This was great - I loved the loose, descriptive art style and love that the characters' designs grew as they did (just a real high schoolers do). The action scenes were clear and kinetic and I actually learned something about ping pong. The plot was a fairly standard "mystical sports savant" story, but with a few interesting twists around the point of competition, friendship vs. winning, and what young people do when an identity they have had their whole life ("winner" or "better at sports") goes away as others grow into their talents. Great read and I look forward to reading part two and the other books by this artist.

If you were fans of the anime adaptation of Ping Pong, you won't be disappointed in the original story. Thanks to Viz for publishing this in English and the wait is worth it! The art style is all Taiyo Matsumoto and it's very interesting to see how they adapted the panels and art to the screen, which has a very different vibe.

I didn't know much about ping pong before reading this manga, but you'll learn a lot from it, along with an engaging story. The localization is great with great translation and retouch/lettering. It will be a great addition to any manga lover's collection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Turns out I just don't like manga. Maybe the translation's not good enough but I also just don't like the artwork in general. It's too bad because I've heard so many good things about so many manga.

DNF- read only up to 20%, this was just not for me. Nothing wrong with the story or writing, just not my taste

It never occurred to me that I would one day read a graphic novel about Ping Pong, but here we are. The story was clear, easy-to-follow and engaging. I am not a huge graphics reader by any means, but I do seem to be reading them far more often as of late. This one is just not my cup of cocoa.

Ping Pong is a manga from a long time ago and it packs an interesting art style with a great story. My favorite character was Smile and I love his growth as a ping pong player. His personality felt cool and collected unlike many main characters in sport manga. The art style by Taiyo Matsumoto felt exotic as it was going for a more realistic approach to the character designs, compared to the large eyes and small nose aesthetic that is popular in popular manga series like Pokémon and My Hero Academia. Sometimes it looks a bit ugly, but I believe that’s a part of the charm. I can see why the series is popular amongst critics because the story feels so masterfully crafted from beginning to end. I learned a lot about how the sport ping pong works after reading the manga as well.

The artistry during the ping pong games are fantastic, every panel with a high-flying ball filled me with an extreme level of hype. Every bead of sweat felt like a realistic take on how intense a game of professional ping pong truly is. You can truly feel the sheer ecstasy of victory or pain of defeat.

The particular first match where Smile was playing against an opponent who hums and sings had an eerie sense of threat. I imagine in the animated series it was more haunting, because you had the advantage of using sound effects, music, and voice acting. This manga still handles the threat of this scary opponent in a famous way. The panel formation that is used between different hits from different sides of the ping pong battle board makes every swing look fantastic. The training before the final match of this volume was a bit different from the usual training arcs I see in sports mangas. The results of the final match felt very different as well. I thought the match ended in a way that felt less satisfying than I originally was thinking. However, I liked the ending it went with. There appears to be at least four more volumes of this series and I would love to see what happens next.

Overall this manga was a pleasing experience. Art was very unconventional from what I usually read, and did get a bit ugly at times. I thought the story was entertaining. I give this manga a solid 3.5 out of 5. I understand why a lot of people love this manga a lot. Worthy of a read of you love sports manga, or Tatsumoto‘s artstyle. Thank you NetGalley for the review copy!

This definitely starts out slow, and I had a bit of trouble with the art. That being said, it grows on you, and I was legitimately on the edge of my seat during the tournament in the middle of the story. I find Smile to be a really interesting character, and I want to know a lot more about him and who he becomes by the end of the volume, but I felt really disconnected from the other characters.

While many of Taiyo Matsumoto’s works have been brought over in English, one notable title has continued to be absent: Ping Pong. This 1990s classic has a huge cult following, and even got an anime adaptation by acclaimed director Masaaki Yuasa in 2014. This year, Viz Media has finally given English readers the opportunity to read the original manga, and it lives up to the hype.

Ping Pong centers around Makoto Tsukimoto (Smile) and Yutaka Hoshino (Peco), two drastically different friends that play high school table tennis. As they confront the challenges of competitive sports, the boys head down their own paths and reflect on their passion for the game.

