the stereotype that "in the end, all German rubbers look the same."

Matsushita　Although they are made in the same place, the recipes are completely different, and the concepts behind their development are also completely different. For example, even in the same restaurant, there are spicy and sweet versions of curry rice, which are completely different.

PF　When developing rubber, various elements are important. The top sheet composition, sponge composition, grain shape of the sheet, and each category can be divided into various small elements, and the combinations are infinite. Even now, ESN is working on development every day to increase the variety of combinations.

　When developing a rubber with a table tennis manufacturer, the passion and concept are all different, so even if they are made in the same place, the possibility of the rubber being the same is almost zero. Every manufacturer has completely different thoughts and wants to make things. Our motto is to "make a one-of-a-kind product" by firmly expressing the manufacturer's taste (characteristics).

●- Table tennis manufacturers try to hide the ESN name in their promotions. Why did VICTAS give their approval this time?

Matsushita　On the contrary, I don't understand why they want to hide it. The company has to develop with its limited resources. Even if they have money, it is very difficult to develop and launch a table tennis rubber from scratch, and it costs a lot of research money.

　In this day and age, the number of fabless companies (business models that do not have their own manufacturing facilities, but specialize in design and sales and outsource manufacturing) that do not have their own factories is increasing. In a sense, it takes less time and costs less to partner with a good company like ESN. In this day and age, there is no need to hide it. On the contrary, from my perspective, I would like to advertise that I am partnered with a good rubber factory. That will also gain more trust.

　When I visited in 2010, I thought that "ESN rubber will dominate the world in 10 years." I felt that this company would be a supplier of rubber that the world's top players could use in 2020. This is because they have passion, and there are many people researching rubber, and developing and manufacturing rubber. <To be continued>

 

[zeio]

Matsushita　Although they are made in the same place, the recipes are completely different, and the concepts behind their development are also completely different. For example, even in the same restaurant, there are spicy and sweet versions of curry rice, which are completely different.

But the rice is still the same!

 

[zeio]

Ping Pang Magazine: Who defeated adidas Table Tennis?
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/who-defeated-adidas-table-tennis.36803/

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Ping Pang Magazine: Who defeated adidas Table Tennis?
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/who-defeated-adidas-table-tennis.36803/

Thanks for sharing that, interesting read.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

●- Some people have the stereotype that "in the end, all German rubbers look the same."

Matsushita　Although they are made in the same place, the recipes are completely different, and the concepts behind their development are also completely different. For example, even in the same restaurant, there are spicy and sweet versions of curry rice, which are completely different.

PF　When developing rubber, various elements are important. The top sheet composition, sponge composition, grain shape of the sheet, and each category can be divided into various small elements, and the combinations are infinite. Even now, ESN is working on development every day to increase the variety of combinations.

　When developing a rubber with a table tennis manufacturer, the passion and concept are all different, so even if they are made in the same place, the possibility of the rubber being the same is almost zero. Every manufacturer has completely different thoughts and wants to make things. Our motto is to "make a one-of-a-kind product" by firmly expressing the manufacturer's taste (characteristics).

Funniest thing I've read all week

 

[zeio]

「今、世界のトップ選手の多くがESNのラ
バーを使用しています。これは、ESNのラ
バーがトップの選手が使えるラバーになった
という証明です」
https://victas.world-tt-s.com/news/page_737.html

「今、世界のトップ選手の多くがESNのラ
バーを使用しています。これは、ESNのラ
バーがトップの選手が使えるラバーになった
という証明です」

2025年03月19日

今世界のトップで頑張っている選手たちがESNのラ
バーの品質を信頼してくれ、使い続けてくれるよう
になりました

ーー2024年のオリンピックではすでに証明されました。男子シングルスのベスト4のうち3人（モーレゴード／F.ルブラン／カルデラノ）がESNのラバーを使っています。

