Mima Ito Equipment: Blade, Rubbers & Full Setup (2026)

  The world’s most unpredictable female table tennis player uses a backhand rubber that most club players wouldn’t even consider. Here’s why, and what she actually uses instead. The answer changes how you think about short pips entirely.

   Mima Ito is the Tokyo 2020 Olympic mixed doubles gold medalist, women’s singles bronze medalist, and one of the few players in history to maintain a winning record against the Chinese national team. Her equipment choices are among the most studied in women’s table tennis, and for good reason. Every component she uses is built for close-to-table aggression, lightning-fast punches, and unpredictable spin variation at the highest level.

  Whether you’re an advanced player looking to replicate her setup or simply curious about what drives her game, this guide covers her complete Mima Ito equipment setup: blade, rubbers, the reasoning behind each choice, and what you actually need to know before buying.

Mima Ito’s Current Equipment Setup (2026)

  Mima Ito’s equipment is the most dissected, analysed, and duplicated setup in women’s table tennis. But most guides stop at listing her blade and rubbers. This one doesn’t. Here’s what she actually plays with, and why.

Who Is Mima Ito?

   Mima Ito (born 21 October 2000, Shizuoka, Japan) is one of the most recognizable names in modern table tennis, a player who burst onto the international scene as a teenager and has since become Japan’s most successful female player of her generation. Her fearless, attacking style has made her a fan favorite and a nightmare for opponents, especially the dominant Chinese players who have long ruled the sport.

   Mima Ito turned professional at age 10 and became the youngest ITTF World Tour event winner at 14. She reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2 in April 2020 and currently sits at World No. 8 as of 2026.

    Major titles:

• Tokyo 2020: Mixed doubles gold, women’s singles bronze, women’s team silver
• Rio 2016: Women’s team bronze (youngest Olympic table tennis medalist)
• World Championships: Multiple silver and bronze medals
• ITTF World Tour: Multiple singles and doubles titles
  
  

  Often termed the “greatest threat” to Chinese dominance, Ito has the highest winning rate against Chinese players in history. In March 2020, she recorded a 4–0 win against reigning Olympic champion Ding Ning, winning the third set 11–0—the first time a non-Chinese player achieved this against a Chinese opponent. For a deeper look at her journey, achievements, and personal background, read our complete Mima Ito profile and career overview.

Mima Ito’s Playing Style

  To understand Mima Ito’s equipment choices, you first need to understand how she plays. Her game is built on speed, unpredictability, and relentless aggression, a style that demands a very specific setup to execute effectively.

  Ito’s game is defined by close-to-table aggression, short-pips backhand punches, flat forehand smashes, and lethal shovel serves.

   Key characteristics:

• Close-to-table dominance: Covers 70-80% of the table using her backhand
• Short-pips backhand: Pushes incoming balls forward rather than using conventional backhand strokes
• Finish points quickly: Her style is to finish rallies in two or three shots
• Creative returns: Forces opponents to serve long, even if it yields the opening
  
  

 Both Liu Guoliang and Deng Yaping have praised Ito for her creativity, willingness to experiment, and tendency to mount comebacks by taking risks when losing.

Mima Ito’s Equipment Breakdown

  Ito’s setup looks simple on paper: one blade, two rubbers. But that simplicity is deceptive. The FE carbon placement changes how the blade flexes. The hard sponge chemistry alters how the ball grips and launches. The short pips change the entire dynamics of her backhand game. Behind every choice lies a reason tied directly to how Ito wins matches.

 1. The Blade: Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon

       The Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon is Ito’s signature blade, released on her 20th birthday and based on the Acoustic Carbon she had been using for years. It builds on Nittaku’s stringed instrument manufacturing method and adds FE carbon fibre layers near the surface plate. The result is a blade that delivers genuine offensive speed without sacrificing the touch that close-to-table play demands.

      Key Specifications:

• Construction: 5-ply wood + 2-ply FE carbon (5+2)
• Blade size: 157 x 150mm
• Thickness: 5.5mm
• Weight: ~90g (FL: 89g, ST: 86g) (Fully assembled, 180–190g)
• Handle options: Flared (100×22mm) or Straight (100×23mm)
• Shot feeling: Hard
• Speed rating: OFF (offensive)
• Origin: Made in Japan
  
  

   Note: This is the outer-fiber version of the Acoustic Carbon platform. Don’t confuse it with Nittaku’s separate Acoustic Carbon Inner model, a different product with a softer, all-wood-like feel from its carbon layers being placed nearer the core rather than the surface. Ito has used both FL and ST handles over her career. The commercial blade ships in either. Pick based on your own grip, not hers.

