The English translation of “Ogi - the Life of Ichiro Ogimura”, by Mitsuru Jojima, was released at the recent World Championships in Yokohama.
Originally published by Kodansha in Japanese as “Ping Pong-san” (2007), the book is a biography of legendary Ichiro Ogimura, twice World Singles champion, former President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) who is widely respected as an innovator, author and visionary.
Close Relationship with Mrs. Uehara
While many books note the 12 World Championships gold medals that the mercurial Ichiro Ogimura won during his career, this book adds the personal touch, a compelling story about his rise to stardom as seen through the gentle eyes of Mrs. Hisae Uehara. It also documents his close relationship with Mrs. Uehara, owner of the table tennis hall that gave him continuous support.
We see Ogimura as a teenager honing his skills at her home table tennis hall, where he showed his tremendous desire to become the best, his relentless work ethic, his iron will.
The book reveals that his aloof self-centered demeanour sometimes caused strains in relations with his friends and fellow table tennis players.
Anti-Japanese Treatment
Another surprising revelation was Ogimura’s claim of anti-Japanese treatment at the 1954 World Championships in London, on and off the table, in the media as well as in the venue, with loud boos from the crowds, cheers and foot stomping whenever an error was made by a Japanese player.
The book provides colourful details throughout his entire career, from his World Championship victories, his difficulties with Koji Goto, to becoming ITTF President in 1987, the debut of table tennis at the Olympic Games, his triumph in negotiating a united Korea team at the 1991 Worlds … and sadly to his untimely passing at age 62 in 1995.
Order your copy (US $20 + post) at: enami02@attglobal.net.
Source: ittf.com
