Exactly. Do you guys really think that Yonex offers such kind of premium service to every John, Paul or Mary at WR ~#50? Please...
But the thing is; they are a very Japanese company with strong national pride, in the sense that all Japanese players are actually given special customized gear (to an extent) such as Sayaka Sato's normal SHB65 colorway bearing the japanese flag, all racquet bags bearing the flag and special font "Japan" word stitching, and some frames bearing the Japanese flag on the cone/shaft as well. The fact that Higashino is Japanese makes me unable to say with certainty that her FB isn't/is of 3U weight class. If it was Reddy or whoever with a ArcFB, it should be easier to determine whether his is 5u/F. As to Kamura's VTFB back then, it has the correct string pattern as the commercial copy (2+4). That's all I can tell from the picture I posted; he wraps too high up to see anything on the cone. And he was given the ARC11BP to have fun as well... geeez!
I think repainted frames have much more to do with marketing of rackets. If now yonex decided to give a repaint to Higashino I would happily take that statement. But before AE triumph, they were just another doubles player in the team. Flags and all on the gear and stuff can be requested by the sponsorship team like toonami asking Yonex to add custom flags to player's gear representikg country. Players represent their respective countries more, their gear represent players more and manufacturer more. Just my two cents.
So if you want a run through of his kit... Following his senior gambler Tago... ARCZS/SHBF1M (No X because JP) Then ZF1/SHB01 yellow Then ZF2/SHB02 red Then ZF2/SHB02LTD orange Then VT70ETN/SHBA2M green (NTT demonstration, missed it, only recalled the competition kits) Then DUOZS/SHB03 Then DUOZS/SHB65Z Now, AX88D/SHB65Z. I'm a momo fan I tell ya! xD
Yeah true that. I only remember the time before he got banned at India Open. Dang. Edit: I wonder if he'll come back to the Stability series after Yonex adds Power Cushion+ to them...
Kento wore his new (at that time) orange SHD02LTD when he played at Malaysia Open 2016. After winning his first round, he got recalled back to Japan due to the gambling conviction, forced to walk over in the second round.
joachim fischer nielsen uses Yonex rackets and shoes while wearing Babolat kit.. Change of sponsors? If yes. Victor cannot get a hold of him eventhough he is in the national team.. hmm..