Smile is a reserved protagonist, but what makes him so interesting is his relationship with table tennis. Smile appears to have no passion for the sport, and unconsciously holds back his effort during his games. That said, underneath Smile’s disinterest is a genuine talent for table tennis. When his coach Jo Koizumi learns of his potential, Smile’s character starts to shift. Smile becomes more aggressive in his games, and doesn’t hesitate to demonstrate his skills. Smile wanted to live life without being noticed by society, but by embracing his talents, he’s entered a hidden world. Smile’s story explores the infectious nature of a competitive environment, emphasizing Smile’s investment in table tennis itself.

If Smile’s character arc is one of growth, Peco’s is one of decline. As a child, Peco was naturally talented at table tennis, but as he’s grown older his skills have plateaued. He placed little effort into practicing the game and refining his skills, and has been overshadowed by rival players as a result. Peco represents a fallen prodigy, frustrated by his missteps but unable to improve. When Peco eventually chooses to give up on table tennis, it comes as a surprise but is also a grounded narrative choice. Peco has hit a wall in his passion, and he can’t find the motivation to overcome it.

While Smile and Peco’s lives lead down different routes, the story focuses on the impact of their friendship. Smile used to idolize Peco, viewing him as a hero in his dreary life. At the same time, Smile’s expectations for Peco obscured reality. As Smile’s skills in table tennis grew while Peco’s passion waned, the power dynamic in their relationship reversed. Smile lost the hero he revered, and while he still has tougher rivals in table tennis, his motivation is no longer tied to an end goal.

The rival players in Ping Pong are all fascinating in their own right. One of the first that’s introduced is Kong Wenge, a transfer student from China that has come to Japan to reclaim his status in table tennis. Having been kicked off the Chinese national team, Kong’s relationship with the sport is unstable. While he’s incredibly talented, he’s bogged down by his peers’ expectations and the ramifications of future failures. This is especially evident in Kong’s demeanor, forming an air of confidence to hide his own insecurities and isolation. Kong had dedicated his life to table tennis, but now his livelihood has become his biggest detriment.

Ryuichi Kazama is another key player in Ping Pong and may also be the most frightening. At first glance, Kazama is a high schooler who has simply dedicated his life to table tennis, but his choice has taken its toll. Kazama’s mind seems to revolve around the game, to the point that it’s reflected in his own ideology. He believes that winning is valuable no matter the cost, and is even willing to cast aside his teammates for the sake of victory. Kazama represents a divergent path to Smile. While Smile’s drive in Ping Pong comes from acclimated passion, Kazama’s drive is tied to obligation. This also makes Kazama’s opinion of Smile all the more interesting, as while he doesn’t agree with his mindset, he acknowledges that his talents would be beneficial on his team. Kazama and Smile’s conflicting perspectives form a great tension in the story, raising the excitement even further.

Taiyo Matsumoto has an iconic art style, and that makes his work on Ping Pong just as compelling. The manga maintains a unique aesthetic. The backgrounds have a minimalist look, but this is contrasted by the more detailed character expressions and gestures. This ties back to Ping Pong’s narrative, urging readers to examine the subtleties of the characters. This is especially true for Smile, as his mannerisms are strongly tied to the manga’s narrative subtext. Matsumoto is fully aware of what the reader needs to be told and what can be inferred, and he crafts his artwork with that in mind. As the games intensify, more layers are added to manga’s visual complexity. The panels place a heavier focus on the meticulous movements of the characters, showcasing their drive for the sport. The match between Kong and Smile exemplifies this, as the detail of the panels builds alongside the tension of each rally. Matsumoto is an artist of unrivaled talent, and reading his manga is a true pleasure.

Ping Pong is a compelling manga that excels at depicting its sport through a character driven narrative. Matsumoto’s work is astounding, cementing this title as a classic. Smile and Peco’s journey is only halfway over, but there is already plenty to love.

Ping Pong is about, well, ping pong, but is also a coming of age story about friendship. Like a lot of sports manga, much of the relationship dynamics are explored through the game. Taiyo Matsumoto is an incredibly singular mangaka. His writing is fun and keeps you invested (even for those of us not that into table tennis in real life) and his artwork is incredible and dynamic. Matsumoto captures the fast pace game on a static page, the tempo of the ball getting slammed back and forth. (Pok pok!) It is really breathtaking. I was a fan of Matsumoto already but even more so now!

