Ishikawa, Katai win NHK Cup 43rd Japan All-star Invitational Championships
05/23/09
The NHK Cup 43rd Japan All-star Invitational Championships were held in Big Box Higashiyamato, a 40-lane AMF HPL bowling center in Higashiyamato-Shi, Tokyo, Japan, from May 15-17.
The most prestigious national bowling event in Japan was moved from Kokubunji Park Lanes, which hosted the championships since the 23rd edition back in 1989, as the center was closed because of an urban renewal project by the municipal government.
In the Women’s Division, Ayano Katai (pictured left), captain of All Japan National Team, defeated 19-year-old Mika Yamada to win the coveted title for the second consecutive year and the third time in her career.
During an interview after the match, Katai promised to win medals in the upcoming Women's World Championships in Las Vegas.
In the Men’s Division Kazuki Ishikawa (pictured right), a primary school teacher, defeated first-time national team member, Nobuhito Fujii.
"Last year, my students came to the center to cheer up, but I couldn't win. This time, I didn’t inform my students about my participation … and I won. I guess they must be surprised", Ishikawa said.
The NHK Cup Japan All-Star Invitational Championships are the most significant individual championships in Japan. Only elite players such as previous champions, national team members, representatives for WTBA, ABF official championships, the prize winners of JBC official championships and bowlers, who bowled more than 1000 games in JBC approved tournaments within the year, can participate in this prestigious championships.
The men’s and women’s champions are considered to be the best bowlers in Japan. The event drew 276 players, 159 men and 117 women. The youngest participant was 13 years old and the oldest 72.
The NHK Cup 43rd Japan All-Star Invitational Championships was the 21st event since the Japan Broadcasting Corporation NHK (Nihon Hoso Kyokai), a quasi-national broadcasting corporation, granted the Cup. Both championship matches - men and women - are broadcasted nationwide by NHK every year.
The top 48 male and the top 30 female bowlers after 9 games qualifying advanced to the next round. to bowl another 6 games. The top 12 both men and women after 15 games qualified for round robin match play with 10 pins bonus for each win and 5 for a tie. The top 3 players in each division advanced to the TV stepladder finals (No. 2 vs. No. 3, winner vs. No. 1, one-game matches).
Championship Round:
1. Kazuki Ishikawa, Yamanashi
2. Nobuhito Fujii, Kanagawa
3. Masaaki Takemoto, Osaka
Playoff Results:
Semifinal Match: Fujii def. Takemoto, 232-224
Championship Match: Ishikawa def. Fujii, 194-159.
Top 6 after Match Play:
Five games plus position round (2 games). Players with position, province, pinfall, bonus and grand total. The top 3 advanced to the stepladder final.
1. Kazuki Ishikawa, Yamanashi, 1.607, 50, 1657
2. Masaaki Takemoto, Osaka, 1.596, 60, 1656
3. Nobuhito Fujii, Kanagawa, 1.603, 40, 1643
4. Shota Kawazoe, Fukuoka, 1.549, 25, 1574
5. Tomoyuki Sasaki, Kanagawa, 1.505, 50, 1555
6. Toshihiko Takahashi, Gifu, 1.503, 45, 1548
Championship Round:
1. Ayano Katai, Shizuoka
2. Mika Yamada, Kanagawa
3. Kimie Abe, Osaka
Playoff Results:
Semifinal Match: Katai def. Abe, 258-185
Championship Match: Katai def. Yamada, 217-194.
Top 6 after Match Play
Five games plus position round (2 games). Players with position, province, pinfall, bonus and grand total. The top 3 advanced to the stepladder final.
1. Mika Yamada, Kanagawa, 1.516, 50, 1566
2. Ayano Katai, Shizuoka, 1.514, 40, 1554
3. Kimie Abe, Osaka, 1.481, 40, 1521
4. Kaori Daimaruya, Saitama, 1.484, 30, 1514
5. Haruka Matsuda, Hokkaido, 1.482, 30, 1512
6. Kayo Nagakubo, Tokyo, 1.421, 40, 1461
Men's Division:
High Game: Tomoyuki Sasaki, Kanagawa - 300
High Series: Masaaki Takemoto, Osaka - 811
Women's Division:
High Game: Maki Nakano, Shizuoka; Saori Kanno, IBAJ- 279
High Series: Aya Horiuchi, Hyogo - 739
Japan
Big Box Bowling Center in Higashiyamato-Shi, Tokyo, Japan (May 15-17, 2009)
The NHK Cup 43rd Japan All-star Invitational Championships were held in Big Box Higashiyamato, a 40-lane AMF HPL bowling center in Higashiyamato-Shi, Tokyo, Japan, from May 15-17. The most prestigious national bowling event in Japan was moved from Kokubunji Park Lanes, which hosted the championships since the 23rd edition back in 1989, as the center was closed because of an urban renewal project by the municipal government.
