Badminton in Japan

Discussion in 'Japan Professional Players' started by gaDEfan, May 6, 2007.

  1. Cunning Linguist

    Cunning Linguist Regular Member

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    Haha, somebody wants to win the league, apparently. :D
     
  2. kurako

    kurako Regular Member

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    Yes, the S/J League is becoming increasingly important. At the end of the 2017/2018 season, the top four teams in both the men's and women's divisions will battle it out in, guess what, the "Top Four Tournament" for a prize of three million yen. This is scheduled for March 24-25.

    And, the excitement does not stop there. I mentioned in #206 that, as of 2018-2019, the number of teams in both divisions will increase from the current eight to ten. Actually what is going to happen here is that the ten teams will be divided into two groups of five. After playing against each other, the top two teams in each group will advance to a play-off tournament, with the eventual champions receiving 300 million yen. (http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20170924/spo17092421140014-n1.html <Japanese>). Stimulating stuff, indeed.

    Edit: The 300 million yen above is actually 3 million yen. Sorry.
     
    #222 kurako, Jan 23, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2018
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  3. Cunning Linguist

    Cunning Linguist Regular Member

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    Wait a minute,17/18? There is nothing I could find on the league's website. Is this "Top Four Tournament" separate from the league?
    It would certainly fit with the BWF schedule, as it's one week after the AE.

    Very nice. I noticed from the games I watched that attendance is really good. People probably realize what a gem they have on their hands with all these home-grown world class players.
    The rise from 3 to 300 million seems rather steep for the space of one year. Maybe a typo in the article?
    Anyway, they need to work on providing a streaming service, preferrably DAZN (totally impartial advice, nothing to do with the fact that it's available in Germany :D).
     
  4. kurako

    kurako Regular Member

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    Yes, sorry, excuse MY typo; it is 3 million. My mind unconsciously switched into Japanese mode. In Japanese, the reading goes something like 300 (x <this bit is not pronounced>) 10,000 yen.
     
  5. Cunning Linguist

    Cunning Linguist Regular Member

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    OMG, Hokuto Bank lost 1-2 to Unisys.
    Can't really believe I'm typing this, but apparently Tanaka/Yonemoto lost 21-10, 21-13 to the makeshift combination of Ayane Kurihara/Naru Shinoya. @kurako Do you know if there are any injuries involved or do we have a massive betting scandal on our hands? :D
     
  6. stanleyfm

    stanleyfm Regular Member

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    ???????????????
     
  7. kurako

    kurako Regular Member

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    No sprained ankles or casinos, I am afraid. Badminton Spirit has posted an article at http://www.badspi.jp/201801282321/. The Unisys coach lauds 'Kurishino' for having played well; in particular Shinoya for a fast-paced game, and adds that they are the next best pair after 'Takamatsu', with the younger pairs unable to keep up. He also mentions that yesterday's members and order of play were decided fairly early on, as it was known that 'Takamatsu' and Okuhara would be away at the Indonesia Masters.

    'Kurishino' for their part mention that they had the opportunity to watch 'Yonetana' whilst abroad together, and had formed an image of the latter's playing style. They were also able to take advantage of the fact that 'Yonetana' were not in particularly good condition.

    Lastly, the match took place in Nagano prefecture, which is Okuhara homeland. The spectators will have been behind Unisys.
     
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  8. Cunning Linguist

    Cunning Linguist Regular Member

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    First of all, thanks for the info.
    It's one thing that the Unisys coach lauds his players. But from a neutral perspective, this is nothing but an upset of such magnitude, you really have to ask if there was something going on behind the scenes.
    Yonetana (finally an accronym :D) are a world class pair, they were #1 in the Race to Dubai and won the SSF. Shinoya and Kurihara are not even a "real" pair. As far as I can tell, the last time they played together was in 2015. On the few occasions Ayane Kurihara has played doubles in 2017 (and not xd), it was with Higashino, both internationally and domestically (All Japan). Shinoya has played exclusively with Hoshi, as late as All Japan.
    Kurihara/Shinoya as a pair played together for the first time on the fith day of S/J league against Yonex and lost in straight games (the first doubles loss for Unisys in the league after eight initial wins). And now these two solid, but certainly not great, players are lauded as the "next best thing" and not only beat one of the best pairs in the world in a pivotal match, but smash them 10, 13?
    Nah, I'm not having it, shady ass Unisys is cheating their way to the title! My tinfoil hat is off. Something is rotten in the State of Denmark. :D
     
  9. kurako

    kurako Regular Member

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    Ouch! It looks like feathers have been ruffled.

    Actually, the Hokuto coach (Sasaki Sho) is quoted, too, in an article carried by Sports Bull (https://sportsbull.jp/p/258367/). Unfortunately Sasaki's comments shed little light on the debacle. He simply states that the team played to win, apologises to the fans waiting in Akita, and then goes on to praise the second WD pair, who managed to win their match.

    Incidentally, 'Kurishino' played together as 'recently' as July 2017 in the 67th All Japan Business Corporation Championships. Here, they beat Nagahara/Matsumoto (Hokuto) by 2-0.

