Ping Pong (2002 film)
| Ping Pong | |
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Ping Pong film poster
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| Directed by | Fumihiko Sori |
| Produced by |
Shinji Ogawa Sanae Suzuki Tamotsu Shiina |
| Written by | Kankuro Kudo |
| Starring |
Yosuke Kubozuka Arata Sam Lee Shidō Nakamura Kōji Ōkura Naoto Takenaka Mari Natsuki |
| Cinematography | Akira Sakoh |
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Release date
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Running time
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114 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Ping Pong (ピンポン Pin Pon?) is a 2002 sports film directed by Japanese filmmaker Fumihiko Sori. It is based on Taiyō Matsumoto's manga of the same name and is about the friendship between two high school table tennis players.
The film concentrates on these two friends, their two mentors, and three players who they encounter at high school table tennis tournaments. It explores the different motivations and philosophies that they have towards table tennis and tries to portray the excitement and subtlety of the sport.
Ping Pong was nominated for eight Japanese Academy Awards in 2003; Shidō Nakamura won the 'Newcomer of the Year' prize for his performance as Dragon.
The cast includes Yosuke Kubozuka (Peco), Arata (Smile), Sam Lee (China), Shidō Nakamura (Dragon), Kōji Ōkura (Akuma), Naoto Takenaka (Butterfly Joe, the high school coach) and Mari Natsuki (Obaba, Peco's mentor).
Peco (real name Yutaka Hoshino) and Smile (real name Makoto Tsukimoto) are members of Katase High table tennis club. Peco is charismatic and has a passion for the sport, while Smile is introverted. Tsukimoto's friends in the table tennis club nicknamed him "Smile" as he does not smile often. The characters have known each other, and Demon (Akuma 悪魔, real name Manabu Sakuma), since primary school. Despite Smile's greater natural talent, he sees the sport as simply a way to pass the time, and often lets less able players such as Peco beat him out of consideration for their feelings.
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