松下　今、世界のトップ選手の多くがESNのラバーを使用しています。これは、ESNのラバーがトップの選手が使えるラバーになったという証明です。

パトリック・フォーケル（以下PF）　ぼくが入社した当時（2014年）は、開発が非常に険しい茨の道でした。当時、ヨーロッパでも選手たちのESNラバーに対するイメージはお世辞でもいいとは言えない厳しい状況からスタートしましたが、いろいろな選手と話をして、選手のフィードバックも取り入れて開発を進めていく中で、ようやく若い世代の選手たち、今世界のトップで頑張っている選手たちがESNのラバーの品質を信頼してくれ、使い続けてくれるようになりました。と同時に、その選手たちが少しずつ中国選手にも勝てるようになっていったというのが、選手にとっても、我々ESNの開発メンバーにとっても「正しい方向に開発している」という自信になったのです。特に去年のパリ五輪の男子シングルスの結果でもそのことがわかります。

ただ、我々は最終的に開発のほうで頑張っていますが、実際に選手たちと密にやり取りをしているのはメーカーです。メーカーが選手をいろいろな方面からサポートしない限り、我々もその選手たちをサポートできない。VICTASのように、選手をサポートする力強いパートナーがいるからこそ、我々も頑張れます。

ーー今後、VICTASがESNに、ESNがVICTASに求めるものは何でしょうか？

松下　選手のプレースタイルにはさまざまな違いがあるので、選手が満足するようなラバーを作ってもらいたい。売れるラバーももちろん欲しいが、そこが一番ではない。一番は、いろんな選手がESN製のラバーを使って喜び、満足してもらい、その結果、売れたらうれしいのです。

PF　やはりプレーヤーファーストで物事を考えいくことが大事です。いくら開発のほうで数値を測定した上で高性能のものが出てきたとしても、ラバーを使うのは最終的に選手だから、選手が良いと思わなければ市場にも受け入れられない。

長年VICTASと仕事をしている中で、常にトップ選手をサポートしているメーカー、選手たちが信頼を寄せているVICTASと、これからもより密に連携を取り合って、多くの選手に受け入れてもらえるようなラバーを一緒に作っていきます。

ーー今後、VICTAS×ESNでさらに素晴らしいラバーが出てくると期待していいでしょうか？

松下　もちろん。そして、なんでも入る夢のようなラバーが作れたらいいですね。それぞれの選手が思っている価値観の中で、たとえば「使いやすいラバー」と「勝てるラバー」は異なる。勝てるラバーが欲しい人は9回ミスしても11回得点ができるラバーが良いと感じるかもしれません。しかし、それよりも自分が打っていて心地良いラバーを探している選手もいる。それぞれの選手たちの要望に応えられるようなラバーを、ESNと協力しながら作っていきます。

ラバーにはメーカーの独自の仕様と色が出るのです

VICTASとは10年以上、良好な関係を持っています。その中で卓球をどのように発展させていくのかという議論も続けてきました。なぜESNが表に出るようになったかと言うと、現在300名を超える社員がいて、その中にはハイレベルで学術的な教育を受けた研究者がいて、テクノロジーを駆使しながら、将来、さらに卓球の発展のためにやれることがあると感じているからです。さらに我々はラバー工場という範囲を超え、協会やITTF（国際卓球連盟）とも議論をしているので、メーカーの背後に隠れるのではなく表に出ていきます。

2つ目の理由は供給している卓球メーカーとさらに協力していくために、お互いが深く卓球を理解することが大切です。我々はただラバーを作るのではなく、卓球メーカーとの協力のもと、卓球市場に貢献していきます。今回、卓球メーカーのVICTASとの協力関係をオープンにしましたが、彼らの卓球への知見を必要としています。

　我々のテクノロジーとラバー仕様とも言える「Cタッチ」「Hタッチ」「テンゾーテンション」というカテゴリーを示し、メーカーは商品のプロフィールを考え、仕様を提示してきます。それによって、商品がどこをターゲットにするか、スポンジ硬度、トップシートのジオメトリー（粒形状、密度など）、表面の粘着度などのいくつかのパラメータ（要素）の希望を聞いて、サンプルを作っていきます。メーカー独自の要望やマーケティングがあるので、同じものにはなりません。

そういったことがそれぞれのメーカーとの話し合いで決まっていくので、ラバーにはメーカーの独自の仕様と色が出るのです。あるメーカーのコピーのラバーを他社に供給することはありません。

