Go Takami?
- Thread starter gregory
- Start date
gregory said:
I don't know alot about him but I remember him putting in some great results at some of the IPT qualifiers, combine that with the performance he's putting in at the 14.1 championships right now and I would have to say we should probably remember his name!
IPT-hopeful
Registered
Welcome to the rest of the world. Lots of unknowns out there who play great pool. Takami is a strong japanese money player who turned pro some years back.
Small guy with a big game. hehe..
Takami is pretty well known pro over here in Japan. There are two organizations, the JPBA, and the JBC, and both organizations DO NOT get along. Neither of the organizations will allow their tour players to appear in any tournament on whatever level if a player from the opposing organization is present. The JPBA is the larger of the two, but very strict. Sometimes not even allowing their players to play overseas without approval. The JBC lets their players play anywhere as long as it's not a JPBA event. In most cases, the only way you'll see players from the both organizations facing eachother would be in an overseas tournement. For example, Takami is JBC, yet Mekari and Hijikata are JPBA, and they're all in the 14:1 tournament right now.
Another note about Takami. He's probably the only Japanese player I know that doesn't play extremely slow (Okamura being the slowest!).
dave
Another note about Takami. He's probably the only Japanese player I know that doesn't play extremely slow (Okamura being the slowest!).
dave
Takahashi is probably the best player from Japan, and he doesn't play slow. Okumura used to be the best player from there, but Takahashi surpassed him. I haven't heard of Takahashi playing in any big tournaments in the states for a long time, so Takami might just be the best Japanese player right now. Hiroshi Takenaka is also a great player from Japan, but IMO Takami plays better from what I've seen.
Tokyo Dave, who is regarded as the best player in Japan?
Tokyo Dave, who is regarded as the best player in Japan?
Actually, according to most of the players here in Japan, Takahashi has pretty much peaked and although always a contender on the JPBA tour, he probably doesn't have any majors left in him. There are several other players that are pretty much placing consistently in the top 8 on the tour over here, and most of them are players that don't play outside of Japan with the exception of the Asian Games and/or the San Miguel Tour. Favorites over here are:
Yamamoto: Not sure if he's ever played outside of Asia, but he's always in the top, and has been ranked in the top three point rankings for the past three years. He ran a 5 pack on me right out of the gates in a race to 9.
Kuwabata: Lefty, and has played overseas. Years ago, him along with Takahashi, and Okumura were considered the only Japanese players good enough to compete overseas. He's been blank for a couple of years, but he's coming back.
Kosuke Hanawa: House pro at my old club. Turned pro 3 years ago and was voted rookie of the year. Last month was selected as a team Japan member for the Asian Games. I've personally learned lot's from this guy, and his dedication to the game tells me he's on his way up. But I've tried without any sucess to convince him to go to the states and do some road work.
Hayato Hijikata: No major titles as he's only been pro for a little over a year. I've watched him grow with the game since he was about 11 years old as he and a young kid that I used to teach were the top two Jr. players in Japan for several years. Mandatory education here in Japan ends with Jr. High School, so upon finishing Jr. High, he elected not to go to high school, and has done nothing but eat, drink, sleep and breath billiards ever since. In just the two years since he finished Jr. High, I've watched him go from a B player to one of the better pros in Japan, and with his schedule, he's only gonna get better. But, he needs to play more in the states.
Those are my picks/favorites. I'm sure there are others, but these guys are usually givens to finish in the top 8 on the pro tour over here.
I also like Takami just because of the fact that he's the only Japanese that has a pretty consistent presence out side of Japan, so he's proven that he can play with the worlds best.
dave
Yamamoto: Not sure if he's ever played outside of Asia, but he's always in the top, and has been ranked in the top three point rankings for the past three years. He ran a 5 pack on me right out of the gates in a race to 9.
Kuwabata: Lefty, and has played overseas. Years ago, him along with Takahashi, and Okumura were considered the only Japanese players good enough to compete overseas. He's been blank for a couple of years, but he's coming back.
Kosuke Hanawa: House pro at my old club. Turned pro 3 years ago and was voted rookie of the year. Last month was selected as a team Japan member for the Asian Games. I've personally learned lot's from this guy, and his dedication to the game tells me he's on his way up. But I've tried without any sucess to convince him to go to the states and do some road work.
Hayato Hijikata: No major titles as he's only been pro for a little over a year. I've watched him grow with the game since he was about 11 years old as he and a young kid that I used to teach were the top two Jr. players in Japan for several years. Mandatory education here in Japan ends with Jr. High School, so upon finishing Jr. High, he elected not to go to high school, and has done nothing but eat, drink, sleep and breath billiards ever since. In just the two years since he finished Jr. High, I've watched him go from a B player to one of the better pros in Japan, and with his schedule, he's only gonna get better. But, he needs to play more in the states.
Those are my picks/favorites. I'm sure there are others, but these guys are usually givens to finish in the top 8 on the pro tour over here.
I also like Takami just because of the fact that he's the only Japanese that has a pretty consistent presence out side of Japan, so he's proven that he can play with the worlds best.
dave
Earl said he had a "10 cent stroke" -- of course after he beat Earl. Although, it was Earl's mistakes that cost him that one. He also said he took the most "chicken shot he ever saw in his life" when he cut a ball in the side instead of playing it in the corner (i.e. he was afraid of the tight corner pockets).
Go is a very nice guy and very gracious. His English wasn't that great when I talked to him. He's got that Japanese punk big hair and wish-I-could-grow-facial-hair Ichiro beard.
Go is a very nice guy and very gracious. His English wasn't that great when I talked to him. He's got that Japanese punk big hair and wish-I-could-grow-facial-hair Ichiro beard.
Great Player...
He is a unit this guy...
I always pick him in the calcutta whenever her pops over to Korea. I love to watch him play because he makes the most difficult shots look simple and he's fast fast fast!
Great hair huh? lol...
He is a unit this guy...
I always pick him in the calcutta whenever her pops over to Korea. I love to watch him play because he makes the most difficult shots look simple and he's fast fast fast!
Great hair huh? lol...
Go Takami: "The Rising Sun"
I first heard of him at the Boston IPT Qualifier where he did quite well (beating world champ Wu and several other strong players). After that I noticed his name in many if not all of the American professional events. He's obviously doing a major tour of the US circuit and is surely getting better as he goes.
And yes, the hair is stylin', lol.
I first heard of him at the Boston IPT Qualifier where he did quite well (beating world champ Wu and several other strong players). After that I noticed his name in many if not all of the American professional events. He's obviously doing a major tour of the US circuit and is surely getting better as he goes.
And yes, the hair is stylin', lol.