Tamasu Butterfly: “Success has a name“
Timo BollOn December 19, 1950 Hikosuke Tamasu founded Tamasu Co., Ltd. in the small town of Yanai City, Japan. This was the beginning of a company career which is almost unique in table tennis. The company founder Tamasu was a renowned international for Japan at his time. He fulfilled his dream of a lifetime when half a century ago he made his hobby his profession. At that time he could hardly imagine that he would make Butterfly the leading brand worldwide.

  Support individuality
But creativity, durability and a profound technical knowledge meant success. Over and over again he looked for new possibilities in order to optimise techniques by innovative playing material. Each player is different. Each one has his strength and weakness. By offering individual playing material I wanted to help players right from the beginning to emphasise their individuality he describes his company philosophy. The breakthrough came 1960 resp. 1962 when Butterfly ALLROUND D 13 resp. TEMPEST D 13 was introduced. The greatest success, however, was the introduction of SRIVER in 1967, which is one of the world wide most used rubbers. Eventhough thus rubber won more than 30 world championships it is constantly been improved in order to cope with changes in the game.

  0wn research center
Since 1983 Butterfly has its own training and research center in Tokyo in which highly qualified scientist co-perate with world class players and coaches for the development of rubber and blade technology. Since many years Butterfly rubbers and blades are used by more than half of the participants at World and European Championships.

  Living table tennis
Mr. Tamasu is convinced that table tennis keeps young and fit. Table tennis really is a life time sport and ideal specially for older people he adds. Even today Mr. Tamasu travels around the globe in order to promote his beloved sport. There is almost no country on this earth which does not have friendly relations with Butterfly.
By the way, friendship and peace. Due to his horrible experiences during WW II Mr. Tamasu chose BUTTERFLY deliberately as company name because this stands for peace, spring time.

  Planning the future
Ten years ago H. Tamasu appointed his son Kimihiko Tamasu new managing director who now carries the company on based on the Butterfly company philosophy. Today some 150 staff members work for Butterfly worldwide.

  Since 33 years in Moers
Tamasu Butterfly Europa GmbH was founded in 1973 in Moers, Germany, and contributes to Butterfly $B!G(Bsworldwide success eversince. It has distributors in almost every European country. This subsidiary creates its own line of textiles, tables and other accessories. All these products are sold worldwide.

  Focus on young players
Two of the most promissing young European players, Timo Boll and Michael Maze, have long term contracts with Butterfly. Many European coaches will support Mario Amizic to find more talented players for Butterfly. Apart from those youngsters Butterfly has many experienced world class players, such as Kong Ling Hui, Kim Taek Soo, Zoran Primorac, Werner Schlager, Christophe Legout, Zhang Yining, Liu Jia or Tamara Boros.

  Quality and service
Rubbers and blades are certainly Butterfly main products. But also in other fields, such as textiles, accessories, tables etc. Butterfly offer a wide range of high quality equipment. (Quality and service come first is Butterfly motto).

  No fear of the future
The table tennis industry is obviously aware of the decreasing number of players. Tamasu: still table tennis is an attractive game for kids and adolescents. Associations, clubs, industry but also professional clubs and players are asked to stop this negative trend.