A Spotlight on two Japanese Ping Pong Players - Past and Present

Japanese ping pong players have been in the sport ever since the fifties and sixties when they dominated the sport over other countries. They have revolutionized the sport to where it's now at. It took a Japanese ping pong player to introduce new equipment to the sport- a foam rubber racket. Even the area was helpful. When the USA team was playing in the world championship in 1949 and held in Japan, they were invited to visit the People's Republic. The Japanese ping pong scene has since been the place where new things develop and where great talent has come from.

Ever since a Japanese ping pong player, named Horoi Satoh, introduced the new foam rubber racket in 1952, the sport has been evolving at a record pace. One of the greats of Japanese ping pong players was Nobuhiko Hasegawa. Born on March 5, 1947, Hasagawa was one of the best ping pong players worldwide by sixties. He would continue his domination into the seventies by capturing three titles, in men's Single, men's team, and mixed double, in 1967. In 1969, this Japanese ping pong player went on to win the men's team event when he faced the German team. The score in the final was 5-2. Known as a very hard hitting offensive player, this right-handed Japanese ping pong player sadly passed away in November of 2005.

Another Japanese ping pong player is Ai Fukuhara. Born on November 1, 1988 in the city of Sendai, this Japanese ping pong player utilizes short pimples on the backside of her racket. This right-handed Japanese player uses reversed rubber on the forehand. She began playing at the age of three and was a professional by the time she was ten. Fukuhara participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics when she was only fifteen years old. As of December 2007, this Japanese young player is ranked #10 in the ITTF rankings, making her the highest rated Japanese ping pong player. She is also ranked #3 of ping pong players who are under 21 years of age. This Japanese ping pong player has held this ranking ever since December of 2006.