    I have bought a ticket to see the final day of the S/J League on February 4. As you may recall, my last ticket purchase ended in a total fiasco, as Momota was defeated by Takeshita the day before I planned to see him. With a sprained ankle I am not sure whether he will feature this time around either; but, as the list of players is only published on the day, I will take my chances. In the worst case, I will still get to see Tonami thrash Unisys (men's), and who knows what will happen at the Saishunkan vs Unisys (women's) match!!
     
  10. Yulius

    Yulius Regular Member

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    Are S/J League Finals the reason that all japanese players skip India Open?
     
  11. kurako

    kurako Regular Member

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    Yes, absolutely.
     
  12. kurako

    kurako Regular Member

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    The "Top4 Tournament", where the four top-ranked S/J League teams (both men's and women's) of 2017-2018 will meet, has been confirmed. (See http://top4.jp/) The tournament will take place on March 24-25 in Sendai.

    NTT-East (men's) may still scrape into the top four....
     
  13. TSO22

    TSO22 Regular Member

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    Hi guys, I have some question regarding badminton ecosystem in Japan.

    So, there are no badminton club that train the athletes since there were young right? At younger age, they train with the school, then with the university and after they graduate, some big company will offer them a job and have them compete in internal events under company badminton club. Is my understanding right?

    Another question is how does the national team work? Most of the time, where does the players have their training, the club or national training center? I know that Japan have team A and B, is that in the international event, all players should compete under NBA main sponsor, not their clubs? And if that is the case, how does it work with players outside the national team, can they still present in some international event under their own sponsor?

    Sorry for my lengthy curiousity, I just found that Japan system is unique and interesting.
     
  14. Cunning Linguist

    Cunning Linguist Regular Member

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    Seems like the implementation of the Top4 Tournament was rather hastily done. Keita Masuda tried to clarify it on his twitter, by stating the league and the top 4 are different competitions, but how can you actually say that when the very name (and qualification mode) of the tournament refers to the four top league spots?

    I think the league should have waited until next season to avoid confusion about changing a league system to a playoff system midway through. This way they slightly devalue the really exciting league finale.


    Damn, Hokuto Bank just won 2-1 vs Yonex. :mad:
    Kawakami beat Sayaka Sato (typical of her to crumble under pressure) and Nagamatsu narrowly beat Sakuramoto/Takahata in three close games after Fukuman/Yonao had beaten Yonetana in straight games.

    Anyway, have fun @kurako and please provide ample documentation (as in: obligatory selfies with KM and AY and lots of pictures)! :D
     
    #234 Cunning Linguist, Feb 3, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2018
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  15. kurako

    kurako Regular Member

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    Your understanding vis-à-vis the career path of badminton players is right on track. However, as elementary schools in Japan do not teach badminton in any depth, children with an interest in the sport will usually attend outside clubs at this stage. Then, if they are talented, they will try to enter a JHS with a strong badminton club. Many Junior High Schools in Japan do not actually have badminton clubs, hence only those pupils lucky enough to live close to a school which does, or those pupils prepared to move away from home (like Momota), will benefit from training at school.

    As for the national team: Most of the time, players will train with their corporate teams. The team will only usually meet at the national training centre for a week or so before major international tournaments. Players outside the national team can participate in overseas tournaments, but only usually up to the (former) Grand Prix Gold level, and even then, they need to apply for, and receive permission from the NBA. Where permission is granted, these players will finance themselves/be financed by their companies. This applies to Ueda Takuma, for example, who will be participating in the Swiss Open.
     
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  16. Cunning Linguist

    Cunning Linguist Regular Member

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    Do you know if Fukuman/Yonao will show up somewhere? They are still #7 in the world and just beat Tanayone in a crucial match, but are still sidelined for Switzerland (and presumably for AE). Nagamatsu, on the other hand, can participate, even though they are well behind them in world and domestic ranking. Seems kind of unfair.
     
  17. Master

    Master Regular Member

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    @TSO22 @kurako I'm very impressed with the badminton competition environment for primary school student at Japan.

    Look at these pictures and how excited they are at the early age:

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Photos taken from The 18th Daihatsu National Primary School ABC Badminton Tournament 2017 (Source: given at link below).

    There is a match report of that tournament by Kumiko Ogura here (some interview with the champions also there). With these kind of efforts, badminton in Japan must never die and continue to grow at the grassroots level.
     
    #237 Master, Feb 3, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2018
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  18. Master

    Master Regular Member

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    Fukuman/Yonao had been registered at AE. As top committed pair (top 10 pair), there is a rule which gives limitation to join Level 5 (Super 300) tournaments. They are allowed to play a maximum of four Super 300 tournaments. This should be a consideration why they hadn't been registered at Swiss Open or German Open.
     
  19. TSO22

    TSO22 Regular Member

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    Thank you for your answer? Japan system seem to be different from most of other countries
    Also thanks Master, interesting english article! (and website also)
     
    #239 TSO22, Feb 3, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2018
  20. Cunning Linguist

    Cunning Linguist Regular Member

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    [​IMG]

    Damn, I want to buy an AY shirt from Nao Ono. And one of those little Kumamons. And one of those towels with a Kumamon on it. :(
    For the time being, I would be alright with a working stream for the matches though, so if one of you has found one, the time to post it is right about now. :D
     
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