what happened to Japan's pool scene?

The sad truth

Back in March of 2000 I was fresh out of Bootcamp and further training from the Marines I was stationed in Camp Hansen, Okinawa Japan. After I got kicked out of every last Buy-me-drinky bar in Kinville I stumbled (literally) into a pool hall. I then started playing in the corner by myself. A few locals came up to me and wanted to play for something. So we ended up playing for $1000 yen and 3 fortune cookies. The little fella broke dry, I then put the house cue back on the wall and continued to run 3 racks of rotation with nothing but some chopsticks. It was a thing of beauty. My mind, body, and twig were in sync. I didn't even use chalk, only soy sauce when I had to but a lil something on the cue ball. Needless to say they quit And I became their mentor. I became a folk hero all over the island, they still know me as Sensei Kick Ass-san. I even put out some instructional material translated into Japanese so my guess is every aspiring pool player in Japan bought them and actually got even worse. So they all got worse because of me. True story and I'm sticking to it.
 
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mullyman 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.

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
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Totally agree with Mully on this.... i have been staying in Tokyo for almost 4 years now and i find that there are a lot of japs here who really kick a$$!!!

I mentioned before in another thread/forum, many of the local pool halls here have 1 or 2 super-tight-pockets tables (see my signature) and there are always A and SA level players running balls in these tables...
 
monchiwai said:
Totally agree with Mully on this.... i have been staying in Tokyo for almost 4 years now and i find that there are a lot of japs here who really kick a$$!!!

I mentioned before in another thread/forum, many of the local pool halls here have 1 or 2 super-tight-pockets tables (see my signature) and there are always A and SA level players running balls in these tables...
Click to expand...

You're in Tokyo? Why haven't we hooked up to shoot some?

I guess you know the scene well too. There are some good players in Tokyo but down in Osaka, damn. I think the strongest players in the nation are in the Kansai area. We're about average here in Shizuoka.
MULLY
 
JMS said:
Back in March of 2000 I was fresh out of Bootcamp and further training from the Marines I was stationed in Camp Hansen, Okinawa Japan. After I got kicked out of every last Buy-me-drinky bar in Kinville I stumbled (literally) into a pool hall. I then started playing in the corner by myself. A few locals came up to me and wanted to play for something. So we ended up playing for $1000 yen and 3 fortune cookies. The little fella broke dry, I then put the house cue back on the wall and continued to run 3 racks of rotation with nothing but some chopsticks. It was a thing of beauty. My mind, body, and twig were in sync. I didn't even use chalk, only soy sauce when I had to but a lil something on the cue ball. Needless to say they quit And I became their mentor. I became a folk hero all over the island, they still know me as Sensei Kick Ass-san. I even put out some instructional material translated into Japanese so my guess is every aspiring pool player in Japan bought them and actually got even worse. So they all got worse because of me. True story and I'm sticking to it.
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Great Story.:wink:
 
The squirrels have the nuts.

CocoboloCowboy said:
Great Story.:wink:
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Thanks, I'm thinking about bringing my pool school back to Japan after a 7 year hiatus.
 
I have a very good friend who was flight crew on lLamplighter in the Korean War, he shares some funny story about flying out of, living, and his crew owning a Brothel in Japan during the Korean War.

Apparently this Brothel change ownership when new Lamplighter Crews were sent to Japan. Apparently his crew live high on the hog you could say during their time in Japan.
 
