How a heartbreaking silver medal became the foundation of modern Japanese basketball.

1. Building for 2014

In 2012, when Kimikazu Suzuki once again became head coach of the Japanese national team, instead of chasing quick, short-term wins, his eyes were locked on a much bigger horizon: the 2014 FIBA World Championship, before it rebranded to the World Cup. The seeds they planted were finally breaking through the dirt. At the time, Japanese basketball was reeling from the disappointment of a seventh-place finish at the previous year’s Asian Championship and needed a dramatic shake-up to break out of its stagnation.

Coach Suzuki carried out what could truly be called a radical overhaul—a bold reshuffling of the roster. This daring rejuvenation saw six players—a full half of the final 12-man roster—selected for their first-ever FIBA official tournament.

Although their lack of international experience was evident, Coach Suzuki, fully aware of the risks, was determined to rebuild the roster with elite physical power and world-class pace, infusing the squad with a raw, unpredictable energy that refused to play by the old rules. This was an unavoidable step for the Japanese national team to climb back to the top.

At the time, the East Asia subzone, to which Japan belonged, was allocated only two spots for the FIBA Asian Championship (World Cup qualifiers). Surrounded by rivals such as China, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei, the absolute prerequisite for avoiding this “Group of Death” was to finish in the top five at the Asia Cup to secure the spot in the main FIBA Asia Championship and thereby expand the subzone’s quota through their own efforts.

Coach Suzuki’s goal of finishing in the top four was ambitious given the team’s slump at the time, but it was also the bare minimum required to pave the way for 2014. Coach Suzuki refused to hit the reset button with the same old reliable veterans to protect the status quo; he chose to force the team to evolve by throwing his weight behind the youth movement. The young elite players who survived his rigorous selection process were thoroughly drilled in the mentality necessary to win international matches under the unique discipline he imposed.

2. Learning to Win

What Coach Suzuki demanded most strongly of the young players on this Japanese national team was a professional mindset that wouldn’t hide behind the sweet-sounding phrase “development.” His encouragement—“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; go for it!”—served merely as a foundation to urge them to play with everything they had.

The true meaning behind it was encapsulated in a cold, ruthless win-at-all-costs mentality: you cannot grow unless you win. Makoto Hiejima and Daiki Tanaka—who were selected despite still being college students at the time—responded keenly to these strict demands.

While Hiejima stated, “I want to contribute to the team by playing boldly without fear of making mistakes. I want to make plays that build momentum,” Tanaka also clearly recognized his role, saying, “The FIBA Asia Cup is a tournament where we must be focused on winning.”

They didn’t just come to get a taste of the national team; they stepped onto the court with the resolve to be key contributors who would seize victory with their own hands.

Regarding the issues identified during the William Jones Cup prior to the FIBA Asia Cup—namely “unnecessary passing errors,” “coordination on fast breaks,” and “rebounding”—thorough corrections were made throughout the training camp.

What stood out was that the players viewed these challenges not merely as weaknesses, but positively—as elements that, once overcome, would bring them closer to the world stage, step by step. Defeat for the sake of development is unacceptable. They view the very process of securing victory as the best form of development.

As this philosophy took root, the team began to transcend mere youthful energy and start to show the mettle of true competitors. And then, the ultimate living textbook for these young talents to truly spread their wings joined the team.

3. J.R. Sakuragi's Legacy

At 36 years old, veteran Jay-R Sakuragi has decided to once again don the Japanese national team jersey. His selection carried strategic significance beyond simply bolstering the frontcourt. The true role Coach Suzuki assigned him was to serve as a “catalyst” who would draw out the potential of the younger players and encourage them to become self-reliant.

However, Coach Suzuki’s approach was extremely cautious. The head coach boldly declared: “If we rely on JR, we won’t make any progress.”

Behind this statement lay a lesson Coach Suzuki had not forgotten: during the 2007 Beijing Olympic qualifiers (held in Tokushima), the team’s overreliance on Sakuragi’s individual skills had disrupted the team’s balance and led to failure. The young players, understanding this intent, sought ways to utilize—and ultimately surpass—Sakuragi’s exceptional talent. A comment made by Tanaka at the time was particularly telling.