Mokoto “Smile” Tsukimoto and his friend Yukata “Peco” Hoshino have been playing ping pong since childhood, but they soon found out that the game has changed when they enter high school. Their coach recruited these boys to the school team to bring forth their potential by challenging the top players in the upcoming summer tournament, including a Chinese exchange student who almost made to the Olympic Team. Now, how will Smile and Peco cope with the pressure to reach for the finals.

Those who have seen the anime when it was released will remember that one of the things that made Ping Pong stand out in comparison to other sports anime is the artwork. In comparison to the crispness of the animation and rather cute depictions of the athletes in most series, Ping Pong had a much rougher look. The same is true for the source material.

To put it simply, if you are the sort of person who wants their sporty guys to look like someone from Free! or Yuri!!! on Ice, you will want to look elsewhere. There is no cuteness round here. Taiyo Matsumoto’s artwork is deliberately rough and jagged. You see drawings of people with their eyes slightly different sizes for example. However, you also get the feel that the actual sporting action is high-paced and frantic, as the players bounce around the table to make their shots.

Read the full review at Anime UK News: https://animeuknews.net/2020/05/ping-pong-volume-1-review/

'Ping Pong, Vol. 1' by Taiyo Matsumoto is a sports manga story about ping pong that is engaging and interesting.

The story centers around a high school table tennis club and it's different members. Smile (who doesn't smile) is the talented prodigy of one of the older members of the club, but Smile has his own reasons for playing, even if he has a natural talent. Day to day play and tournaments make the book exciting.

I really enjoyed this manga, as I do most sports manga I've read. I really like how the characters motivations are given, and the effort of playing and competing is shown. The art was initially something I had to get used to, but over the 500+ pages of this manga, I grew to love the odd perspectives. I also liked all the sound effects of the ball being hit, bouncing, and the other ambient room noises. It made for some busy panels, but increased my enjoyment of the book.

I received a review copy of this manga ebook from VIZ Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.

With the world’s lack of sports entertainment due to COVID-19, one may not think a manga about ping pong would be the way you can get your fix of fierce competition, intense drama, and players to root for. However, mangaka Taiyō Matsumoto’s Ping Pong brings all of this in spades as it doubles as both sports manga as well as a coming of age story for two kids. Despite being originally released in Japan in 1996, the series has remained popular through a 2002 live-action film, a 2014 anime television series, and now in 2020 with the manga receiving an English publication through Viz Media translated by Michael Arias.

Unlike volume 1 of the original Japan run of the manga which features only eleven chapters, Viz Media’s English translated Ping Pong Volume 1 release has a whopping twenty-seven. The manga focuses on two table tennis playing high students who are essentially your traditionally opposite personality protagonists. Yutaka Hoshino or “Peco” is largely cocky and carefree while Makoto Tsukimoto or “Smile” is much more reserved and only smiles when playing table tennis. The two become friends early in their childhoods and remain close as they enter high school and are recruited to the school’s table tennis team. Readers follow the duo as they attempt to make it to become Japan’s best with their first chance being in a summer tournament.

The story is relatively fast paced and 500 pages fly by as you learn not only about the two main characters but a host of colorful characters who readers to come know. To call them side characters really feels like a disservice as all have their own stories and approaches toward ping pong are fleshed out surprisingly well for a manga primarily focused on two characters. This is where Ping Pong really differs from other sports media I have consumed before. It quickly becomes apparent that the game is merely a medium for Matsumoto to give commentary differently we as people approach the same goal and deal with the same obstacles.

Despite being the first volume in the series, failure is rampant throughout Ping Pong Volume 1 Our two young prodigies, Peco and Smile, fail just as much as the players they defeat in summer tournament. However, everyone handles their defeats differently. Despite all having a burning passion for table tennis, they are all invested for a different reason that is much deeper than the love of the game which causes the stakes of failure to be much higher for some characters. With that said, the way that each player deals with the failure, even ones seen as antagonists, provide a very realistic insight to working to your dream.

