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Description
Ping pong. Table tennis. Fast, furious. You might have seen it - even played it - but never anything like this! The action is centered around Tsukimoto ('Smile' and Hoshino ('Peko'; childhood friends who have been playing the sport ever since they were elementary students.
Tsukimoto - the impassive, bespectacled, seemingly-emotionless boy described as a robot by everyone who knows him, plays "to kill time". Hoshino, the passionate, out-going, charismatic boy who Tsukimoto idolized during their childhood, plays because he "loves ping pong and hates to lose".
How will the world of competitive... More...
Tsukimoto - the impassive, bespectacled, seemingly-emotionless boy described as a robot by everyone who knows him, plays "to kill time". Hoshino, the passionate, out-going, charismatic boy who Tsukimoto idolized during their childhood, plays because he "loves ping pong and hates to lose".
How will the world of competitive... More...
Ping pong. Table tennis. Fast, furious. You might have seen it - even played it - but never anything like this! The action is centered around Tsukimoto ('Smile' and Hoshino ('Peko'; childhood friends who have been playing the sport ever since they were elementary students.
Tsukimoto - the impassive, bespectacled, seemingly-emotionless boy described as a robot by everyone who knows him, plays "to kill time". Hoshino, the passionate, out-going, charismatic boy who Tsukimoto idolized during their childhood, plays because he "loves ping pong and hates to lose".
How will the world of competitive sports treat these two who are so different? And what will happen upon their inevitable meeting as contenders for the High School Men's Singles Trophy?
Adapted to a feature-length film by SORI in 2002.
Note: New cover editions that were released in 2002 are consist of 9 thin volumes actually. These thin volumes’re reunited as A (first 3 vols), B (the 2nd) and C (the 3rd). Soushuuhen is a memorial release for Ikki Magazine’s first issue which covers the series fully with over 1000 pages, the prologue was added as well. Less...
Tsukimoto - the impassive, bespectacled, seemingly-emotionless boy described as a robot by everyone who knows him, plays "to kill time". Hoshino, the passionate, out-going, charismatic boy who Tsukimoto idolized during their childhood, plays because he "loves ping pong and hates to lose".
How will the world of competitive sports treat these two who are so different? And what will happen upon their inevitable meeting as contenders for the High School Men's Singles Trophy?
Adapted to a feature-length film by SORI in 2002.
Note: New cover editions that were released in 2002 are consist of 9 thin volumes actually. These thin volumes’re reunited as A (first 3 vols), B (the 2nd) and C (the 3rd). Soushuuhen is a memorial release for Ikki Magazine’s first issue which covers the series fully with over 1000 pages, the prologue was added as well. Less...
Type
Manga
Related Series
N/A
Associated Names
Pinpon
ピンポン
乒乓
ピンポン
乒乓
Groups Scanlating
Latest Release(s)
c.Prologue by Hox over 12 years ago
v.5 c.52-55 (end) by KEFI over 15 years ago
v.5 c.48-51 by KEFI over 15 years ago
Search for all releases of this series
v.5 c.52-55 (end) by KEFI over 15 years ago
v.5 c.48-51 by KEFI over 15 years ago
Search for all releases of this series
Status
in Country of Origin
5 Volumes (Complete)
3 Volumes (Shinsouban ABC, Complete)
1 Volume (Soushuuhen, Complete)
3 Volumes (Bunkoban, Complete)
2 Volumes (Full Game ed., Complete)
3 Volumes (Shinsouban ABC, Complete)
1 Volume (Soushuuhen, Complete)
3 Volumes (Bunkoban, Complete)
2 Volumes (Full Game ed., Complete)
Completely Scanlated?
Yes
Anime Start/End Chapter
Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1
Ends at Vol 5, Chap 55
Ends at Vol 5, Chap 55
User Reviews
N/A
Forum
1 topics, 1 posts
Click here to view the forum
Click here to view the forum
User Rating
Average: 8.5 / 10.0 (219 votes)
Bayesian Average: 8.24 / 10.0
Bayesian Average: 8.24 / 10.0
10
18%
9+
37%
8+
25%
7+
12%
6+
4%
5+
1%
4+
0%
3+
1%
2+
0%
1+
1%
Last Updated
September 17th 2023, 11:16am
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Genre
Categories
Category Recommendations
Recommendations
Author(s)
Artist(s)
Year
1996
Original Publisher
Shogakukan (1996, 2002, 2003, 2012, 2014)
Serialized In (magazine)
Big Comic Spirits (Shogakukan)
Licensed (in English)
Yes
English Publisher
Viz (2 Full Game Eds - Complete)
Activity Stats (vs. other series)
Weekly Pos #746 (+26)
Monthly Pos #1987 (No change)
3 Month Pos #2984 (+101)
6 Month Pos #3535 (+940)
Year Pos #5553 (+1032)
Monthly Pos #1987 (No change)
3 Month Pos #2984 (+101)
6 Month Pos #3535 (+940)
Year Pos #5553 (+1032)
List Stats
On 178 reading lists
On 455 wish lists
On 489 completed lists
On 20 unfinished lists
On 208 custom lists
On 455 wish lists
On 489 completed lists
On 20 unfinished lists
On 208 custom lists
User Comments
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Expected a more interesting ending.
by MondSemmel
August 13th, 2015, 4:08am
August 13th, 2015, 4:08am
Rating: 7.0 / 10.0
I put up with the initially horrid - and later only okay - art style, because the story of a childhood rivalry seemed promising. But as it turns out, that was too much to hope for. Apparently, Ping Pong is a manga about a "heroic" ping pong player who is endowed with the magical powers of talent and plot armor. Ugh. Disappointing.
