What is O-KOKU? And Why? Sharing table tennis information with the world in 14 languages

Just as "SUSHI," "MANGA," and "MATCHA" are loved around the world, we aim for the word "O-KOKU" to become a common term in the global table tennis world, meaning high-quality information

In January 1997, we launched the table tennis magazine 'Takkyu O-KOKU' (English name at the time: World Table Tennis). At that time, there had been no table tennis magazine available at ordinary bookstores in Japan for more than 10 years. There were magazines published by table tennis manufacturers, but it was not easy to provide neutral information without leaning toward specific equipment or players.

From the beginning, 'Takkyu O-KOKU,' with the cooperation of various Japanese table tennis manufacturers, deliberately did not take the form of an "official publication endorsed by the Japan Table Tennis Association." That was because we wanted to be an "independent specialized media" outlet that could, at times, offer constructive criticism of the association's basic policies and the selection of national team players.

About 30 years have passed since then.

We have traveled to venues all over the world, including not only the World Championships and the Olympics, but also the Bundesliga in Germany and the Super League in China. We continue to cover not only Japanese players, but also top players in Europe and China in depth. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, print media have struggled around the world, but unlike online news focused on speed, the "quality of print," which leaves a deep impression on readers, still holds extremely valuable worth.

Since our founding, friends in Germany, France, Taiwan, South Korea, and elsewhere have repeatedly urged us to release local-language editions. And now, with the dramatic improvement in AI-powered automatic translation, the environment has finally been created to launch "O-KOKU," the multilingual global edition of 'Takkyu O-KOKU,' which has long been a dream.

For 30 years, we have not only published a monthly magazine but also more than 30 table tennis books, accumulating a vast archive of articles and photos. If we had started out as an easy-to-launch online media outlet from the beginning, we would never have been able to build up such rich data by going on location and conducting high-quality photography and in-depth interviews. It is precisely because we have remained committed to the quality of print media that we can now pour top-tier content into this new "O-KOKU."

From here on, we will share our vast archive and the latest information on this new website. We are proud to offer information denser than anywhere else, worthy of a paid subscription (fixed-fee) service.

The name "O-KOKU" comes from the "KOKU" in the magazine title 'Takkyu O-KOKU' (Kingdom). Just as "SUSHI," "MANGA," and "MATCHA" are loved around the world, we aim for the word "O-KOKU" to become a common term in the global table tennis world, meaning high-quality information.

In the past, Japanese table tennis entered its golden age in the 1950s and was called the "table tennis kingdom" by the world. Later, that title moved to China. The background behind launching the magazine in 1997 included the hope that, while Japanese table tennis was in decline, "someday Japan will make a comeback and once again reclaim an era worthy of that name." 

Since the 2010s, Japan has produced superstars such as Jun Mizutani, Ai Fukuhara, and Kasumi Ishikawa, growing to the point where it could catch up to the undisputed king, China. And now, in the field of table tennis "information," it is time for our media to aim for the true kingdom (O-KOKU) in the world.

In launching "O-KOKU," we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Swedish designer Vilhelm von Platen and engineer Takuji Oda. Without their efforts, this project would not have been completed.

From now on, we will be sending out fresh articles every day. We hope that, before long, companions who share table tennis information with us will emerge around the world, and that this "O-KOKU" will become an indispensable presence for table tennis families everywhere.