Nittaku

Overview

Nittaku is a Japanese manufacturer specializing in table tennis equipment, including rubbers, blades, and accessories. It holds a position in the competitive table tennis market, supplying products approved by the ITTF and JTTA for official competitions. The company traces its origins to plywood production starting in 1919 and has expanded into sports equipment, particularly table tennis gear.

History

Nittaku imported plywood machinery from the United States to Japan in 1919 and established a plywood factory in Hokkaido. The company adopted a philosophy of development, improvement, and harmony, focusing on customer-oriented plywood production. Over time, it diversified into table tennis equipment manufacturing while maintaining involvement in wood products and components for various industries.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Products are manufactured in Japan, with rubber components produced by specialized factories like Daiki Rubber Co. Ltd. in Saitama. The company maintains in-house development for table tennis equipment alongside its plywood operations.

Notable Products

• Fastarc G-1 - Tension rubber known for high spin and speed in competitions.
• Acoustic Carbon - Carbon blade offering balanced speed and control.
• Hurricane Neo (collaborative) - Spin-focused rubber variant popular among advanced players.
• Factive - Allround rubber for versatile play styles.
• Spear - Entry-level blade for developing players.

Reputation

Nittaku is respected among table tennis players for reliable, ITTF-approved equipment emphasizing spin and control. Professionals appreciate the consistent quality of rubbers like Fastarc series, though some note higher pricing compared to budget brands. Enthusiasts value the brand's Japanese engineering heritage but occasionally criticize limited innovation in blade designs relative to competitors.