“If the guards set solid screens, Sakuragi-san will handle the ball for us. If we score from there, we’ll earn his trust.”

Just as he said, the teamwork centered on Sakuragi gave the young players concrete, successful experiences in making passes at the international level. As evidenced by his five assists—the most on the team—in the qualifying match against Iran, Sakuragi was able to play the role of a supporting player who maintained balance on the court, rather than taking center stage himself.

The mental stability his presence provided, combined with the virtuous cycle of young players observing and learning from Sakuragi—it was precisely this chemistry that was poised to become the decisive weapon for breaking through the “Asian barrier” that had plagued Japan for so many years

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How Japan Reinvented the Backcourt (William Jones Cup 2012, Part 2)

1. A New Vi…

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How Japan began rebuilding for 2020—and why an 18-year-old Yuta Watanabe became part of the plan(2012 William Jones Cup, Part 1)

1. A New Direction

In 2011, Japan suffered a crushing defeat at the FIBA Asia Championship held in Wuhan. For the Japanese basketball community, it was a heartbreaking moment that completely cut off their path to the London Olympics. To break through this stagnant atmosphere, the JBA (Japan Basketball Association) appointed Kimikazu Suzuki—who had led the Aisin Seahorses to a string of victories—as head coach of the Japanese national team in May 2012.

As Shuta Suzuki, then Director of Development, stated, “We will rebuild as quickly as possible and move on to the next step.” This was not a change in leadership but a do-or-die effort to fundamentally transform the organization. The mission entrusted to Head Coach Kimikazu Suzuki completely ripped up the old playbook. For years, the team had been blinded by a desperate obsession with short-term wins, but Suzuki changed the game entirely. What was presented were “two pillars” that would usher in a new era in Japanese basketball history.

A return to the 2014 and 2018 FIBA World Championships. To finish in the top three at the 2013 Asian Championships and propel Japan back onto the world stage.

Promoting young talent with an eye toward the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. With the goal of hosting the Games in Japan eight years later, the plan was to fast-track these talented teenagers, throwing them straight into the fire of a top-level environment.

Bringing in Torsten Loibl as Associate Head Coach was the missing puzzle piece that turned this strategy into a concrete reality. The role assigned to Loibl was to establish a “consistent coaching system” that would uphold a common philosophy across all categories, from the U-16 and U-18 teams to the senior national team.

This was an attempt to break down the silo culture where organizations such as the National High School Basketball Federation and corporate teams had previously operated in isolation, and this triggered a massive cultural shift, uniting Japanese basketball under a true “one-team” philosophy for the very first time.

At the same time, the “Junior Elite Academy (Big Man)” project, launched under the leadership of Mitsuo Sasaki, went straight to work on Japanese basketball’s ultimate weak spot: the blueprint for developing tall players. Recognizing it as a foundational failure, he moved aggressively to rebuild it from the ground up. “We selected players with an eye toward the next generation,” said Coach Suzuki. You could feel the raw intensity of their commitment in the fearless roster that followed. It was a direct challenge to the old-school thinking of Japanese basketball.

2. Betting on the Future

Even now, the memory of that announcement remains crystal clear. When the new “Hayabusa Japan” lineup was unveiled, it sent a massive jolt straight through the media and the fanbase. That’s because the list included the names of two current high school students: Yuta Watanabe (18), a third-year student at Jinsei Gakuen, and Ryogo Sumino (16), a first-year student at Fujieda Meisei.

This selection was not merely a publicity stunt. Coach Suzuki made a highly risky decision to forego initially calling up veterans like Jay-R Sakuragi and Fumihiko Aono, who could have guaranteed short-term results. Behind this decision lay a strong determination to pursue “bigger players” on a global scale.

Increasing the size of the guards: Breaking away from the traditional style that relies on speed.

Increasing the height of the small forwards, who serve as primary scorers: Preventing mismatches before they happen and overwhelming opponents with size.