JMS said:
Thanks, I'm thinking about bringing my pool school back to Japan after a 7 year hiatus.
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You should talk to Mully to see if that idea would fly, as Pool is out of Vogue in Japan now.:wink:
 
Thats because they're waiting for Sensei Kick-Ass-San to return. If anyone has seen Full Metal Jacket, the guy that played the Drill Instructor retired in Japan in the late 70's- early 80's and had a brother in Okinawa.
I would open a pool tour and let Mully be my Tournament Director for the Samarai Pool Tour.
 
monchiwai said:
I mentioned before in another thread/forum, many of the local pool halls here have 1 or 2 super-tight-pockets tables (see my signature) ..
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3.6 inch pockets?! You are a sick man. I was apprehensive at setting mine at 4.25 inches, but 3.6... that would be brutal!
 
i was in japan like 6 years ago and i ran into some monster players. but from what i heard from friends a couple of the pool halls that used to be there had been closing
 
mullyman said:
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
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The Japanese used to send a number of players to the US Open each year, but the last few years I haven't seen any Japanese. They even sent a TV crew one year to keep up with their top players. Okumura played Earl in the final the year Earl won his 5th US Open and I haven't seen the Japanese contingent since.

James
 
SCCues said:
The Japanese used to send a number of players to the US Open each year, but the last few years I haven't seen any Japanese. They even sent a TV crew one year to keep up with their top players. Okumura played Earl in the final the year Earl won his 5th US Open and I haven't seen the Japanese contingent since.

James
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Well, like I said, I don't really keep up with the pros over here but I do finger through the billiard magazine each month when it comes out. I know a couple of the younger players have been to the States recently in some tournaments. Not exactly sure which tournaments they are but I've seen photos.

I doubt you'll see many from now on though with oil prices the way they are. Not only will a ticket to the USA run you around a thousand dollars, depending on the season, there is now a 600 dollar oil surcharge tacked onto that. That oil surcharge is the exact reason why I'm not sitting in Cincinnati right now.
MULLY
 
mullyman said:
You're in Tokyo? Why haven't we hooked up to shoot some?

I guess you know the scene well too. There are some good players in Tokyo but down in Osaka, damn. I think the strongest players in the nation are in the Kansai area. We're about average here in Shizuoka.
MULLY
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Yea... i think we should... if by any chance you come to tokyo (as i rarely go outside tokyo), do drop me a PM and we go shoot some pool together.... :D

Yes, i think Kansai area produces a lot of strong players...
Around tokyo, i believe Kanagawa prefecture is at the top...
 
Kasai produces the better players based on my experience. Many of them have learned by playing straight pool, and also they play a game they call "Japan" which is just like the "go-ku" game that I'm sure you're familliar with, only the 3, and 5 are also money balls. As far as action goes, unless you get into a game with a Filippino player, it's hard to find a game for anything more than around 2,000 yen. But in the Kanagawa area, B players will start at 5,000 yen.
Another interesting tidbit: Players from the Kasai area tend to favor Adam/Musashi while the players in the Kanto area overwhelmingly favor Mezz.
And, in my opinion, the top player in Japan has got to be Oi. He's the house pro in a small 6 table place about 20 minutes from where I lived, so I've been sent home early many many times by that kid. I literally watched him go from B player to world beater in about a 4 year period of time.
I still think that there are several Japanese players that play well enough to win majors, but traditionally the Japanese are big chokers in the larger events. If I'm correct, Mekari finished in the final 4 in least years US open? He's one of those guys that has been considered to be well past his peak years in Japan.
dave
 
Tokyo-dave said:
Kasai produces the better players based on my experience. Many of them have learned by playing straight pool, and also they play a game they call "Japan" which is just like the "go-ku" game that I'm sure you're familliar with, only the 3, and 5 are also money balls. As far as action goes, unless you get into a game with a Filippino player, it's hard to find a game for anything more than around 2,000 yen. But in the Kanagawa area, B players will start at 5,000 yen.
Another interesting tidbit: Players from the Kasai area tend to favor Adam/Musashi while the players in the Kanto area overwhelmingly favor Mezz.
And, in my opinion, the top player in Japan has got to be Oi. He's the house pro in a small 6 table place about 20 minutes from where I lived, so I've been sent home early many many times by that kid. I literally watched him go from B player to world beater in about a 4 year period of time.
I still think that there are several Japanese players that play well enough to win majors, but traditionally the Japanese are big chokers in the larger events. If I'm correct, Mekari finished in the final 4 in least years US open? He's one of those guys that has been considered to be well past his peak years in Japan.
dave
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You know, even after all these years "Japan" and "Go-Kyu" are games that I never really got into. For those of you reading this and not understand the games they're basically 9-ball ring games with money being paid on the 3,5,7 and 9 balls. 1x payment in the corners and 2x payment in the sides. Double that for the 9-ball. Break run out is double up on everything.