   What’s Special About It

       The FE carbon construction is what sets this blade apart from standard all-wood blades. Here’s what makes it unique:

• FE carbon sandwiched near the surface plate for higher speed without sacrificing control
• Outer-type carbon placement brings out attack power on both wings
• Features Ito’s signature in gold and a playful silhouette print
• Grip colour personally designed by Ito herself
• Based on the Acoustic Carbon platform she used for years
  
  

   Why Ito Uses It

      Ito’s game is built around close-to-table aggression, lightning-fast punches, and relentless pressure from the moment she receives serve. The Mima Ito Carbon matches that style precisely.

• The FE carbon accelerates the ball on attacking strokes while maintaining enough feel for short pushes, banana flicks, and her signature backhand punch
• The hard shot feeling enables sharp, direct contact for her signature punch shots
• The mid-fast speed is quick enough to finish points but controlled enough for close-table play
• At approximately 90 grams, the weight provides an optimal balance—heavy enough for power, light enough for quick wrist action
  
  

   The Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon is purpose-built for close-table attackers. It’s fast, hard, and unforgiving, perfect for Ito’s aggressive style but challenging for developing players. If you stay close to the table and rely on quick punches and flat hits, this blade will amplify your strengths. If you prefer looping from mid-distance, look elsewhere.

 2. Forehand Rubber: Nittaku Fastarc G-1

      The Nittaku Fastarc G-1 is a high-tension tensor rubber with a built-in tension power sponge. It is Japan’s number one best-seller. The G-1 stands for Grip First, indicating its focus on spin generation rather than pure speed. For a player like Ito, who relies on both flat smashes and spinny loops, this rubber provides the versatility she needs.

      Key Specifications:

• Type: Inverted rubber
• Sponge hardness: 47.5° (medium-hard)
• Ito’s thickness: 2.0mm
• Ito’s colour: Black
• Category: OFF+ (offensive plus)
  
  

   Both rubbers stay within the ITTF‘s 4mm combined-thickness limit (topsheet + sponge), the ceiling every legal rubber has to fit within, which is why sponge thickness and hardness matter so much for tuning speed vs. control.

   What’s Special About It

       The Fastarc G-1’s Grip First philosophy sets it apart from other tensor rubbers. Here’s what makes it special:

• Exceptional grip for spin generation (Grip First design)
• High ball trajectory enables extremely spinny attacking strokes
• Hard sponge (47.5°) weakens incoming spin interference
• Power sponge produces an ideal combination of speed and arc
• Allows players to “hit through” the ball at the close table
  
  

     Why Ito Uses It

        Flat smashes and spinny loops define Ito’s forehand game, and the Fastarc G-1 is the rubber that makes it possible. The tacky topsheet grips the ball deeply at contact, giving Ito the spin generation that many high-tension European rubbers simply don’t replicate.

• The hard sponge reduces spin interference from opponents, allowing Ito to hit through the ball at the close table
• The “Grip First” topsheet generates exceptional spin when needed for loops
• The high arc provides a safety margin for aggressive shots
• The power sponge enables consistent flat smashes with power
  
  

  The Fastarc G-1 is a spin monster with enough hardness to handle close-table exchanges. It rewards aggressive, confident strokes but punishes tentative play. If you have solid mechanics and want a rubber that can both loop and smash, this is an excellent choice. It’s not for beginners; the hard sponge requires good technique to activate its full potential.

 3. Backhand Rubber: Nittaku Moristo SP

      The Nittaku Moristo SP is a short-pips rubber developed in cooperation with ESN, a German manufacturer known for high-tension rubbers. It brings the high-tension performance qualities of the smooth Moristo rubbers to the short-pips category. This combination makes it a specialist rubber designed for players who want to disrupt their opponents with speed and variation.

      Key Specifications:

• Type: Short pips (pimples out)
• Sponge hardness: ~32.5° (soft)
• Ito’s thickness: Max sponge
• Ito’s colour: Red
• Category: Offensive
  
  

   What’s Special About It

     Short pips are rare at the professional level, and the Moristo SP is one of the most advanced examples. Here’s what makes it special:

• Short pips excel at speed, blocking, and spin variation
• Soft sponge (~32.5°) behaves dynamically with high tension
• Produces a pronounced “sinking” effect when the ball lands
• Enables spin variation in close-table pushes
• Super-elasticity enables swift attack and amazing block
  
  

   Why Ito Uses It

     The backhand side demands different qualities from the forehand. Where the Fastarc G-1 rewards heavy looping with maximum spin, the Moristo SP delivers lightning-fast punches, controlled blocks, and unpredictable spin variation, all essential to Ito’s game.

• Short pips enable flat, fast punch shots with minimal backswing, allowing Ito to finish points quickly
• Soft sponge provides “dwelling time” for control on blocks against heavy loops
• High tension generates speed without sacrificing consistency
• Spin variation creates uncertainty; opponents can’t read the incoming spin, giving Ito a significant tactical advantage
  
  

  The Moristo SP is a specialist rubber for players who want to disrupt opponents with speed and variation. It’s not for everyone; short pips require a different technique than inverted rubbers. But if you want to develop a backhand punch like Ito’s, this is the rubber to get.