Upon joining the training camp, Watanabe was impressed by the precision-machine-like shooting ability of his teammate Kosuke Kanemaru and yearned to “shoot like that.” Meanwhile, the youngest member, Sumino, candidly expressed his surprise at the intensity, saying, “Time and again, I ran straight into a brick wall. The sheer power and physicality of those top-tier players completely overwhelmed me.”

Coach Suzuki’s words—“Look ahead to the future now, and approach this with the mindset that you will become the leaders of the future Japanese national team”—served as both a heavy burden and a powerful catalyst for self-transformation.

The prophetic significance of those words began to manifest in Watanabe’s stats during the tournament. Take, for example, the Jones Cup match against Iran. Facing a superior powerhouse, the 18-year-old Watanabe not only scored 10 points but also showcased his defensive skills with 4 steals and 2 blocks.

It was precisely that tenacity—which Head Coach Suzuki praised at the time, saying, “He has the strongest determination to get the ball, even if it means getting slapped”—that marked the moment Yuta Watanabe awakened as a player capable of competing at the world level.

Carrying expectations, hopes, and a sense of inexperience, the team headed to Taiwan for the “34th William Jones Cup.” What awaited them there was a grueling “baptism of fire” in a frenzied away atmosphere.

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How Thomas Wisman changed Japan’s culture—and laid the foundation for a new generation.

1. The Tianjin Collapse and the End of Japan’s Status as an Asian Power

The 2009 Asian Championships, held in Tianjin.

What the Japanese basketball world witnessed was a heartbreaking disaster—a dismal “10th-place” finish, the worst in history. Japan’s once-dominant status as a contender for Asian supremacy crumbled, and the reality that hit home was that the logic behind their previous development strategy had completely failed. The flaws plaguing the Japanese national team at the time were the very embodiment of long-standing structural problems.

Reliance on outside shooting: A vulnerability where the success or failure of outside shots determined the team’s fate, and the moment those shots stopped falling, the team’s organized game plan evaporated.

Lack of physical strength in the paint: A shortage of players capable of competing in the paint against neighboring nations that fielded naturalized players and big men with size.

However, this defeat—which could be described as hitting rock bottom—created a situation that justified the JBA’s only viable option: a complete overhaul. Partial, suboptimal adjustments that allowed for mediocre rankings could no longer save this sinking ship. The mission to rebuild the Japanese men’s national team was thus entrusted to Thomas Wisman, who had led the Tochigi Brex to the JBL championship in 2010.

2. A New Way to Build a National Team

One of the first measures Wiseman implemented upon taking office was to dismantle the “hierarchical structure” that had accumulated like sediment within the Japan national team organization. He rejected the traditional systems of seniority and meritocracy and introduced a rigorous competitive principle. He structured this as a three-group system designed to strengthen the talent pipeline—also known as “Talent Pipeline Management.”

The highlight of this system was the decision to invite the “high school trio”—Togashi (Montrose Christian), Watanabe (Jinsei Gakuen), and Hashimoto (Utsunomiya Technical High School)—who were still in high school at the time, as well as Hiejima, to the training camp. In an organization where a conservative seniority-based culture still persists, placing the next generation of talent on the “same playing field” as the veterans forcibly accelerated the organization’s metabolism. This was not a matter of development. It was an organizational strategy designed to instill a psychological sense of crisis in the veterans—the “stripping of their comfort zone”—while simultaneously instilling the “national team standard” in the young players at an early stage.

3. The “Body → Skill → Mind” Philosophy

Wisman’s philosophy boiled down to a single point: “Physical conditioning is the foundation of performance (Strategic Threshold).” He placed “physical conditioning” at the very top of his priorities, ahead of skill and mental toughness. Before they could even talk about playing beautiful basketball, they needed bodies capable of matching the “physical response”—the contact from Asia’s big men. This philosophy was tested to its absolute limit during the Venezuela-Mexico tour in the summer of 2011.

A baptism by fire in harsh conditions:

Scorching heat with outside temperatures topping 40 degrees, a gym with no air conditioning where pigeons flew around inside, and delayed arrivals due to unpredictable, severe traffic jams.

Experiencing the “Weight” of Physicality:

The screens and physical contact from superior players like Gravy Vázquez (then with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies) weighed down on Japan through “physical intimidation” that far surpassed anything they had experienced in Asia up to that point.