VICTASは非常に興味深い会社です。我々と同じ方向性を向いています。松下さんは非常に有名な選手であり、発展させるべき卓球の将来に対しても同じ目標を共有できています。

また、ESNはラバー製造のテクノロジーの発展、トップ選手の用具開発、将来トップになるであろう選手たちのスカウティング、卓球のデジタルツールの開発などにも着手しています。それらの共同作業をこれからVICTASと行っていきます。

将来、VICTASとの協力で、ビジネス戦略、テクノロジー、選手に関する深い議論を行っていきます。その結果が商品に反映されたり、商品戦略にもつながっていくのです。

"Now, many of the world's top players are
using ESN rubbers. This is proof that ESN
rubbers have become rubbers that top
players can use."

March 19, 2025

The world's top players now trust the quality of ESN rubber and continue to use it.

--It's already been proven at the 2024 Olympics. 3 of the top 4 men's singles players (Moregard, F. Lebrun, Calderano) are using ESN rubbers.

Matsushita　Many of the world's top players are now using ESN rubbers, proving that ESN rubbers have become a rubber that top players can use.

Patrick Forkel (hereinafter PF)　When I joined the company in 2014, development was a very difficult and thorny road. At the time, even in Europe, the image of ESN rubber among players was not good enough, so we started from a difficult situation. However, as we talked with various players and incorporated their feedback and proceeded with development, the younger generation of players, the players who are currently working hard at the world's top level, finally came to trust the quality of ESN rubber and continue to use it. At the same time, these players gradually began to be able to beat Chinese players, which gave both the players and us, the ESN development team, confidence that we were "developing in the right direction." This can be seen especially in the results of the men's singles at last year's Paris Olympics.

However, although we are working hard on development, it is the manufacturers who are actually in close contact with the athletes. Unless the manufacturers support the athletes in various ways, we cannot support them. It is because we have a strong partner like VICTAS that supports the athletes that we can do our best.

--What does VICTAS want from ESN, and what does ESN want from VICTAS in the future?

Matsushita　Since there are many different playing styles of players, I want them to make rubber that players are satisfied with. Of course, I want rubber that sells, but that is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that various players use ESN rubber and are happy and satisfied, and as a result, I would be happy if it sells.

PF　It is important to think about things from the player's perspective. No matter how much the development team measures the numbers and comes up with a high-performance rubber, it is ultimately the players who use the rubber, so if the players don't think it's good, it won't be accepted by the market.

We have been working with VICTAS for many years and we are proud to continue to work closely with them, a manufacturer that has always supported top athletes and is trusted by the players, to create rubbers that will be accepted by many players.

--Can we expect to see even more amazing VICTAS x ESN rubbers in the future?

Matsushita　Of course. And it would be nice if we could make a rubber that could go in anything. For example, "easy-to-use rubber" and "winning rubber" are different in the values that each player has. Some players who want a winning rubber may feel that a rubber that allows them to score 11 times even if they make 9 mistakes is good. However, some players are looking for a rubber that is more comfortable to hit. We will work with ESN to create a rubber that meets the needs of each player.

Rubber comes in a variety of colors and specifications that are unique to each manufacturer.

We have had a good relationship with VICTAS for over 10 years. We have been discussing how to develop table tennis. The reason why ESN has come out is because we currently have over 300 employees, including researchers with high-level academic education, and we feel that there is something we can do to further develop table tennis in the future by making full use of technology. Furthermore, we go beyond the scope of a rubber factory and are in discussions with the association and ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation), so we will come out into the open instead of hiding behind the manufacturers.

The second reason is that in order to cooperate further with the table tennis manufacturers that we supply, it is important for both parties to have a deep understanding of table tennis. We do not just make rubber, but contribute to the table tennis market in cooperation with table tennis manufacturers. This time, we have opened up our collaboration with table tennis manufacturer VICTAS, and we need their knowledge of table tennis.

　We present our technology and rubber specifications, such as "C-touch," "H-touch," and "Tensor," and manufacturers consider the product profile and present the specifications. Based on this, we ask about the target audience of the product, sponge hardness, top sheet geometry (grain shape, density, etc.), surface adhesion, and other parameters (elements) desired, and create a sample. Each manufacturer has their own requests and marketing, so the product will not be the same.

