by Ian Marshall, Editor

It is a tournament like no other, one that has its own special standing on the country’s sporting calendar.

One reason not to be late is that first on court is Mima Ito, winner in 2018 of the mixed doubles in partnership with Masataka Morizono, the women’s doubles in harness with Hina Hayata and most significant of all, the women’s singles champion.

At 10.00 am she meets Minami Ando in the women’s singles quarter-finals; at the same time Miyu Kato opposes Sakura Mori. One hour later at 11.00 am, it is Saki Shibata versus Hina Hayata, Hitomi Sato in opposition to Hina Hayata.

Immediately following it is men’s singles quarter-finals. At 12.00 noon, Tomokazu Harimoto faces Maharu Yoshimura, Yuya Oshima confronts Hibiki Tazoe; they are followed at 1.00 pm by contests which feature Koki Niwa and Jun Mizutani, Asuka Machi and Yuto Kizukuri.

Enthralling quarter-final contests, next on the agenda at 2.00 pm is women’s doubles. Hina Hayata and Mima Ito meet Hitomi Sato and Honoka Hashimoto; Saki Shibata and Satsuki Odo confront Yuki Matsumoto and Yurika Taira.

Women’s doubles penultimate round matches completed; men’s doubles semi-finals follow. Jun Mizutani and Yuya Oshima play Yuto Kizukuri and Tomokazu Harimoto; Kaiki Matsushita and Tomoya Fujimura face Yuki Matsuyama and Masaki Takami.

The finals of both the men’s doubles and women’s doubles events will be played layer in the day.

Play concludes in Osaka on Sunday 20th January.