Wisman deliberately and strategically exploited this punishing environment. For him, mental toughness meant staying rock-solid when things went sideways—that was the only way to rule Asia. Through this “physical dialogue,” the Japanese national team—while covered in mud—gradually forged an identity centered on “physicality as the foundation” necessary to execute their refined tactics.

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How one victory over China convinced Japan it was back—and how Tianjin proved otherwise.

1. Triumph and Collapse

I remember 2009 as a year in which the most extreme highs of hope and lows of despair intertwined in the history of Japanese basketball. Looking back now, this year can be seen as a decisive turning point when Japan completely fell out of the top tier of Asian competition and sank into an even deeper period of decline.

The situation began with what was, quite literally, an emergency. Head Coach David A. Hobbs, an American who had been entrusted with rebuilding the team following the defeat in the Beijing Olympic qualifiers, abruptly resigned ahead of the Asian Championships, citing poor health. Amid this chaotic situation, Osamu Kuraishi, who was serving as the director of player development at the time, was tasked with taking the helm—essentially stepping into the fire to save the day.

For Coach Kuraishi, the extremely short preparation period leading up to the Asian Championships was far too grueling to achieve the level of organizational cohesion required. However, the success at the East Asian Championships—held in early summer under Hobbs’s leadership—created a fatal illusion that Japan had glimpsed a path to competing on the world stage.

Many people had no way of realizing that this very sense of confidence would later serve as a foreshadowing of the “hell” they would face in Tianjin. And so, the fateful summer began, with the team’s organizational fragility still concealed.

2. The Day Japan Believed Again

June 2009.

In the semifinals of the East Asian Championship held in Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture, the Japanese national team secured a victory over China—a feat they had long been unable to achieve. Facing the Asian champions, whose average height was 204 cm and who boasted a 212 cm center, Japan offset the height disadvantage with agility and tenacity. Ryota Sakurai and Kosuke Takeuchi fearlessly attacked the paint time and again, undeterred by the threat of blocked shots, while on defense, Tomio Amano and others put their bodies on the line with tenacious play to continuously fend off China’s comeback attempts.

The final score was 68–63. This victory gave the Japanese basketball community more than just a single win—it instilled a newfound confidence.

“Our style is not wrong.”

“Even against taller opponents, we can more than hold our own with our agility.”

Combined with Shinsuke Kashiwagi’s steady playmaking and ace Takehiko Orimo’s seasoned scoring ability, this brought great hope to Japan. However, even as they savored their joy, a potent poison known as overconfidence was beginning to seep into the Japanese national team.

3. The Warning Everyone Missed

The joy of defeating China was soon dashed by the harsh reality of the final match against South Korea. Japan lost 58–68. This 10-point defeat served as a serious warning sign foreshadowing the tragedy that would unfold in Tianjin. Faced with South Korea’s zone defense, Japan’s offense suddenly fell silent.

With passing lanes to the inside cut off, the team faced a stalemate where they were forced to merely circulate the ball on the perimeter. This not only meant that off-ball movement had ceased but also exposed the team’s technical immaturity in post feeds.

However, the intense sense of accomplishment from “beating China” numbed their sense of urgency regarding these issues. The optimistic view that “we should be able to adjust” drowned out the warning issued by Joji Takeuchi: “We need to build up our team defense step by step.” Unable to find solutions to the problems exposed in the match against South Korea, Japan headed to Tianjin, the host city of the Asian Championships.

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How one regional title reignited Japan's Olympic dream—and why it disappeared only months later.

1. The End of the Željko Pavlišević Era

In 2006, the World Championships (now known as the World Cup) were held amid the fervor of a home-court advantage. The Japanese national team, led by Željko Pavlisevic, secured a dramatic victory against Panama but suffered a heartbreaking comeback loss to New Zealand in a match that would have secured their spot in the knockout stage.

With a sense of loss at having come so close yet failed to make history, the Jericho era came to a close, and Japanese basketball set its sights on the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Entrusted with navigating this difficult situation was Kimikazu Suzuki, who boasted an overwhelming track record of leading Aisin (now the Seahorses Mikawa) to multiple Emperor’s Cup and league championships in the domestic league.