These details are decided through discussions with each manufacturer, so the rubber has its own specifications and colors. We do not supply rubber that is a copy of one manufacturer to other companies.

VICTAS is a very interesting company. We are aligned in the same direction. Matsushita-san is a very famous player and we share the same goal for the future development of table tennis.

ESN is also working on developing rubber manufacturing technology, developing equipment for top players, scouting future top players, developing digital tools for table tennis, etc. These collaborations will be carried out with VICTAS from now on.

In the future, we will cooperate with VICTAS to have in-depth discussions on business strategy, technology and athletes, the results of which will be reflected in our products and lead to our product strategy.

 

[zeio]

Feeling the squeeze of ever-rising energy prices, it looks like ESN is forced to change course and will take center stage from now on.

世界最大の競技者用卓球ラバーサプライヤー、ドイツ・ESNのパーソンCEOが語る「未来のラバーを作り出す挑戦」 (CEO of Germany's ESN, the world's largest supplier of competitive table tennis rubber, Persson talks about "the challenge of creating the rubber of the future")
https://world-tt.com/blog/news/archives/259999

ESNが供給する卓球ラバーが似通っているという指摘に対し、パーソンCEOは「ラバーの組み合わせは無限大です。卓球メーカーが求める特性に応じた試作ラバーを提案し、テストを経て製品化を目指します」と回答。卓球の進化に対応する未来のラバーの開発が、研究への大きな原動力となっていると語った。

In response to criticism that the table tennis rubbers supplied by ESN are similar, CEO Persson replied, "The number of rubber combinations is endless. We propose prototype rubbers that meet the characteristics desired/requested by table tennis manufacturers, and after testing, aim to commercialize them." He said that the development of future rubbers that can keep up with the evolution of table tennis is a major driving force behind their research.

私たちは、メーカーの背後に隠れるのではなく、公共の場に出て行きます。

We will go out into the public sphere, and not hide behind the manufacturers.

 

[zeio]

Whatever the result between Calderano and WCQ in tomorrow's final, it should give Xiom and Victas a well-needed boost in sales. Things have not been going well for them the last several years.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...sales-of-tenergy-and-rozena.20860/post-469130

As I noted, things are not good at the ESN camp and we now have more evidence.

Matsushita Koji and Philip Kim reveal the reason behind the new alliance between Victas and Xiom formed on 2024/7/17. It was all because of Rozena and Glayzer, the latter in particular. Victas hasn't been able to recover the sales lost during COVID-19 and Xiom couldn't see the future after Rozena and Glayzer were introduced.

As admitted by Kim in 2021, the marketing strategy of selling the Vega series at a loss to gain market share and gradually raising the price to eventually force those users into getting the Omega VII series has failed miserably and now backfired, which ESN warned against.

「正直に言えば、バタフライが『グレイザー』を発売した時にアライアンスを考えました」フィリップ・キムXIOM CEO
https://world-tt-s.com/news/page_1533.html
VICTASとXIOMがアライアンス契約。提携関係で「トップに立ちたい」
https://world-tt.com/blog/news/archives/193253

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-finals-fukuoka-2024-11-20-24.35221/post-495085
五輪の傷が癒えないカルデラノの復活を願う
https://world-tt-s.com/news/page_1584.html

ジャンロネ・モウニーコーチはWTT福岡の敗戦後にこう語った。

「ウーゴはパリ五輪後に休みを取ったけど、メンタルが戻ってきていない。五輪のダメージで、モチベーションが戻っていないようだ。今は待つしかないだろう」

Coach Jean-Rene Mounie had this to say after the loss at WTT Fukuoka:

"Hugo took a break after the Paris Olympics, but he hasn't recovered mentally. The damage from the Olympics doesn't seem to have restored his motivation. We'll just have to wait and see."