I just have never been able to get interested in that. There's always a game going on. I play sometimes but I really don't care for it. Playing 9-ball with 3,4, or 5 people really prevents you from finding any kind of regular pace. Irritates me.
MULLY
 
Thanks again

Tokyo-dave said:
Kasai produces the better players based on my experience. Many of them have learned by playing straight pool, and also they play a game they call "Japan" which is just like the "go-ku" game that I'm sure you're familliar with, only the 3, and 5 are also money balls. As far as action goes, unless you get into a game with a Filippino player, it's hard to find a game for anything more than around 2,000 yen. But in the Kanagawa area, B players will start at 5,000 yen.
Another interesting tidbit: Players from the Kasai area tend to favor Adam/Musashi while the players in the Kanto area overwhelmingly favor Mezz.
And, in my opinion, the top player in Japan has got to be Oi. He's the house pro in a small 6 table place about 20 minutes from where I lived, so I've been sent home early many many times by that kid. I literally watched him go from B player to world beater in about a 4 year period of time.
I still think that there are several Japanese players that play well enough to win majors, but traditionally the Japanese are big chokers in the larger events. If I'm correct, Mekari finished in the final 4 in least years US open? He's one of those guys that has been considered to be well past his peak years in Japan.
dave
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Hi dave,

Thanks again for hooking me up with the Flannel Pool n Darts Bar.
They only have 4 tables now, but they are Pro Comp style tables. They have about 4 or 6 soft tip dart boards, now. And it's mostly darts. I met Oi. He's a real down to earth guy. The owner is cool, too. He plays pretty sporty.
 
Yeah Rob,
I'm glad that you got to meet "Oi kun." He is a really nice guy, and always willing to play anybody for anything. (he's also quite the lady killer). Where else in the world but Japan can you walk into a four table room, and be lucky enough to find a world class player house pro that's willing to play you cheap sets for as long as you want. And to Mullyman, I know how you feel about "go-kyu." It used to drive me apeshit to play the game, but I often found myself playing just because it seemed the only way to 'get involved' with the other players in the room, and was often time the only form of action. It drives me nuts, because it's a stricly offensive game, and nine times out of ten, I'd find myself standing at the table after waiting 10 minutes for my turn only to be left with nothing to look at!! And no reward for kicking safe either!!! But, on the other hand, I know an older guy that isn't much of a 9 ball tournament player, but the guy could break you in "go-kyu" every time. He was a master at ALWAYS kicking the 9 up into side pocket territory, and even if he didn't have the 9 in side pocket territory, he'd double and triple bank it into the side!! Drove me nuts and broke every time!! Rob, and Mullyman, now that I'm back in the states after spending the better part of my adult life in Japan (19 years) although I'm glad to be back home, from a pool point of view I really miss the place when it comes to playing pool. The table manners, the conditions, the prices, and the availability of exposure to world class talent was wonderful compared to where I am now. Would have been nice to have been able to hook up with you guys while I was there. Mullyman, good luck and have fun in the tour stop you'll be playing in. JPBA? JBC?
Have fun!
dave
 
It's a JPBA event.

I'm with you a billion percent on loving the game in this country. I've been here 17 years so far. The majority of my playing has been done here, I had only been playing seriously for about 5 years when I came over. I feel like I missed out on quite a lot of improvement from not being in the US, but just knowing the difference in manners etc... I wouldn't trade this for anything.
MULLY
 
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