Ping Pong (2002)

Original title

ピンポン

Directed by

Fumihiko Sori

Genre

sport film

Country

Japan

Runtime

1h 54m

Rated

PG

Rating

7.1 of 10 from 62 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

A high school table tennis player trains hard with his best friend, who is a natural but unmotivated talent. The film follows their friendships and rivalries through tournaments, each character bringing a different approach to the sport.

energeticintrospectivecompetitivefocusedplayfulemotionalearnest

What happens

Ping Pong (Japanese: ピンポン, Hepburn: Pin Pon) is a 2002 Japanese sports film directed by Fumihiko Sori, and starring Yōsuke Kubozuka, Arata Iura, Nakamura Shidō II, and Sam Lee. It is based on Taiyō Matsumoto's manga series of the same name and is about the friendship between two high school table tennis players. The film concentrates on these two friends, their two mentors, and three players who they encounter at high school table tennis tournaments. It explores the different motivations and philosophies that they have towards table tennis and tries to portray the excitement and subtlety of the sport. Nakamura won the Newcomer of the Year Award at the 26th Japan Academy Film Prizes for his performance. The film was nominated in seven other categories, including for Picture of the Year and Director of the Year. A 4K restoration and Blu-ray edition is set to be released by 88 Films on July 27, 2026. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

More like this

• Mixed Doubles (2017)
• ドッジGO!GO! (2002)
• The Prince of Tennis (2006)
• Travail (2002)
• Ping Pong the Animation (2014)
• Ping Pong (2002)
• Beyblade: Fierce Battle (2002)
• The Prince of Tennis (2006)