Groups: Tokyo International Tennis Players 

Takeshi Nagata and Jeffrey Kanemoto are the spark plugs of this quite active tennis group.  Here's their own commentary:

How to Enjoy Tennis in Tokyo

If you have just come to Japan for the first time, you will find it is not easy to play tennis.  Partners, court availability, language and fees are big problems.  But many players have been enjoying a tennis life in Tokyo through T I T P - the Tokyo International Tennis Players.

 

T I T P is a competitive multinational tennis team started in 1990.  It has 32 nationalities, and its members include a Davis Cup player, Junior National Ranking players, a US Junior College Champion, an All American university player as well as social players.  There are 50 foreign players and more than 100 Japanese supporters.  T I T P is a volunteer group for foreign players to have an enjoyable tennis life in Tokyo.

 

Whatever your tennis level, competitive or social, joining us will make your stay in Japan more enjoyable.  If you need more information, feel free to contact us. 

 

Here are some suggestions on how to enjoy tennis in Tokyo:

 

TOURNAMENT PLAYER

**Join an international tournament to get information from foreign tennis players (such as are in T I T P):

-- the Minato ward tournaments (more than 20 events a year)

-- the Yokohama International Community tournament

 

** Join a T I T P match

T I T P has friendly matches with Japanese company teams or club teams, once or twice a month. You may be invited if the match level is appropriate for you.

 

** Join a Japanese tennis club

** Join one of the numerous Japanese local and national tournaments

 

INTERMEDIATE and BEGINNER PLAYER

** Ask your friends at work if they play tennis. If you work in a big company, you may be able to play on the company's courts.  But even big companies may not have enough courts. If you ask among your Japanese friends persistently enough, some of them will be tennis players and will invite you to play at their local club or rental courts.

 

** Join a tennis club

-- international tennis clubs:  Yokohama International Tennis Community, Yokohama Country and Athletic Club, Tokyo Lawn Tennis Club, Tokyo American Club.  These have good facilities and locations.  But a waiting period may be necessary. Some have volunteer groups that arrange court times at public or rental courts, with lower fees.

-- Japanese tennis clubs:  Language may be a problem. Some clubs have managers and tennis coaches or players who can speak English, but these clubs will be a little more expensive.

 

** Practice at an international tennis school

** Free practice courts

 

** Join the social tennis tournaments such as

-- Minato Ward Goodwill International Tournament

-- Yokohama International Tennis Community Tournament

 

Please contact us !

Takeshi Nagata   e-mail: VFD02766@nifty.ne.jp

Jeffrey Kanemoto