they produced world champions in the 90's and I thought they were on the verge of something big
what happened?
what happened?
what happened to Japan's pool scene?
- Thread starter smashmouth
- Start date
Japanese people go through booms like nothing you've ever seen before. After The Color of Money pool halls were popping out of the woodwork and you'd see business men walking down the street carrying cue cases with Szamboti's and Bushka's etc.... and they couldn't even make a ball. It was the "IN THING" to play pool so EVERYONE did it. Even if you didn't do it it was cool to act like you did so that's why people had cues. That boom went out years ago. What you saw in the early to mid 90's were the left over people that actually learned to play and kept with it. Back in the early 90's there were always new people coming into the pool hall. Nowadays.....we don't have many younger players around.
Right now we're catching the tail end of the soft darts boom. Everyone and their mother plays soft darts. They have the shirts, the dart cases that hang off the belt, the soft tip cases etc... etc....
No offense intended, but when something hits here it's insane. Everyone has to do it and you have to have the uniform and the accessories. If you go to a tennis court wearing sweats and a t-shirt they'll look at you like you're an idiot. Tennis can only be played in official tennis clothes. Gotta have the uniform.
You should see some of these old guys riding Harley's with their brand new leathers. It's almost surreal. It's like they have the chaps, the boots, the Harley t-shirt, the bandanna, the vest etc... and everything is worn perfectly. It literally looks like they saw a catalog of leathers and dressed like that. It doesn't look natural. Really hard to explain but if you saw it you'd understand. Everything is perfect.
MULLY
and clean too
Right now we're catching the tail end of the soft darts boom. Everyone and their mother plays soft darts. They have the shirts, the dart cases that hang off the belt, the soft tip cases etc... etc....
No offense intended, but when something hits here it's insane. Everyone has to do it and you have to have the uniform and the accessories. If you go to a tennis court wearing sweats and a t-shirt they'll look at you like you're an idiot. Tennis can only be played in official tennis clothes. Gotta have the uniform.
You should see some of these old guys riding Harley's with their brand new leathers. It's almost surreal. It's like they have the chaps, the boots, the Harley t-shirt, the bandanna, the vest etc... and everything is worn perfectly. It literally looks like they saw a catalog of leathers and dressed like that. It doesn't look natural. Really hard to explain but if you saw it you'd understand. Everything is perfect.
MULLY
and clean too
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mullyman said:
That is the store I have been told by several Cuemakers who use to send everything to JAPAN as it was PRE SOLD. :wink:
??? For Mully:
What does it cost you per hr. U.S. Equalivent to play in Japan... Youare in a Big City, or out in the Country.
What does it cost you per hr. U.S. Equalivent to play in Japan... Youare in a Big City, or out in the Country.
mullyman said:
About 15 years ago my buddy had arranged a meeting to buy a Lambros at the BCA Show from Mike.
Mike show up with this short Japanese lady on his heal with a Case of 24 Cues. My buddy was given pick of the 24, as Lambros honored his deal with John.
Apparently the lady was a buyer from Japan, and after John bought his Cue for 2K a REAL BEAUTY, and Hitter.
The Lady pulled out this WAD of 100's, and bought the other 23 Mike went home SOLD OUT.
I'm in Shizuoka. It's not a huge city like Tokyo but it's alright. I pay 6 bucks an hour, roughly. When I was in Tokyo a few months back with Tony I think the prices there were about the same. Most places have memberships and you get a discount. I think the counter price is 7 bucks for customers and 6 for members. 4.50 for ladies.
MULLY
MULLY
Thanks for you reply. What do you buds at the Local pool Hall think of your Justis Case?
How awesome is it that we have a Man in Japan?
I can sit at my desk in DC and get the scene summary from Japan. Friggin NIPPON!!
I can sit at my desk in DC and get the scene summary from Japan. Friggin NIPPON!!
mullyman said:
Think that is because old "Lucky" Pushed Whitten's hard during the Pool boom.
Mullyman:Who is the strongest player in Japan right now?
Kawabata? Oi?
None of them seem like world beaters, like Okumura or Takahashi in the early 90s... Do the Filipinos see it as easy money in the Japan tourneys?
Kawabata? Oi?
None of them seem like world beaters, like Okumura or Takahashi in the early 90s... Do the Filipinos see it as easy money in the Japan tourneys?
14.1player said:Mullyman:Who is the strongest player in Japan right now?
Kawabata? Oi?
None of them seem like world beaters, like Okumura or Takahashi in the early 90s... Do the Filipinos see it as easy money in the Japan tourneys?
