Mini-Interviews with Players from Japan’s Growing Pickleball Community

From Tokyo to Hawaii, the game speaks the same language. Thanks to one of our ambassadors traveling in Tokyo, Toshiko Jager, we had the chance to connect with local players and hear their stories firsthand. Through these short interviews, we caught a glimpse of what the sport means in Japan. Here are two of those voices.

NAME: YUUMA KITAHORI

CITY: TOKYO

How did you discover pickleball?

妹がハワイ在住で、妹の住まい から帰国した母から勧められま した。母曰く、ピックルボール というものを始めて知り、実際 に体験してみたところ、あまり の面白さに、私もハマると思っ てさそったそうです。

My sister lives in Hawaii, and my mother, who came back from her home, recommended it to me. My mother said that when she first heard about pickleball and tried it, it was so much fun that she thought I would get hooked, so she invited me to play.

What do you love most about pickleball?

テニスやバドミントン、卓球と 言ったラケットスポーツとは違 う打った時の音で す。打った時 のパコーンという気持ちよい音 が癖になります。

The sound it makes when you hit the ball is different from other racket sports such as tennis, badminton, and table tennis. The pleasant sound of the ball hitting the ball is addictive.

What’s your favorite shot?

曲がるスライスサーブが好きで す。今では、サーブを打つ際ど れくらい曲がるのか、自分の限 界にチャレンジしています。

I like the curved slice serve. Now, I challenge myself to see how much I can curve the serve.

How often do you play? Do you play regularly here?

週３－４回。実家に帰った際 は、父母が所属する「なごぴ」 や、ハワイに行った際は、「ピ ートリー」で色々な人とピック ルをしています。

3-4 times a week. When I go back to my hometown, I play pickleball with various people at “Nagopi”, where my parents play, and when I go to Hawaii, I play pickleball at “Petrie”

Have you played pickleball anywhere else in the world?

ハワイでプレーしたことがあり ます。毎年一回はハワイに行く のですが、観光とかするわけで もなく、滞在期間のほとんどを ピックルボールをプレーしてい ます。

I’ve played pickleball in Hawaii. I go to Hawaii once a year, but I don’t do any sightseeing, and I play pickleball most of the time I’m there.

If so, what’s different about pickleball in Japan?

プレースタイルがどう違うか？ という場合：　大きく違うこと は、パワフルの差でしょうか。 私の見た事で一概にはそうとは 言えませんが、日本では相手が スマッシュを打とうとした時、 後ろにさがって取ろうとしま す。しかし海外の方は、キッチ ンで構えたまま、自分の所に飛 んできたスマッシュボールを強 気で返そうとします。しかも、 かなりご高齢の方がそれをして いてとてもびっくりしました。 海外では高齢の方が若い方と競 い合っている光景をよく見か け、とてもパワフルだなという 印象をもちました。

If you’re asking how the playing styles are different: I guess the biggest difference is the difference in power. I can’t say that in general, but in Japan, when an opponent player tries to hit a smash, we step back and try to hit it back. However, people overseas stay at the kitchen and try to aggressively return the smash. What’s more, I was very surprised to see that older people doing this. I often see older people competing with younger people overseas, and I was impressed by how powerful they are.

What paddle are you using today? Honolulu Pickleball Company

の パドルは、性能が良いのに、他 のパドルに比べリーズナブルな ので気に入ってます。又豊富な パドルがあり、自分のプレイス タイルに合ったパドルを選べる のも魅力です。

I like the Honolulu Pickleball Company paddles because they are reasonably priced compared to other paddles, even though they perform well. They also have a wide variety of paddles, so you can choose one that suits your playing style.

What advice would you give to someone playing for the first time?

きっかけは何でもいいです。変 な先入観なんかも持たず、とに かくパドルでボールを打ってみ てください。以外にもハマりま す。私自身も最初はピックルボ ール？何それ、面白いの？とは 思っていましたが、母に強制参 加させられてからは、ドはまり し、今では週に４回、仕事終わ りにピックルボールをするのが 日課になりました。やる気がな くても、一度でもピックルとい う単語を聞いたなら、それはピ ックルを始めるチャンスです。 是非やってみて下さい。

Whatever the reason, just try hitting the ball with a paddle without any strange preconceptions. You will be hooked. At first, I thought, “Pickleball? What is that? Is it fun?” But after my mother forced me to participate, I got hooked, and now I play pickleball four times a week after work. Even if you don’t feel like it, if you hear the word “pickle” even once, it’s a chance for you to start pickleball. Please give it a try.

NAME: SANAE SHIMIZU

CITY: TOKYO

How did you discover pickleball?

5 年くらい前に、バドミントンのグ ループが初めて見るスポーツ（ピッ クルボール）をやっていて、興味を 持ちました。

About 5 years ago, I saw a badminton group playing a sport I’d never seen before (pickleball) and became interested in it.

What do you love most about pickleball?

誰とでもゲームができること

You can play games with anyone.

What’s your favorite shot?

3rd shot and dinking

How often do you play? Do you play regularly here?

週2－3回。スギックルのみ

2-3 times a week. Only with Sugikkuru group.

Have you played pickleball anywhere else in the world?

無し

No.

What paddle are you using today?

CRBN 1X

What advice would you give to someone playing for the first time?

初めてでもボールを打つことは簡単 ですが、とても奥深いスポーツなの で、長くやる程楽しくなります。

It’s easy to hit the ball even for the first time, but pickleball is very deep with so much to learn, so the longer you play, the more fun it becomes.