The NHK Cup 44th Japan All-star Invitational Championships, the most prestigious bowling event in Japan, was held from May 14-16, 2010, at JFE Chiba River Lane, a 64-lane center with Brunswick wooden lanes in Chiba-Shi, Chiba-Ken, as the center will also host the National Sports Festival Bowling Competition this year.

In the Women’s Division championship match, 18-year-old Misaki Mukotani (right), a rising star from the Japanese Youth National Team, defeated 21-year-old Saori Kanno, 248-202, to win the coveted title for the first time in her young career.

In the Men’s Division 18-year-old Shusaku Asato (left), also a member of the Japanese Youth National Team, defeated 17-year-old high school student Yoshihiko Aiba, 246-213, en route to win the most prestigious title.

The NHK Cup Japan All-Star Invitational is the most significant individual championship 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 285 players, 156 men and 129 women. The youngest participant was 13 years old and the oldest 72.

The NHK Cup 44th Japan All-Star Invitational Championships was the 22nd 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. This is the only bowling tournament that is broadcasted live in Japan.

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). The top six men and the top six women were the prize winners.

 

NHK Cup 44th Japan All-Star Invitational Championships - Men's Division

Championship Round:
1. Shusaku Asato, Gifu,
2. Yoshihiko Aiba, Aichi
3. Yoshinao Masatoki, Nagasaki

Playoff Results:
Semifinal Match: Aiba def. Masatoki, 244-191
Championship Match: Asato def. Aiba, 246-213.

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. Shusaku Asato, Gifu, 1778, 60, 1838
2. Yoshihiko Aiba, Aichi, 1593, 50, 1643
3. Yoshinao Masatoki, Nagasaki, 1538, 55, 1593

Missed Cut:
4. Toshihiko Takahashi, Gifu, 1542, +40, 1582
5. Tomoyuki Sasaki, Kanagawa, 1537, +35, 1572
6. Nobuhito Fujii, Kanagawa, 1508, +30, 1538

 

NHK Cup 44th Japan All-Star Invitational Championships - Women's Division

Championship Round:
1. Misaki Mukotani, Chiba
2. Saori Kanno, IBAJ
3. Mayumi Naito, Tokyo

Playoff Results:
Semifinal Match: Kanno def. Naito, 208-183
Championship Match: Mukotani def. Kanno, 248-202.

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. Misaki Mukotani, Chiba, 1726, 60, 1786
2. Mayumi Naito, Tokyo, 1584, 50, 1634
3. Saori Kanno, IBAJ, 1569, 60, 1629

Missed Cut:
4. Nao Ohishi, Yamagata, 1562, 40, 1602
5. Mari Kimura, Tokushima, 1560, 40, 1600
6. Miwa Watanabe, Fukushima, 1502, 40, 1542

 

High Game/High Series Awards

Men's Division:
High Game: 300 - Takahito Fukuda, Gunma; Yoshifumi Sugimoto, Saitama; Masaru Ito, Fukushima; Aoi Yamamoto, Ehime; Katsumi Ito, IBAJ (pictured right)
High Series: 783 - Nobuhito Fujii (below, right), Kanagawa


Women's Division:
High Game: 279 - Mari Kimura (pictured right), Tokushima
High Series: 782 - Mari Kimura, Tokushima