南米の王者、
パリ五輪後遺症から立ち上がるきっかけをつかむ
https://world-tt-s.com/news/page_1589.html

卓球の伝統が根付いていないブラジル出身であり、しかも本格的に卓球を始めたのは13～14歳頃という異色の経歴を持つカルデラノ。南米初の卓球メダルへの期待が、彼の背中に大きな重圧となってのしかかったのは間違いない。特に、準決勝のモーレゴード戦で第1ゲーム、10-4のリードから逆転されて落とした場面は、重圧が微細な感覚を狂わせた象徴的な場面だったのかもしれない。「あの時タイムアウトを取っていれば…」というのは結果論だが、それでもメダルは手の届くところにあった。

パリ五輪後、カルデラノは休養を取ることを決断。しかし復帰後、WTTファイナルズ福岡やドイツのブンデスリーガでは思うようなプレーを見せられなかった。その後、11月下旬に再びリフレッシュのためブラジルに帰国。12月1日から予定されていたドイツ・オクセンハウゼンでの合宿（ルブラン兄弟も参加予定）もキャンセルし、母国での時間を優先した。

休暇後、12月10日に行われたブンデスリーガで、カルデラノはかつての姿を取り戻したかのようなプレーを披露。相手は昨年のヨーロッパチャンピオンクラブ「ザールブリュッケン」。カルデラノは3番手で世界ランキング12位のフランチスカ（ドイツ）を3-0で圧倒し、リフレッシュの成果を示した。

Calderano is from Brazil, where table tennis tradition is not well established, and he started playing table tennis seriously around the age of 13 or 14. The expectation of becoming the first South American to win a medal in table tennis undoubtedly weighed heavily on his shoulders. In particular, the moment he lost the first game in the semi-final against Mollegord after leading 10-4, may have been a symbolic moment in which the pressure messed up his subtle senses. "If only I had taken a timeout then..." is a matter of hindsight, but even so, the medal was within reach.

After the Paris Olympics, Calderano decided to take a rest. However, after his return, he was unable to perform as well as he wanted at the WTT Finals Fukuoka and in the German Bundesliga. He then returned to Brazil in late November to refresh himself again. He also canceled a training camp in Ochsenhausen, Germany, scheduled to begin on December 1 (with the Leblanc brothers also scheduled to participate), prioritizing time in his home country.

After the break, Calderano showed his former self in the Bundesliga match on December 10th. The opponent was last year's European champion club, Saarbrücken. Calderano overwhelmed Franziska (Germany), who was the third player and ranked 12th in the world, 3-0, showing the results of his refreshment.

 

[zeio]

【卓球】用具を変えない男が選んだ“運命のラバー”。カルデラノを頂点へ導いた「Cタッチ」とは
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/bcbc4c6f5f4b87f089cbc0baacb16fe08d8548b1

「打球時にボールをしっかりつかむ感覚がほしい」。そう語るウーゴ・カルデラノ（ブラジル）は、これまで用具をほとんど変えないことで知られていた。だが、1年前に突然新しいラバー『ジキル＆ハイドC』にスイッチし、それが大きな転機となった。

卓球のラバーは、精密な科学技術の結晶だ。わずか18センチ四方のゴムシートだが、トップシートには無数の台形の粒が逆さに並び、表面は強い摩擦力を発揮する。その下には高弾性のスポンジが貼り合わされており、この構造によって多彩な回転とスピードが生まれる。中には1枚1万円を超える高価なラバーもあり、安価な車のタイヤより高いことも珍しくない。
こうしたラバーを、トップ選手たちはビッグゲームのたびに張り替える。まるでF1のタイヤ交換のように、わずかな性能差が勝敗を左右するからだ。

東京五輪、ヒューストン世界選手権、パリ五輪と、ビッグマッチで惜しくもメダルに届かず「悲劇のヒーロー」と呼ばれたカルデラノ。しかし、2025年4月のワールドカップでは世界1・2・3位を連破して初優勝。続く世界選手権ドーハ大会でも決勝に進み、ついに世界のトップに名を刻んだ。

用具変更の背景には「中国的な打球感覚＝Cタッチ」を求める思いがあった。XIOMのジョシュア・キム氏によれば「彼は長年同じラケットとラバーを使ってきたが、『ジキル＆ハイドC』を試した瞬間から“これだ”と感じた」という。