Ping Pong

Failure is going to happen at some point and there isn’t an end all be all on how to deal with it. Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. Sometimes your hardwork isn’t going to trump talent. Sometimes you need failure to fuel you regardless of innate talent. Sometimes you need to accept failure and use it to guide to your next goal. Not everyone is meant to be the next LeBron James or Serena Williams but that does not mean you aren’t going to find your happy ending. I am eager to see not only how Smile and Peco deal with their already apparent adversity but the other characters as well.

Initially, the art style that Matsumoto utilizes was a bit jarring to my eyes. The scale of objects and body parts isn’t always scaled correctly and the lines are frequently drawn wobbly. This lead me to focus much more on the story for many of the early chapters. However, it later became apparent to me once the games began to take place and background of characters were provided that Matsumoto truly has a talent for making simple lines jump off the page. The matches are intense and are coupled with additional imagery that truly embody the stories that are weaved for the characters earlier on in the series. By the end I was memorized and even went back to the earlier chapters to fully appreciate what I had missed. Do not let the art style be the thing that makes you put this manga down.

I do not pretend to know much about the sport of table tennis. I half picked it up as a review because I was expecting a Balls of Fury-esque action sports series. I was pleasantly surprised to get a to experience a story that reminds me more of shonen in its themes and character development than any other sports manga or anime I have come across.

Ping Pong truly transcends sports manga to give a much deeper story than anyone will expect with a story about two kids playing table tennis. After one volume, I can’t say I learned too much about table tennis as much of the rules and terminology aren’t really explained like in other sports manga/anime. However, I did come away with a much different perspective on failure and the differing motivations of others who are competing towards to the same goals as I am. In the end, I believe that is outcome Matsumoto desired and I for one am grateful for it.

You have Smile and then you have all the other table tennis players.

Peco is determined, wanting to be the best, but he's not nearly as obsessed as some of the others.  Demon (Manabu) and Dragon (Ryuichi) are more focused, bordering on obsessed with being the best.  Lastly, there's Wenge.  Disgraced, he left his home to come to Japan in an attempt to regain his glory and return to China.

That leaves us with Smile.  He's really the best of the best although ping pong isn't his dream, unlike all of the others.  Smile plays because he enjoys it, but the training, the practicing, all the stuff needed to be truly good, bores him.  However, his natural talent and love of the game draws him into the competition despite himself.

Each has their own reasons for playing, their own style, and motivation.  These internal desires push the players to do their best and, as it is in the way of sports, develop rivalries as well as partnerships, with the other players.

Although table tennis can be fascinating to watch - I'm far too uncoordinated to return a simple lob! - it never was something that interested me a whole lot.  However, I know that it is big in a lot of areas much like basketball or football are here in the states.  So, I thought that, even without a good knowledge of the techniques and styles, the competition would draw me into the story.  I'm glad I took a chance on this unusual manga.

I will admit that I was hesitant in regards to the art style at first.  It seems simplistic but the deeper you get into the manga, the better it suits the story.  This is shown best during the match scenes where the clean, clear lines of the art effectively presents the stress, the anticipation, and the fears of the players.  Oh, and the triumphs as well.

Ping Pong is fast-paced and full of drama and tension.  The characters are dynamic and likable, even when they're being obnoxious jerks.  I was drawn into the struggles and achievements of each player, wanting the best for them all in the end, even if I wasn't rooting for them at the start.  Despite being the biggest manga I've ever read - a little over 500 pages - I'm anxious to see how the story ends in the next volume.

Knowing very little about the sport of ping pong, I picked this one up hoping it would give me some insight into the competitive sport. Pretty quickly I was feeling lost and struggling to follow the character development and plot details. The simple line art is very interesting to look at and does a good job of highlighting the character's personalities.

I think this is a great option for readers that have an understanding of ping pong on the competitive level and are interested in a story that follows a rising star. Unfortunately I felt too lost after a couple of chapters and didn't have enough information about the sport and the school before reading to be able to fully follow the story.