It marked a return to basics under a Japanese coach, shifting away from the tactics-focused style of foreign head coaches. Coach Suzuki’s guiding principles were the tenacious defense that had underpinned Aisin’s golden era and a thorough improvement in individual skills to support it.

Only he, with his deep knowledge of the domestic scene, could break through the sense of stagnation at the time. The Japanese national team, led by Coach Suzuki and burdened with such high expectations, would achieve its “first success” in an unexpected way.

2. The First Regional Title in Eight Years

In June 2007, Coach Suzuki made his debut at the East Asian Championship. There, Japan staged a stunning run that would reshape the power dynamics in Asia.

In the semifinals, they clashed with China, the undisputed king of Asia. Kousuke Takeuchi, then just 22 years old but already a World Cup veteran, held his ground against the “Great Wall” in the paint, battling fiercely for rebounds, while three-pointers from Kei Igarashi, Takuya Kawamura, and others completely shattered China’s zone defense, leading Japan to a hard-fought 68–63 victory.

A fierce battle in the paint and an explosive performance from the perimeter. It was precisely this “balance between the inside and the outside” that became the weapon of the Japanese team led by Coach Suzuki.

In the final, a 68–58 victory over South Korea, Coach Suzuki’s signature defensive tactics bore fruit. Against South Korea’s signature “irregular zone” defense, Japan countered with relentless passing and a thoroughly organized defense.

Coach Suzuki emphasized the tenacity of the defense in the second quarter as the key to victory. Against South Korea’s unconventional movements, Japan prevented them from easily breaking through one-on-one and maintained constant pressure on their shots.

In particular, their strict adherence to the fundamental principle of “using their bodies to fight for rebounds and physically reduce shooting accuracy” succeeded in disrupting South Korea’s offensive rhythm. Defeating South Korea in the final gave Japan the conviction that “we are on the right track.”

Throughout the East Asian Championship, point guard Shinsuke Kashiwagi showed remarkable growth. While shouldering the heavy responsibility of being a starter, Kashiwagi said, “Playing against strong opponents boosted my motivation,” and he gained greater confidence in controlling the game while competing against top-tier teams. It is precisely this transformation of Kashiwagi that is fueling heightened expectations for the Beijing Olympic qualifiers.

3. The Final Piece

Ahead of the Beijing Olympic qualifiers, Japan finally acquired its “ultimate weapon”: the addition of J.R. Sakuragi(Henderson), a former NBA player who had obtained Japanese citizenship and was a big man who had won the NCAA Tournament with UCLA in 1995. Sakuragi’s arrival brought about a dramatic improvement in the team’s rebounding ability and inside game.

During their European tour in July, they faced Lithuanian powerhouses “Lietuvos Rytas” and “Snoras.” In a close 76–78 game against Snoras, they gained confidence that they could hold their own against top European club teams. Throughout the tour, Head Coach Suzuki repeatedly emphasized to his players:

“If we don’t lose in one-on-one defense and keep putting our bodies on the line for rebounds, we can compete with anyone in the world.”

This wasn’t just empty rhetoric; they continued to play tough defense, using physical contact to lower their opponents’ shooting percentages. With the Takeuchi brothers, Kashiwagi, Igarashi, and Sakuragi—the key players all in place—expectations for the Japanese national team were reaching a fever pitch in Tokushima.

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How Ten Minutes Changed Japanese Basketball Forever

“Forty-eight hours.”

That was all it took for Japan’s greatest basketball triumph in more than four decades to turn into one of its deepest scars.

After defeating Panama for its first World Championship victory in 43 years, Japan surrendered an 18-point halftime lead against New Zealand.

Looking back today, that collapse changed far more than one tournament.

1. The Hidden Trap Behind the Euphoria

In August 2006, Japanese basketball was caught between unprecedented excitement and an overwhelming desire to prove itself on the world stage. Hosting the FIBA World Championship—now known as the FIBA Basketball World Cup—offered Japan a rare opportunity to measure itself against the world’s best after years of falling short in Asia and drifting further away from international relevance.

