New-York tribune., 1922-12-31
Japan VIII Be
Real Rival for
The Davis Cup
Three Young NippOnese
Players Will Accompany
Kumagae and Kashio
By Fred Hawthorne

within the next year or two, it
seems, tho United States VIII have 70
be prepared for really serious bid for
Davis Cup honors, and this time u viii
come not from Australasia, England o.
France but from Japan.
Every follower Of tho court game IN
this country remembers lehiya K1ma-
gae. first Of the japanese stars % IN
wade the United states. in 1915. Itchy
established biz fame by being rsnked
high in the "Grst ten" every year he
competed IN our tournaments. There
were only three or four men who could
beat him when he was 81 the height o.
hls game. Last year Kumagae weni
back TO Japan. partly Tor the purpose
OF business and, also, because he
planned 10 get married.
Soiiehiro Kashio. not 80 lne a player
rs Kumagae, but still good enough %
be ranked In the second ten, also went
back 20 his native land last summer
while Zenzo Shimizu, next 10 kumagae
among the players Of Japan, is SIN ~
this country.
long letter 10 Julian $. Myriek, prcsi-
dent Of tho United States Lawn Tennis
Association, that he and Kumagac will
return 10 this country early IN the con
inc spring. and will bring with then
three Young stars from Japan-Fukuda.
the new national champion; Ioba anp
Shikada.
In addition 70 challenging again for
the Davis Cup In 1923, japan intends
20 give her younger players the ad-
vantage Of experience by sending the
three men named above 20 this countri
and allowing them 10 compete asSinsi
the leading american players. II is
believed that q season Of tournament
play IN the United states will develop
| Fukuda ard his teammates 20 the poini
where they will be % Davis Cup call
Der. TIE next japanese Davis Cup
tean, however. will probably be fornaco
Of Kumagao, Shimlzu and KaIhJo, a.
though FukVda may usurp ktshio =
place.
According to Kashio's letter =
| Myriek. Fukuda proved himself 70 b.
1.-The best player In the Orient, next to
Kumagae himself, and won the national
singles title as the result Of sterling
play. Kumagae did not compete ir
I this tournament nor In the East West
matches that followed, late In October
/ Fukuda r. a graduate Of Waseda Uni
versity, and besides winning the ns-
tionsl honors was also the star Of the
East West matches.
The new japanese champion defeated
/ TOba. No. l man on the Western team
and Shikada IN a hve-set match, and
. Toba Vanqaished Ahta after losing the
I first two sets Of the match. kashio
states that both he and Kumagae were
I impressed BY the court gcneralshlp OF
| Fukuda and the determination Of Ahtn.
/ All the younger japanese players are
possessed Of sound ground strokes, ac-
cording 70 KashioS letter, but their
yolleying is not up 10 the standard.
The latter weakness is not surprif-
ing, for can distinctly remember that
/ when Kumagae first came 10 this coun-
/ try he did not possess what could b
called a single volloying shot, playing
almost entirely FROM backcourt. A sea
son or two Of competition against the
American net game. however, served 90
develop 'Itehys" " lleying remarkably.
! until to-day he cuh hold his own af
the net position with most Of our besi
men.
I when Kumaeae sets foot IN the
( United states again he vs. be accom-
panied BY his little Japnnese bride.
/ for Kashio stated that Itchy" intended
20 be married late this month 20 Miss
l Fumiko Kato, daughter G. Masanosuks
Kato, a prominent and 1ealthy mem
ber Of the japanese u use Of Parlia
ment. No more poplar player ever
visited the United States than Kums-
gae and he and his bride will be wei.
coined back with enthusiasm and real
| annreciatiOn