All the finest names of Japanese table tennis once again met in Tokyo to find out the new champion of the All Japan Championships (2026年全日本卓球選手権大会). Many fans were eager to see whether Tomokazu Harimoto would be able to make his way to the final and get revenge for the 2025 loss to Sora Matsushima.
Interestingly, the semi-finals stage of this year’s tournament was the same as in 2025, featuring Sora Matsushima, Hiroto Shinozuka, Yuma Tanigaki, and Tomokazu Harimoto. The same pairs, same eventual finalists, and champion.
The main game of the tournament was the semi-final between Matsushima and Harimoto. Unlike the previous year, when Matsushima won relatively easily 4-1, this year’s meeting turned out into a seven-set thriller. Both players played at the best level of their abilities, turning this semi-final match-up into a long and exciting spectacle for the local fans. The score constantly changed in favor of Matsushima and Harimoto.
Eventually, the 18-year-old Matsushima won the seventh set 11-9 and secured his place in the final that turned out to be as one-sided as the year before. Hiroto Shinozuka did not cause much headache for Matsushima, and he confidently won his second consecutive singles title.
In recent years, the All Japan Championships have turned into a real challenge for Harimoto. His performances give the impression that the international opponents are less challenging to face than the local ones. Which, of course, is a good thing for Team Japan as a whole. There is a strong internal battle for the leader’s position in the national team, and this can help make progress in the long run.
With Harimoto already being a seasoned veteran despite his young age, and Matsushima earning the experience and confidence internationally, it will be interesting to see how Team Japan will face Team China at the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships. Lin Shidong has been struggling in the past months, and Liang Jingkun is still recovering from his back injury. While Team China might solve these struggles by the WTTC, the intrigue is definitely increasing.
Overall, the Japanese table tennis seems to be in a good place at the moment. The Japanese T-League has been steadily developing and giving a regular high-quality playing experience for the upcoming local talents, and the rise of Sora Matsushima is a result of that.
2026 ALL JAPAN CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
FINAL
Sora Matsushima 
4-0 vs. Hiroto Shinozuka 
(11-8, 11-4, 11-4, 12-10)
1/2 FINALS Sora Matsushima 
4-3 vs. Tomokazu Harimoto 
(13-11, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 14-12, 9-11, 11-9) Hiroto Shinozuka
4-1 vs. Yuma Tanigaki (12-10, 13-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-5)
1/4 FINALS Tomokazu Harimoto
4-3 vs. Yuto Kizukuri (11-4, 8-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8) Sora Matsushima
4-1 vs. Maharu Yoshimura (11-13, 12-10, 14-12, 13-11, 11-6) Hiroto Shinozuka
4-2 vs. Yukiya Uda (11-4, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 13-11) Yuma Tanigaki
4-2 vs. Ryuusei Kawakami (11-3, 11-13, 5-11, 12-10, 13-11, 11-9)
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