Pool in Japan

[Black-Balled]

Funniest jokes are always rooted in truth.

Coming from America, where we get everywhere in car...

I swear that I looked at the subway map and decided I'd probably end up a homeless person living in a Japanese subway station until my credit cards got cancelled.

Oh, you'll be fine...the trains go everywhere:

Hay, look! Some English:

 

[Masayoshi]

What is that thing underneath what looks like a break rack? And what's up with the extra, out of place break line nap on the cloth?

Its a break cloth. And they probably reversed the cloth once the break lines started to show too much.

 

[victorl]

Hey Bob,

You mean the table in this pic, right?

The small pic makes it hard to see but the thing on the table is just a bunch of stuff put on the table for players to use (a magic rack, a break pad, and chalk). And if you look closely, the out of place break line in the cloth runs right through the center of the table due to players continually shooting object balls off the center spot. This is due to the fact that Japanese players love to practice their center shots and also because of Japanese-style 9-ball, which is a ring game where balls get spotted on the center spot on fouls.

Cheers,
Vic

 

[victorl]

I think that's just 2 pieces of chalk side-by-side, probably Brunswick chalk with the black wrapper.

 

[Masayoshi]

It shows up in a bigger version at the top of the page if you wait for the images to roll over.

That answers the second question (reversing the cloth didn't really make sense).

I thought it was a break cloth, too- but with some kind of handle on it??? But if that's chalk it isn't cue chalk. It's about two inches long and narrow. Maybe for keeping score on a chalkboard?

The reverse break lines are going from the foot line to the head spot. The only way those would form is if they reversed the cloth. The center shot line victor mentioned is also there.

Its a break cloth with a magic rack an 2 chalks stacked on top of it. The break cloth is extra long and folded in half.

 

[poolplayer2093]

I am planning a trip to Japan in a few months

From what I have heard pool is pretty popular over there, can anyone point me in the right direction for some good pool halls?

you gotta tell us what part of Japan you're going to. I was there a long time ago in the iwakuni hiroshima area. i saw japanese players do things on a pool table that i've never seen american players do. even watching the champions playing big tournaments at hard times in sac town. i loved that if you got a membership at the local pool room you could just leave your cue screwed together and they'd put it in a display case. you just ask for your cue when you go in to play and they give it to you.