Ping Pong is a story about Peko and Smile, two friends with a love-hate relationship with ping pong. This volume follows them as their relationship with the sport changes and affects how they see the world and themselves.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE WORK
Ping Pong Volume 1 focuses on the nature of competitive sports, friendships, and rivalry. It also examines what constitutes talent and whether hard work alone can lift us above our capabilities.

This is a story that goes beyond ping pong. It looks at the extent to which we humans can drive ourselves in the name of acceptance and mastery.

ANY DISLIKES?
The art style can form a significant barrier to entry. However, once that is overcome, the story soars.

WHO IS IT FOR?
Lovers of sports manga and comics will love this.

Many thanks to Viz Media for the review copy.

A fun manga art style, enjoyable to read and very quick to read as the story progresses at a fast pace.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am not into sports, and despite having played a handful of sports like basketball, my adult laziness has outgrown them. As for table tennis, which was founded in 1880s Victorian England, it is a sport that nowadays is perhaps taken more seriously in other countries other than the UK and the United States, with notable players of the sport being based in China. Of all of the sports he can use to make as a psychological drama, manga artist Taiyō Matsumoto uses table tennis as the basis of a coming-of-age tale about two high school boys.

Yutaka Hoshino/"Peco" and Makoto Tsukimoto/"Smile" have been friends since childhood, despite having drastically different personalities. Both talented members of the table tennis club of Katase High School. When both become contestants for the upcoming Interhigh Table Tennis Qualifier Men's Singles, their elderly coach Jō Koizumi, who has a deep sense of commitment to the sport, is determined to bring out the best of his players, in particular the quiet and reserved Smile.

Upon reading the initial pages, the art will be the turning point on whether readers will appreciate the book or not, because Matsumoto’s style is unconventional compared to the normalcy of most manga. With the attempt of illustrating a reality that we would be familiar with, from the advertisements of Coca-Cola or children playing Sega Rally at the arcade, Matsumoto’s characters are sketchy at best as the anatomy can be loose, notably the hands looking really large, which I guess you need to have if you’re playing table tennis.

With this art-style and the cold characterization through the eyes of Smile, who is perhaps the book’s main protagonist, reading most of this volume I was left emotionally cold. The drama is static and even though there are clichés such as the tough coach mentoring his student to reach his maximum effort, this is when the book perks up by presenting a tone that is actually funny even if sounding serious.

Despite not feeling compelled by the introductions of some of the players, all of which develop a rivalry between each other, by the time we reach the Men's Singles, that’s when Matsumoto’s visual storytelling starts to really work. Like sports movies that should be as enjoyable as the best action movies, the action of sports depicted in manga is highly stylized to the point it’s almost like witnessing a Dragon Ball Z fight sequence. Through dynamic panel layouts, speed lines and sound effects, Matsumoto’s art can still be rough around the edges, but there is enough surrealism to add enjoyment to the matches that also forms as an extension of the characters.

Adapted into an acclaimed anime series in 2014, Taiyō Matsumoto’s Ping Pong is an odd mixture of cold characterization and surreal table tennis matches that gives just enough to see how the story continues in the next volume.

Ace high school table tennis players push their passion to the limit in this story of self-discovery, told by Eisner Award winner Taiyo Matsumoto. Tsukimoto doesn’t smile even though he’s got a natural talent for playing ping pong. As one of the best players in school, all hopes are on him to win the regional high school tournament, but winning is not what Smile really wants to do. Will the fierce competition to be number one bring out his best or drive him away from the game? Ping Pong is Taiyo Matsumoto’s masterwork reflection on friendship and self-discovery, presented here in two volumes, featuring color art, the bonus story Tamura and an afterward by the original Japanese series editor It was....fine....i guess...too long for my taste...

This story is very character driven in its plot. I can't lie, I don't think this art style really resonated with me personally. I know this is an older title, so maybe that's all that I am picking up on. I do think I just wasn't the right person for this series. I like sports manga, so I thought I would give this one a try. There was a character purposely losing in a match, and that just bothered me.
I do think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one more than I did. I really just think it wasnt for me, so I don't think I will continue on. It wasn't bad by any means, just not for me.