Japan’s men, runners-up at World Table Tennis London: Head coach Seiya Kishikawa says, “Not a single player, myself included, was satisfied just to make the Final”

Seiya Kishikawa [Head Coach, Japan Men’s National Team]

Japan’s men won silver in the World Table Tennis men’s Team Event, reaching the Final for the first time in 10 years.

In his first time leading Japan in a World Table Tennis Team Event, Head Coach Seiya Kishikawa reflects on what he gained in London, the frustration he felt, and where the team stands in its pursuit of becoming world No. 1.

◆Seiya Kishikawa

Born May 21, 1987, from Fukuoka Prefecture. He moved to Germany in his third year of junior high school and honed his skills under Mario Amizic. At World Table Tennis, he won seven bronze medals: four in Team Event, two in men’s Dobles, and one in Mixed Doubles. Represented Japan at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics. Appointed head coach of the Japan Men’s National Team in April 2025.

“Not a single player, myself included, was satisfied just to make the Final”

Now that the tournament is over, I’m honestly left with very mixed feelings.

　Reaching the Final in the men’s Team Event at World Table Tennis for the first time in 10 years and winning silver is, I think, a wonderful result. We saw a view that only comes from making it all the way to the Final, but because we were truly aiming to win the title, the disappointment is also huge. If I’m being honest, it’s half joy and half frustration.

　The moment we beat Chinese Taipei in the Semi-final and clinched our place in the Final was truly exciting. But that joy lasted only an instant, and not a single player, myself included, was satisfied just to have reached the Final. Everyone was seriously targeting the gold medal, and we believed we could beat China and become world champions. The current Japan men’s team is no longer a team that celebrates simply making the Final.

　This tournament was held under a new system, and looking back, it was honestly quite difficult. I feel the previous format, with a preliminary group stage, was easier to work with. Until now, we could get used to the venue, the Table, and the Ball while competing in the preliminary group stage.