   Rubbers That Pair Well With This Blade

     The blade’s rubber-agnostic build is part of why it’s held onto its reputation for years, even outside Ito’s own setup. Don’t need Ito’s exact rubber choices? The blade’s high elasticity suits spin-focused, tacky tensor rubbers.

• Tested by players outside Ito’s setup: Tibhar MX-K, Andro Hexer Powergrip
• Commonly recommended alternatives: Andro Rasanter 48, DHS Goldarc
  
  

  This makes the blade a flexible platform even if you’re not chasing a 1:1 replica of her full setup.

How This Setup Works Together

   Ito’s equipment is not a random collection of premium gear; it is a unified system designed to execute her finish the point in two or three shots strategy. Each component complements the others, creating a setup that is greater than the sum of its parts.

   The blade provides the hard, fast platform that bridges the two very different rubbers. The forehand rubber delivers spin and power for flat smashes and loops. The backhand rubber enables the signature punches and spin variation that make Ito so unpredictable.

• Blade (~90g): Hard, fast, controlled platform that bridges the two very different rubbers
• FH G-1 (Hard): Enables flat smashes and spinny loops on the forehand
• BH Moristo SP (Soft, short pips): Enables signature backhand punches and spin variation
  
  

  As one equipment review noted, Ito’s configuration is a perfect example of “selecting equipment based on playing style.” Every link connects to the tactical needs of close-table quick attacks and rhythm changes.

Mima Ito Equipment History

  Mima Ito’s equipment setup has not stayed static. Each change reflects a deliberate shift in her game, from the raw aggression of her early career to the technically refined, close-to-table dominance she displays today. Tracking her equipment evolution reveals how her choices have matured alongside her playing style.

  The most significant change was the move to her signature blade in 2022. While essentially a recolored Acoustic Carbon with a unique grip design, it reflects the natural progression of her equipment choices as her game matured at the elite level.

  Every equipment choice Ito has made points in the same direction: more speed, more control, and a setup that grows more technically demanding as her game does.

Can You Buy Mima Ito’s Exact Equipment Setup?

  Commercially, yes. The Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon, Fastarc G-1, and Moristo SP are all available at retail. However, unlike Butterfly’s double-code system for Fan Zhendong, Nittaku does not have a publicly documented personal version system for Ito’s blade. The commercial Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon is the same blade Ito uses in competition.

  That said, while you can buy the same products, the hand-selected nature of pro rubbers means your retail version won’t be identical to Ito’s tournament rubbers. The gap is smaller than with some other pro setups, but it still exists.

  1. Budget Replica (~$200): Intermediate Advancing Players

       Nittaku Acoustic (all-wood) blade, Fastarc C-1 on forehand, Moristo SP (1.8mm) on backhand. A solid entry point into the Ito platform without the cost or technique demands of the full setup.

  2. Tournament Ready (~$350): Advanced Club Players

        Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon blade, Fastarc G-1 (2.0mm) on forehand, Moristo SP (Max) on backhand. This is the setup Ito would recognize. If you can only choose one tier, this is the one.

  3. Pro Personal (~$400+): Elite and Collectors Only

       Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon with hand-selected rubbers. Available through specialty dealers. For most players, this tier is academic. For serious collectors and elite competitors, it represents the outer edge of what’s possible to own.

   You can buy the same blade and rubbers Ito uses, but the hand-selected pro versions will always be slightly different from retail. For most players, the commercial versions are already excellent and more than enough to experience what makes her setup so effective.

To Get Closest to Ito’s Actual Playing Setup

  The commercial versions of Ito’s blade and rubbers are genuinely excellent products in their own right. Follow these steps, and you’ll have a racket that plays 95% of Ito’s game for a fraction of the cost.

  If you’re serious about replicating her setup, here’s what you need to do. Start with the blade; it’s the foundation of the entire system. Then add the rubbers in the correct thicknesses. Finally, make sure the handle fits your hand.

1. Buy the commercial Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon: available at major retailers
2. Buy Nittaku Fastarc G-1 at 2.0mm: closest commercial match to her forehand
3. Buy Nittaku Moristo SP at Max thickness: no booster required
4. Check the handle shape before purchasing: try in person if possible
   
   

  Pre-assembled option: Paddle Palace offers the Champion Pro Special, a Mima Ito blade assembled with Fastarc G-1 and Moristo SP to her exact specs.

Conclusion

   Mima Ito equipment is a direct reflection of her game: fast, unpredictable, technically demanding, and built for close-to-table dominance. The Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon gives her the speed-control balance she needs. The Fastarc G-1 maximises forehand spin. The Moristo SP delivers backhand speed and variation.

   It’s not a beginner setup. But for advanced players, understanding exactly what she uses—and why—is a useful starting point for refining your own equipment choices.

  Want to know more about the woman behind the medals? Read about Mima Ito’s complete profile, career, and playing style, or dive into our guide on how to play like Mima Ito.

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