Matsushima, 19, becomes first Japanese man in 46 years to top table tennis rankings
In short
The International Table Tennis Federation published updated world rankings on Oct. 5, with 19-year-old Matsushima Sora taking the men's singles No. 1 spot for the first time, up from third. He is the first Japanese man to hold the top ranking since Ono Seiji in 1980, and the first Japanese player to reach No. 1 since computer-based rankings began in 1991. China's Wang Chuqin, the long-standing No. 1, fell to fourth, while Harimoto Tomokazu moved up to third.
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The International Table Tennis Federation published its updated world rankings on Oct. 5, placing 19-year-old Matsushima Sora first in men's singles, Livedoor News, Nikkei, Nippon TV News, Yahoo! News Japan and Sankei Shimbun reported. Livedoor and Sankei said Matsushima, who competes without a team affiliation, rose from third. Sankei reported that he is the first Japanese player, man or woman, to reach No. 1 since computer-based rankings were introduced in 1991, surpassing the No. 2 positions previously reached by Harimoto Tomokazu and Ito Mima. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Nikkei, Livedoor and Asahi Shimbun reported that Matsushima is the first Japanese man to hold the top spot since Ono Seiji in July 1980, 46 years ago. Yahoo! News Japan said he reached No. 1 at 19 years and five months, the youngest Japanese player to do so. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Matsushima is from Kyoto and began playing under parents who were former players, winning six consecutive national age-group titles in elementary school, Nikkei reported. He is left-handed and relies on aggressive play built around two-handed drives and his service, the paper said. He missed a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics by a narrow margin but won the All-Japan championships in 2025 and 2026, and at the Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya he won a match in the team final against China, helping Japan to its first team gold in 60 years, according to Nikkei. Livedoor and Sankei reported he won the top-tier WTT US Smash held in the United States in June and July, and Livedoor said he was also runner-up at April's World Cup. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
The rankings are decided by each player's total points from their best eight international tournaments within roughly the past year, Nikkei and Asahi reported. Wang Chuqin of China, who had long held first place, dropped to fourth. Livedoor said the 2,000 points Wang earned at last year's China Smash expired; Nikkei did not name him but said a Chinese player who had long defended the top spot lost points after staying away from WTT events. Nippon TV News and Livedoor reported that Harimoto Tomokazu moved up one place to third, and Livedoor said France's Felix Lebrun is second, a position no other document lists. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Asahi reported that Matsushima said in September, when the No. 1 ranking had become certain: “I feel some happiness, but that is not what I am aiming for. Until I win gold at the Olympics, I don't think I will feel much joy from being ranked No. 1 in the world.” Nikkei reported that he has set singles gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as his biggest goal, quoting him saying there is some happiness about being No. 1 but that it is not where he is aiming. [ 2 , 6 ]
Livedoor noted that the results of the ongoing China Smash could change who holds the No. 1 ranking when the next list is released. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The ranking is a first for Japan under the current points system and comes from a 19-year-old whose results on the world tour and at the Asian Games have risen quickly. It reshapes the men's top order, with the long-time Chinese No. 1 dropping to fourth, and comes as Matsushima says his target is Olympic singles gold at Los Angeles in 2028 rather than the ranking itself.
Key facts
- The ITTF published updated world rankings on Oct. 5, 2026, placing Matsushima Sora first in men's singles. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Matsushima, 19, rose from third to first. [ 1 , 5 ]
- He is the first Japanese man to reach No. 1 since Ono Seiji in 1980, 46 years ago. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- Sankei reported he is the first Japanese player, man or woman, to reach No. 1 since computer-based rankings were introduced in 1991. [ 5 ]
- Matsushima won the top-tier WTT US Smash held in the United States in June and July, one source of his ranking points. [ 2 , 5 ]
- Wang Chuqin fell from first to fourth and Harimoto Tomokazu moved up one place to third. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The ranking is decided by a player's points from their best eight international tournaments within roughly the past year. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Matsushima has set winning singles gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as his biggest goal. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The ITTF updated its world rankings on Oct. 5 and Matsushima Sora is No. 1 in men's singles. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Matsushima is 19 years old. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- He is the first Japanese man to top the rankings in 46 years, since Ono Seiji in 1980. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- The rankings are based on points from a player's best eight international tournaments in roughly the past year. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Matsushima won the WTT US Smash in the United States. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
- Matsushima has said that Olympic gold, not the No. 1 ranking, is what he is aiming for. [ 2 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Felix Lebrun of France is ranked second. Only Livedoor News states this; no other document lists the No. 2 position.
- Why Wang Chuqin lost the top spot. Livedoor says his 2,000 points from last year's China Smash expired, while Nikkei describes a Chinese player who stayed away from WTT events and lost points without naming him; the outlets describe the cause differently.
- Whether the No. 1 ranking will change at the next release. Livedoor says the results of the ongoing China Smash could change who is No. 1; no further detail or outcome is given.
- That 19 years and five months makes Matsushima the youngest Japanese player to reach No. 1. Stated only by Yahoo! News Japan.
- Where the ranking announcement was made. No document gives a location for the ITTF announcement.
- Wang Chuqin dropped to fourth and Harimoto Tomokazu is third. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Livedoor News reports the ITTF's latest rankings list Matsushima Sora at No. 1 in men's singles, up from third. [ 1 ]
- Nikkei reports Matsushima's first No. 1 ranking and the 46-year gap since Ono Seiji. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV News reports Harimoto Tomokazu moving up one place to third and Wang Chuqin falling from first to fourth. [ 3 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan reports Matsushima is the youngest Japanese player to reach No. 1, at 19 years and five months. [ 4 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports he is the first Japanese player to reach No. 1 since computer-based rankings began in 1991. [ 5 ]
- Asahi Shimbun publishes Matsushima's remarks that Olympic gold, not the ranking, is his aim. [ 6 ]