... Last updated on August 13th, 2015, 4:09am
... Last updated on August 13th, 2015, 4:09am
Ping Pong
by calstine
May 3rd, 2011, 3:57am
May 3rd, 2011, 3:57am
Rating: 9.5 / 10.0
Of course, I expected nothing less from Matsumoto Taiyou -- but to make a boring sport like table tennis come alive so successfully and speak right to the heart of someone like me who has never had any interest in it is the mark of a truly successful mangaka.
The story is often intense and jam-packed with emotions, but is still not even remotely melodramatic or angsty. The two boys are multi-faceted characters with believable, likable personalities. I have never warmed to a taciturn, seemingly unemotional character as readily as I did to Tsukimoto (who is a much more interesting person compared to the more typical "I hate to lose" type Hoshino), whom I grew incredibly fond of within the first few chapters.
Despite all appearances, Ping Pong is definitely not 'just' a sports manga. Each match is the mangaka's way of bringing thought-provoking facts of life to the readers' attention. But he resolves very little. We are left to think about it in our own terms and draw our own conclusions while we watch the two protagonists - best friends, competitive rivals and personality-wise polar opposites - draw closer and closer to their final showdown with each other.
While the outcome of this last battle is quite evident, what really matters is the path each boy follows to arrive at that point.
The art is...different. Very charming in a sense; and as is typical of this artist, heavily experimental and unique.
Black-and-white is used in sharp contrast with little to no greytone, and Matsumoto adeptly portrays the fluid motions of the players as they battle it out across the table.
All in all, Ping Pong is probably the best sports manga yet to be translated into the English language, and very much recommended to those looking for a more down-to-earth story involving school-age players.
... Last updated on May 18th, 2011, 5:50am
The story is often intense and jam-packed with emotions, but is still not even remotely melodramatic or angsty. The two boys are multi-faceted characters with believable, likable personalities. I have never warmed to a taciturn, seemingly unemotional character as readily as I did to Tsukimoto (who is a much more interesting person compared to the more typical "I hate to lose" type Hoshino), whom I grew incredibly fond of within the first few chapters.
Despite all appearances, Ping Pong is definitely not 'just' a sports manga. Each match is the mangaka's way of bringing thought-provoking facts of life to the readers' attention. But he resolves very little. We are left to think about it in our own terms and draw our own conclusions while we watch the two protagonists - best friends, competitive rivals and personality-wise polar opposites - draw closer and closer to their final showdown with each other.
While the outcome of this last battle is quite evident, what really matters is the path each boy follows to arrive at that point.
The art is...different. Very charming in a sense; and as is typical of this artist, heavily experimental and unique.
Black-and-white is used in sharp contrast with little to no greytone, and Matsumoto adeptly portrays the fluid motions of the players as they battle it out across the table.
All in all, Ping Pong is probably the best sports manga yet to be translated into the English language, and very much recommended to those looking for a more down-to-earth story involving school-age players.
... Last updated on May 18th, 2011, 5:50am
Thrilling
by halberdian
July 29th, 2009, 8:53pm
July 29th, 2009, 8:53pm
Rating: N/A
the art's not artsy at all; it rather crappy with only black and white tone (and deformed character). however, with rich angle and strong story line, I'm alright with a little hurting eye; ping pong is real sports manga
Intense
by jhockaday
February 8th, 2009, 5:10am
February 8th, 2009, 5:10am
Rating: N/A
To be honest, I am not really a ping pong fan, or even a sports fan for that matter, but this series was great. The art really pulls you in, and my heart was actually racing during some of the most intense scenes. I loved it, and am quite glad that I gave it a try.
yes!
by lakesurface
December 24th, 2008, 8:41am
December 24th, 2008, 8:41am
Rating: 10.0 / 10.0
Sure, on the surface it does look like it's all about ping pong. But hey, you could read beyond that and find the beauty that is soo typically for all of Matsumoto's work.
And then his Art ... OMG. sheer bliss in every line. and soo full of expression; a thing you don't encounter that often and that well executed in many manga.
And then his Art ... OMG. sheer bliss in every line. and soo full of expression; a thing you don't encounter that often and that well executed in many manga.
Ping pong!
by tsuto
September 1st, 2008, 7:51am
September 1st, 2008, 7:51am
Rating: 9.7 / 10.0
Yeah, as Deva said, its all about ping pong, and only about ping pong! And so, there isn't much to say about it, except that it's a pretty good manga. While the art has a peculiar style and might seem not so appealing at the beggining, it fits nicely with the story, and gives the manga an original style.
There is a movie too! As the description says.
There is a movie too! As the description says.
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