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This postcard was sent by Tokyo sports shop<br />
on August 26th, 1916. <strong>The</strong> back of the postcard<br />
shows two photos and an article about<br />
<strong>Table</strong>-tennis. <strong>The</strong> left photo shows that the<br />
match was held on the stage in a theater, the<br />
table was in the middle with a referee and<br />
scores. <strong>The</strong> right photo shows the audience<br />
on both the 1st and 2nd floors of the theater,<br />
and it was so crowded that many people<br />
were standing in the theater. This photo indicates<br />
that <strong>Table</strong>-tennis was a very attractive<br />
sport in Japan that time.<br />
Here is a translation of the text on the card:<br />
“I send my wish to you in the time of the end<br />
in this summer, and really appreciate your<br />
support. Between the 26th and 27th July, the<br />
national female <strong>Table</strong>-tennis championship<br />
was held in the theater of our shop in<br />
Sanyue. Heiqi from Qiyue won the first prize<br />
and Bamu from Jinggang got the second<br />
prize. Meanwhile many players with potential<br />
appeared in this tournament.”<br />
“In addition, the senior school competition between east and west which<br />
was held in Jingdu in June has completed. As you [Gaoshengmuzuo, the<br />
receiver] know from the newspaper, the united league of <strong>Table</strong>-tennis in<br />
Japan has been successfully set up under the strong support from the news<br />
agency. At this time, we are looking forward to the visit and support of<br />
<strong>Table</strong>-tennis friends. Commercial committee of sports shop”<br />
From this we can conclude that Japan set up the united national league of<br />
<strong>Table</strong>-tennis dating back to 1916.<br />
Historic Discovery from Japan<br />
Tang Ganxian sends this summary of his latest discovery:<br />
As we all know, <strong>Table</strong>-tennis was transferred from Europe into<br />
Japan in 1902, since then Japan began its <strong>Table</strong>-tennis activity.<br />
<strong>The</strong> postal card of August 1916 which I will introduce reflected<br />
that the game had been changed into sport 10 years later. This<br />
post card indicated that Japan had held the female match that<br />
time and had promoted to form a united team, the league of<br />
Japanese <strong>Table</strong>-tennis.<br />
So this is a very valuable postal stationery relevant to <strong>Table</strong><br />
<strong>Tennis</strong>. Meanwhile it is historic material about the early period<br />
of <strong>Table</strong>-tennis in Japan.<br />
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