強烈なパワードライブと、台上でボールをピタリと止めるマジックストップ。相反する技術を支えるハイスペックラバーは、カルデラノにとって“運命の一枚”となった。

「ワールドカップでの優勝は、歴史に自分の名前を刻むことだった」と語るカルデラノ。用具を変えない男が、自らの信念を曲げて選んだ新しい武器とともに、悲願のタイトルを手にした。
この物語は、卓球専門誌別冊『卓球グッズ2025』で詳しく紹介されている。
（卓球グッズ2025より一部を抜粋）

("I want to feel like I can grip the ball firmly when I hit it." This is what Hugo Calderano (Brazil) said. He was known for rarely changing his equipment. However, a year ago he suddenly switched to a new rubber, "Jekyll & Hyde C," and that marked a major turning point for him.

Table tennis rubber is the crystallization of precise science and technology. It is a rubber sheet that is only 18 cm square, but the top sheet is lined with countless trapezoidal grains arranged upside down, and the surface exerts strong friction. Underneath that is a highly elastic sponge, and this structure creates a variety of rotations and speed. Some rubbers are expensive, costing more than 10,000 yen per sheet, and it is not uncommon for them to cost more than the tires of an inexpensive car.
Top players change these rubbers every time a big game. Just like changing tires in an F1 car, even the slightest difference in performance can determine the outcome.

Calderano was called a "tragic hero" for narrowly missing out on medals in big matches at the Tokyo Olympics, the Houston World Championships, and the Paris Olympics. However, in April 2025, he won the World Cup for the first time, defeating the world's first, second, and third place players in a row. He also advanced to the finals of the following World Championships in Doha, and finally made his name at the top of the world.

The reason behind the change in equipment was his desire to achieve a "Chinese style hitting sensation = C touch". According to XIOM's Joshua Kim, "He had been using the same racket and rubber for many years, but the moment he tried the 'Jekyll & Hyde C', he felt that this was it."

A powerful power drive and a magic stop that stops the ball exactly on the table. The high-spec rubber that supports the opposing techniques became a "fateful sheet" for Calderano.

"Winning the World Cup was to carve my name into history," says Calderano. The man who never changes his equipment won his long-cherished title with the new weapon he chose by bending his own beliefs.

This story is introduced in detail in the special edition of the table tennis magazine "Table Tennis Goods 2025".
(Excerpt from Table Tennis Goods 2025))

 

[zeio]

"Patrick Forkel (hereinafter PF)A few years ago, when I was talking with VICTAS about ideas and trends for new rubbers, we noticed that top players were already starting to use rubbers with sticky sheets, so we proposed to them, "Why don't we develop one together?" At that time, top Japanese players and Duda (Germany) were also interested.

　While developing the V>15 Sticky, we felt that the categories of "C-Touch" (a feel similar to Chinese rubber) and "H-Touch" (a hybrid type, somewhere between Chinese rubber and tension) were still relatively new technologies at the time. As it was a field where they had not yet been established as commercially available products, we first discussed with the players that if players who had been using tension rubbers suddenly started using Chinese rubbers like Kyohyo [TL's note: Hurricane], the difference was too great and it took a long time for them to adapt, and they had a lot of trouble.

　As ESN, we thought that if we could create a hybrid rubber that combined the best of both worlds for players, it would make the transition smoother and broaden the scope of play, so we proceeded with development. As a result, there are now many H-Touch rubbers, and the V>15 Sticky falls into that category."

"　We present our technology and rubber specifications, such as "C-touch," "H-touch," and "Tensor," and manufacturers consider the product profile and present the specifications. Based on this, we ask about the target audience of the product, sponge hardness, top sheet geometry (grain shape, density, etc.), surface adhesion, and other parameters (elements) desired, and create a sample. Each manufacturer has their own requests and marketing, so the product will not be the same."

"In response to criticism that the table tennis rubbers supplied by ESN are similar, CEO Persson replied, "The number of rubber combinations is endless. We propose prototype rubbers that meet the characteristics desired/requested by table tennis manufacturers, and after testing, aim to commercialize them." He said that the development of future rubbers that can keep up with the evolution of table tennis is a major driving force behind their research."

 

[Tyce]

What is your point? Why are you reviving this old stuff?