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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Koki Niwa's Major League Table Tennis debut is nearly here.

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The Japanese superstar and three-time Olympian will suit up for the New York Slice in Week 2 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. He’ll play his first matches with MLTT on Friday at 4 pm ET, Saturday at 4 pm ET, and Sunday at 2:30 pm ET.

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We caught up with the legend to learn more about Niwa’s table tennis beginnings, his playstyle, and his decision to join America's first professional table tennis league:

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Take me back to when Koki Niwa was a little kid. There must’ve been a time it all clicked for you — that you realized you were better than most other kids at table tennis. Walk me through that moment.

“So, it started from middle school. I’m going to [the] No. 1 table tennis school in Japan. Mizutani Jun was there, Kenta Matsudaira was there, so after I jumped in there, I started to realize, ‘Oh, I’m one of the best.’”

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We’ve had a few Japanese players in MLTT. Our league sponsor, Butterfly, is from Japan. Why do you think table tennis as a sport is so popular in Japan?

“They’re getting better. They’re starting [to get] medals from World Championships, Olympics, and they’re on TV doing more live streaming, so regular people — amateur players — see it more and say, ‘Oh, that’s cool.’”

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You’re a player known for his creativity: backhands from both sides of the table, crazy angles. How would you describe your playing style? Does your creativity come from more instinct or preparation?

“Because I’m a short player, if I’m back [away from] the table, I have no chance to win. That’s why I stay closer to the table, doing so many different shots, techniques, this way and that way. [I] think that’s helped me win. That’s why I do that.”

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One specific thing you do so well: Chop blocking. You make it look so effortless that the average fan might not understand how much work you put into it. Talk to me about that work. How do you perfect that skill? Which chop block in your career sticks out to you as your favorite?

“I didn’t practice that ... In the tournaments, I’m just doing it. And it's just on the table, so, ‘Okay, I’ll just do it again. But I never practice, ‘1, 2, 3' to 200, 400. No. Never. Just in the games. The ball’s coming, I’m just doing it … I think it’s a gift.”

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Why MLTT? Why play in the US?

“I like America, I like traveling to the United States ... plus, [I like playing] table tennis too. Also ... this is a new league, so [it’s] very interesting to play [for]. So everything together, that’s why I [chose to play] here.”

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Who is your biggest fan and why?

“I’m married, so my wife is my Number 1 supporter.”

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