We all know the official story of the invention of pickleball – created one summer afternoon in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, WA. Well, thanks to the guys at Bread and Butter, here is the real story of the invention of pickleball.
This is meant to be tongue-in-cheek. If you look inside the box of the Bread and Butter Shogun paddle, you’ll notice some Japanese text.
At first, I wondered, “Are these paddles being made in Japan now?” So, with my rudimentary knowledge of Japanese, I started translating. That’s when I realized it was just another playful touch from Bread and Butter, who really are skilled at marketing.
So, here is the translation of that text, and the true story behind the invention of pickleball!
TAKOYAKI TENNIS
Once upon a time, in the quaint fishing village of Shimoda, Japan, there was a game called “Takoyaki Tennis”. Legend has it that the game was a treasured tradition passed down through generations, combining skill, strategy, and a touch of absurdity to bring joy to locals.
The origin of this game is shrouded in mystery, and it is rumored that it was invented by a mischievous samurai who wanted to entertain his companions during the long period of peace. But regardless of its origins, Takoyaki tennis had become an integral part of Shimoda’s cultural identity.
Takoyaki tennis first caught the attention of American travelers in the mid-20th century. Among the curious explorers was Walter Picklesworth III, a wealthy eccentric with a penchant for adventure and a huge sense of entitlement. Picklesworth was drawn to Takoyaki Tennis’ unique combination of competitive spirit and camaraderie, and decided that he had to spread Takoyaki Tennis to the people of his home country.
Picklesworth acquired the rights to Takoyaki Tennis by brandishing a checkbook and using dubious legal means. In the name of cultural exchange, he shipped a wooden box of equipment and instructions back to America and immediately began marketing it as the latest sensation in recreational sports.
The American public, always on the lookout for the next trend, embraced pickleball with open arms. Soon courts were popping up in suburban backyards and retirement communities across the country. Picklesworth himself became famous as a visionary who brought this “new” sport to the masses.
However, the people of Shimoda, across the Pacific Ocean, watched in amazement as the games they loved were appropriated and commercialized by Westerners. Rumors of lawsuits and diplomatic tensions swirled around the village, but ultimately Shimoda’s humble residents chose to move on with their lives, finding solace in the knowledge that true joy can never be bought or sold.
Thus, the story of pickleball’s origins faded into obscurity, overshadowed by the glamor of its American revival. But the spirit of Takoyaki Tennis lives on in a quiet corner of Shimoda, a reminder of a time when the game was created not for profit but for pure fun.
Hidden in the shadow of the glamor of the revival in Eureka, there is nothing.
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You can read my review of the Shogun paddle here: https://theadventurousboomer.blog/review-of-the-bread-and-butter-shogun-paddle/
You can read my review of the Filth here: https://theadventurousboomer.blog/review-of-the-bread-and-butter-filth-paddle/
You can read my review of the Loco here: https://theadventurousboomer.blog/review-of-the-bread-and-butter-loco-paddle/
You can read my reviews of other BnB paddles here: https://theadventurousboomer.blog/review-of-bread-butter-paddles/
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