The only Japan pro player that I know is Naoyuki Oi. From the few sightings of other japanese players on TV, I'd say Oi is stronger than them.
In race to 5, he didn't miss any shots. Only chance I had to shoot, was when nothing fell on the break....which is rare because he's got a powerful break.
Yep, only really seen them in action once before, and on the Guinness Asian 9 ball Tour.
I think in some ways playing & practising on perfect equipment with a perfect rack and guaranteed wing ball might not be ideal?
My 2 cents
I think in some ways playing & practising on perfect equipment with a perfect rack and guaranteed wing ball might not be ideal?
My 2 cents
my japanese friend told me that generally speaking, everyone over there suck at pool. i suppose this is evident in the fact that he won the university championship or something. he explained it to me as a tournament where students from universities came from all over the country to compete. i dont have all the details as i didnt really care about it so i wasnt paying much attention while he explained it but i deduced that the level of competition must be weak if him and his partner were able to win the whole tourny. my friend isnt a bad player but there are many locals here in toronto that would absolutely destroy him...and i'm not even talking about johnny, jason, erik or mario. even when we play i beat him fairly often. he'll win more sets overall but im able to hang in there and im not even good.
i just think that if the level of competition is so weak over there, it's hard for them to produce a champion. i know shane kinda just practiced on his own and got really good but he went around gambling with good players as well. plus shane seems to be a rare case as players dont usually develop the way he did.
also, another thing my friend brought up was that when they're gambling, it's customary to lose on purpose to a pro/better player as a sign of respect. i remember laughing at him since that concept made no sense but thats what he said and i have no way to verify it. chances are if u're playing a better player u'll lose anyways but to lose willingly without putting up a fight is a weird concept.
from my conversations with him it seems people over there arent really educated about pool, this was something he told me himself so im not just making assumptions. for example, he bought an espiritu plain jane and a predator shaft for 1400 dollars. no disrespect to russ but i've seen the exact same cue on this forum for 200-250. the funniest thing was i got him to switch off the pred shaft about 2 weeks after i met him when i gave him a nice solid shaft to use. so i guess its hard to produce great players when there's a lack of knowledge about the game and little to no competition.
i just think that if the level of competition is so weak over there, it's hard for them to produce a champion. i know shane kinda just practiced on his own and got really good but he went around gambling with good players as well. plus shane seems to be a rare case as players dont usually develop the way he did.
also, another thing my friend brought up was that when they're gambling, it's customary to lose on purpose to a pro/better player as a sign of respect. i remember laughing at him since that concept made no sense but thats what he said and i have no way to verify it. chances are if u're playing a better player u'll lose anyways but to lose willingly without putting up a fight is a weird concept.
from my conversations with him it seems people over there arent really educated about pool, this was something he told me himself so im not just making assumptions. for example, he bought an espiritu plain jane and a predator shaft for 1400 dollars. no disrespect to russ but i've seen the exact same cue on this forum for 200-250. the funniest thing was i got him to switch off the pred shaft about 2 weeks after i met him when i gave him a nice solid shaft to use. so i guess its hard to produce great players when there's a lack of knowledge about the game and little to no competition.
mullyman said:
I am going have to have pictures of this. I am from Milwaukee the home of the Harley and I am sure that'll produce big laughs here. Especially since the 105th is coming up. The staple of all the "hard core" Harley bikers is no "Jap Crap". Please take no offense to this, but it's unfortunately true.
Danktrees said:
I would guess since you weren't really paying attention to what he was trying to say that there must have been some sort of communication gap that made you mistake one thing for another.
I've never heard of anyone losing to a better player on purpose as a sign of respect. I think what your friend was trying to say is that they don't mind losing to a better player because they can take it as paying for a lesson from a good player. But to lose on purpose, no, never heard that one, and I've been here IN the pool scene for close to 20 years.
As for cue prices, sorry, man, different country, different economy. It's not a lack of knowledge as much as it's a lack of ability to understand English and find things in America at a better price. Not to mention that if they did find it how are they supposed to communicate with the cue maker?
As for there not being any good players over here, grab your friends and come on over, I'll hook you up with some people that will send you home broke.
MULLY
14.1player said:Mullyman:Who is the strongest player in Japan right now?
Kawabata? Oi?
None of them seem like world beaters, like Okumura or Takahashi in the early 90s... Do the Filipinos see it as easy money in the Japan tourneys?
You know, I don't keep up with the Japanese pro circuit. I honestly couldn't tell you who is on top right now. I did hear that Okumura retired from pool and moved over to 3 cushion. There's going to be a pro tour stop here in my area in September. I've signed up to join the tournament. I guess I'll get the scoop then.
MULLY