Japan ended China’s 32-year dominance in the men’s team table tennis event at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, marking a significant shift in the regional power dynamic. The Japanese team secured a 3-2 victory over China in a closely contested final, with Sora Matsushima clinching the decisive match against Wen Ruibo.

China had held the men’s team title since 1994, consistently asserting its dominance in the sport. The Chinese squad for this tournament included world number one Wang Chuqin, alongside Lin Shidong and Wen Ruibo, ranked eighth and 15th in the world, respectively. Japan fielded a strong team as well, featuring two players ranked in the top five globally: Matsushima at number three and Tomokazu Harimoto at number four.

Harimoto, whose parents were both born in China and whose mother once represented China at the world championships, described the victory as a moment of confidence for Japan. “That we beat them was proof that we had lacked confidence before,” Harimoto said. Despite the historic win, he downplayed any extraordinary factors, emphasizing that Japan’s play was consistent with their usual standards but finally backed by newfound self-belief.

The Japanese team’s rise comes as the depth of China’s talent pool appears to be waning. Harimoto commented on the changing landscape, noting that China’s past dominance stemmed from having six or seven top players, but now Japan could compete effectively with two top-five athletes. After defeating Wang Chuqin 3-0 to level the score at 2-2, Harimoto chose not to watch the deciding match from the bench, citing a personal superstition to avoid distracting Matsushima.

Wang acknowledged the psychological challenges his team faced in the final. “Perhaps we panicked a little in trying to be better, and rushed some shots,” he said following the match. Despite Wang’s victory over Matsushima in the opening match of the final, China was ultimately unable to maintain its winning streak.

While Japan celebrated its breakthrough on the men's side, China reclaimed the women’s team title with a 3-0 win over Japan, reaffirming their strength in that category. However, China’s men’s team defeat prompted critical responses from Chinese fans on social media, some citing a lack of continuity and an apparent talent gap. “There is no one coming through,” remarked a user on the platform Weibo, highlighting concerns about the future development of China’s male players.

The result signals a potential era of more balanced competition in men’s table tennis at the Asian Games, reflecting both Japan’s rise and China’s ongoing challenges in maintaining its historic supremacy.