DHC Ladies Bowling Tour
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
-based bowling tour for women bowlers. The Tour hosted a series of four to five tournaments each year throughout Japan. The tournaments were open to both professionals and amateurs. The Tour's corporate sponsor was DHC Corporation
, a maker of cosmetics and health food supplements. The CEO of DHC is Yoshiaki Yoshida - one of the biggest supporters of the sport of bowling in Japan. DHC LBT started up in 2005, and was sanctioned by the Japan Professional Bowling Association
(JPBA).
In addition to the Tour's tournaments, DHC also hosted the DHC Cup Girls Bowling International
, at the time the third-biggest tournament for women in the world, just behind the Women's U.S. Open and the USBC Queens
. The DHC members also competed in other non-DHC events, such as P★League.
According to DHC's web site, the Tour was canceled, citing various circumstances. In May 2010, DHC officially separates itself from the JPBA, by announcing it will be the major sponsor of the LBO Ladies Bowling Tour, and will be operated by the Ladies Bowling Organization of Japan
. The JPBA and LBO are currently competing professional leagues. As of June 2010, twelve bowlers resigned from the JPBA and moved over to the LBO - including Hiroko Shimizu
and Mai Takasaka.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
-based bowling tour for women bowlers. The Tour hosted a series of four to five tournaments each year throughout Japan. The tournaments were open to both professionals and amateurs. The Tour's corporate sponsor was DHC Corporation
Daigaku Honyaku Center
is a Japanese manufacturer dealing in cosmetics and health food supplements headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1972. Their flagship brand name is "Virgin Olive Oil"....
, a maker of cosmetics and health food supplements. The CEO of DHC is Yoshiaki Yoshida - one of the biggest supporters of the sport of bowling in Japan. DHC LBT started up in 2005, and was sanctioned by the Japan Professional Bowling Association
Japan Professional Bowling Association
The is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in Japan. The organization was founded by , and was established on January 27, 1967. The JPBA sanctions tournaments and other functions related to professional bowling for both men and women. Its headquarters are...
(JPBA).
In addition to the Tour's tournaments, DHC also hosted the DHC Cup Girls Bowling International
DHC Cup Girls Bowling International
The DHC Cup Girls Bowling International is an annual ten-pin bowling event for professional and amateur female bowlers, held in Japan, and is sanctioned by the Japan Bowling Congress . Offering an award purse of JPY¥12.0 million , it is currently the third-biggest tournament for females in the...
, at the time the third-biggest tournament for women in the world, just behind the Women's U.S. Open and the USBC Queens
USBC Queens
The USBC Queens is an annual ten-pin bowling event for amateur and professional female bowlers, sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress...
. The DHC members also competed in other non-DHC events, such as P★League.
According to DHC's web site, the Tour was canceled, citing various circumstances. In May 2010, DHC officially separates itself from the JPBA, by announcing it will be the major sponsor of the LBO Ladies Bowling Tour, and will be operated by the Ladies Bowling Organization of Japan
LBO
LBO may refer to:* large bowel obstruction* Leveraged buyout, a method of acquiring a company* Lithium triborate , substance* Left Business Observer, an economics newsletter published by Doug Henwood...
. The JPBA and LBO are currently competing professional leagues. As of June 2010, twelve bowlers resigned from the JPBA and moved over to the LBO - including Hiroko Shimizu
Hiroko Shimizu
Hiroko Shimizu is a Japanese female professional ten-pin bowler. She is a member of the Ladies Bowling Organization of Japan, license no. 1. In April 2010, Shimizu officially resigned from the Japan Professional Bowling Association , and joined the LBO...
and Mai Takasaka.
2005/2006 Season
- Tournament 1: May 20 to May 22, 2005, Sagamihara Park Lanes (winner: Mika SakaiMika SakaiMika Sakai is a Japanese female professional ten-pin bowler. She is a member of the Japan Professional Bowling Association, license no. 268. Sakai is also a team member of the DHC Ladies Bowling Tour....
) - Tournament 2: June 9 to June 11, 2005, Bowl Mate Kyobashi (winner: Shinobu Saito)
- Tournament 3: August 25 to August 27, 2005, Bowl Aoki (winner: Kazue Inahashi)
- Tournament 4: October 7 to October 9, 2005, Kakitagawa Park Lanes (winner: Keiko Aiko)
- Tournament 5: January 20 to January 22, 2006, Hakata Star Lane (winner: Nachimi ItakuraNachimi ItakuraNachimi Itakura is a Japanese female professional ten-pin bowler. She is a member of the Japan Professional Bowling Association, license no. 372.- Biography :...
) - Tournament 6: February 24 to February 26, 2006, Hoshigaoka Bowl (winner: Hiroko ShimizuHiroko ShimizuHiroko Shimizu is a Japanese female professional ten-pin bowler. She is a member of the Ladies Bowling Organization of Japan, license no. 1. In April 2010, Shimizu officially resigned from the Japan Professional Bowling Association , and joined the LBO...
) - Final: April 12 to April 16, 2006, Tokyo Dome Bowling Center (winner: Akiko TanigawaAkiko TanigawaAkiko Tanigawa is a Japanese female professional ten-pin bowler. She is a member of the Japan Professional Bowling Association, license no. 389.- Major accomplishments :* 2006 - Tokai Women's Open...
)
2006/2007 Season
- Tournament 1： September 15 to September 17, 2006, Kakitagawa Park Lanes (winner: Hiroko ShimizuHiroko ShimizuHiroko Shimizu is a Japanese female professional ten-pin bowler. She is a member of the Ladies Bowling Organization of Japan, license no. 1. In April 2010, Shimizu officially resigned from the Japan Professional Bowling Association , and joined the LBO...
) - Tournament 2： October 27 to October 29, 2006, Sagamihara Park Lanes (winner: Mitsuko Tokimoto)
- Tournament 3： January 19 to January 21, 2007, Tokyo Port Bowl (winner: Mayumi Yoshida)
- Tournament 4： February 23 to February 25, 2007, Mizushima International Bowling Hall (winner: Hiroko Shimizu)
- Final： March 30 to April 4, 2007,SAP Soka Bowl (winner: Ayami Kondo)
2007/2008 Season
- Tournament 1: October 5 to October 7, 2007, Sagamihara Park Lanes (winner: Aino KinjōAino KinjoAino Kinjō is a Japanese female professional ten-pin bowler. She is a member of the Japan Professional Bowling Association, license no. 284. Her nickname is "Bowling Queen of Okinawa."-Biography:...
) - Tournament 2: January 18 to January 20, 2008, Kakitagawa Park Lanes (winner: Yuko Nakatani)
- Tournament 3: February 22 to February 24, 2008, Hakata Star Lanes (winner: Suzuna Miyagi)
- Tournament 4: April 24 to April 27, 2008, Shinagawa Prince Hotel (winner: Urara Himeji)
2009 season
- Tournament 1: February 20 to February 22, Sagamihara Park Lanes (winner: Masae Nakajima)
- Tournament 2: May 8 to May 10, Tokyo Port Bowl (winner: Mai Takasaka)
- Tournaments 3 and 4 were canceled.