In the Women’s Division, Ayano Katai (pictured left), captain of All Japan National Team, defeated 19-year-old Mika Yamada to win the coveted title for the second consecutive year and the third time in her career.
During an interview after the match, Katai promised to win medals in the upcoming Women's World Championships in Las Vegas.
In the Men’s Division Kazuki Ishikawa (pictured right), a primary school teacher, defeated first-time national team member, Nobuhito Fujii. "Last year, my students came to the center to cheer up, but I couldn't win. This time, I didn’t inform my students about my participation … and I won. I guess they must be surprised", Ishikawa said.
The NHK Cup Japan All-Star Invitational Championships are the most significant individual championships in Japan. Only elite players such as previous champions, national team members, representatives for WTBA, ABF official championships, the prize winners of JBC official championships and bowlers, who bowled more than 1000 games in JBC approved tournaments within the year, can participate in this prestigious championships.
The men’s and women’s champions are considered to be the best bowlers in Japan. The event drew 276 players, 159 men and 117 women. The youngest participant was 13 years old and the oldest 72.
The NHK Cup 43rd Japan All-Star Invitational Championships was the 21st event since the Japan Broadcasting Corporation NHK (Nihon Hoso Kyokai), a quasi-national broadcasting corporation, granted the Cup. Both championship matches - men and women - are broadcasted nationwide by NHK every year.
The top 48 male and the top 30 female bowlers after 9 games qualifying advanced to the next round. to bowl another 6 games. The top 12 both men and women after 15 games qualified for round robin match play with 10 pins bonus for each win and 5 for a tie. The top 3 players in each division advanced to the TV stepladder finals (No. 2 vs. No. 3, winner vs. No. 1, one-game matches).
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NHK Cup 43rd Japan All-Star Invitational Championships - Men's Division
Championship Round:
1. Kazuki Ishikawa, Yamanashi
2. Nobuhito Fujii, Kanagawa
3. Masaaki Takemoto, Osaka
Playoff Results:
Semifinal Match: Fujii def. Takemoto, 232-224
Championship Match: Ishikawa def. Fujii, 194-159.
Top 6 after Match Play:
Five games plus position round (2 games). Players with position, province, pinfall, bonus and grand total. The top 3 advanced to the stepladder final.
1. Kazuki Ishikawa, Yamanashi, 1.607, 50, 16572. Masaaki Takemoto, Osaka, 1.596, 60, 1656
3. Nobuhito Fujii, Kanagawa, 1.603, 40, 1643
4. Shota Kawazoe, Fukuoka, 1.549, 25, 1574
5. Tomoyuki Sasaki, Kanagawa, 1.505, 50, 1555
6. Toshihiko Takahashi, Gifu, 1.503, 45, 1548
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NHK Cup 43rd Japan All-Star Invitational Championships - Women's Division
Championship Round:
1. Ayano Katai, Shizuoka
2. Mika Yamada, Kanagawa
3. Kimie Abe, Osaka
Playoff Results:
Semifinal Match: Katai def. Abe, 258-185
Championship Match: Katai def. Yamada, 217-194.
Top 6 after Match Play
Five games plus position round (2 games). Players with position, province, pinfall, bonus and grand total. The top 3 advanced to the stepladder final.
1. Mika Yamada, Kanagawa, 1.516, 50, 15662. Ayano Katai, Shizuoka, 1.514, 40, 1554
3. Kimie Abe, Osaka, 1.481, 40, 1521
4. Kaori Daimaruya, Saitama, 1.484, 30, 1514
5. Haruka Matsuda, Hokkaido, 1.482, 30, 1512
6. Kayo Nagakubo, Tokyo, 1.421, 40, 1461
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High Game/High Series Awards
Men's Division:
High Game: Tomoyuki Sasaki, Kanagawa - 300
High Series: Masaaki Takemoto, Osaka - 811
Women's Division:
High Game: Maki Nakano, Shizuoka; Saori Kanno, IBAJ- 279
High Series: Aya Horiuchi, Hyogo - 739