We are the Champion at the All Japan Club Team Championship for the first time!!
All Japan Club team’s Championship has been a long-standing aspiration of our 九十九（Tsukumo）Club men’s team since its establishment four decades ago. Our dream has come true this time, at the most senior team event of 65 years old and the above (as we get older and older, and myself became 65 in this June). It has been a long journey of training and psychological up-down and human dramas. Especially at the final with Akiyama (秋山卓球) from Fukuoka. We (I) lost the doubles game for the time in this championship, and the second resulting in 0-2 behind. The third was the most hard-hit spectacular game which my partner (河島さん) won by 3-2. I won my game with Kurihara (栗原さん) by 3-1. Now tied at 2-2. The last deciding game, with our senior most team mate Satoken （佐藤さん）, was about to be lost going with 0-2. But, from there he recovered miraculously finishing 3-2, and brought the long-dreamed Championship to our team. It was the drama. We, above 65 years old guys and supporters, all cried with overjoy, “a rare precious shining moment of our life”.
“Life is beautiful, team-mates are wonderful, and we all are thankful to all the supporters”.
Happiness via Ping Pong 