Leading the national team was Croatian coach Željko Pavličević, a two-time European club champion. Since taking charge in 2003, he had pursued a clear vision: build a bigger, stronger, and more physical team, even if it meant challenging many of the long-held beliefs of Japanese basketball.

That vision appeared to bear fruit in Japan’s third Group B game at Hiroshima Green Arena. Japan defeated Panama 78–61, securing its first World Championship victory in 43 years. The catalyst was Ryota Sakurai, a young slasher who came off the bench and changed the game. During the second quarter, Sakurai scored 10 consecutive points, including three layups and a breakaway dunk following a steal, turning a closely contested game firmly in Japan’s favor.

For a brief moment, it seemed that Pavličević’s insistence on building a team capable of matching the world’s size and physicality—after dismissing Japan’s previous style as “junior’s basketball”—had finally been vindicated.

Ironically, however, the hope created by that historic victory would lead the national team into a dangerous trap in its next game against New Zealand: overconfidence.

By halftime, Japan held an astonishing 38–20 lead. A 10–0 run led by Tomoo Amino and Sakurai in the opening quarter had set the tone, and Jōji Takeuchi’s aggressive drives helped stretch the advantage to 18 points in the second. On the surface, the scoreboard suggested that Japan was in complete control.

A closer look at the numbers, however, tells a different story. Rather than reflecting overwhelming superiority, the first-half statistics created a deceptive picture.

New Zealand shot just 19 percent from the field before halftime and missed all 14 of its three-point attempts. The seemingly perfect first half was, in reality, built on shooting numbers that were unlikely to continue.

The statistics painted an illusion of complete control. That apparent dominance may have dulled Japan’s sense of urgency and obscured the true quality of its opponent. The scoreboard that looked so reassuring at halftime had already become the first warning of what was to come. Within it lay the seeds of one of the most painful collapses in the history of Japanese basketball.

2. When Physicality Took Over

The second half—particularly the fourth quarter—forced Japan to confront one of basketball’s harshest realities: the limits imposed by physicality. During the third quarter, New Zealand shifted its approach, attacking the paint relentlessly and committing itself to crashing the boards at every opportunity.

Japan managed only two field goals in the quarter, watching its once-commanding lead shrink to 12 points before entering the decisive final period. The collapse can be understood through three key factors.

1. Pero Cameron took control inside.
Japan’s frontcourt faced a formidable challenge in New Zealand captain Pero Cameron. On paper, Cameron outweighed his primary defenders by as much as 16 kilograms. That physical advantage became decisive in the closing stages, allowing him to control the paint when the game mattered most. Cameron scored 21 points after halftime alone, repeatedly powering his way to the basket. Japan’s big men struggled not only to stop him but even to foul him effectively without conceding high-percentage scoring opportunities.

2. Japan's defensive dilemma.
As Japan increasingly collapsed into the paint to contain Cameron and New Zealand’s interior attack, the visitors’ perimeter offense finally came to life. Cameron himself knocked down four three-pointers, exposing the impossible choices facing Japan’s defense. Protect the paint, and New Zealand punished them from outside. Extend the defense to the perimeter, and New Zealand exploited its superior size and strength inside. That no-win dilemma illustrated just how wide the gap remained between Japan and the world’s established basketball powers.

3. Body and mind reached their limit.
With 31.2 seconds remaining, Kirk Penney buried the go-ahead three-pointer that silenced Hiroshima Green Arena. At that moment, Japan’s resistance finally gave way. A costly turnover followed in the closing seconds, along with a desperate three-point attempt that failed to find its mark.

Those final possessions were not simply the product of technical mistakes. They reflected the enormous psychological and physical strain of the game itself. The dramatic contrast between the illusion of control in the first half and the harsh reality of the second, combined with relentless physical pressure, pushed Japan to the point where execution under pressure became impossible.

Game at a Glance

The scoreboard read New Zealand 60, Japan 57.

The numbers told only part of the story.

As the final buzzer sounded, a heavy silence settled over Hiroshima Green Arena. Four years of rebuilding suddenly felt as though they had vanished in the span of a single half.

The true cost of that defeat would not become clear until years later.

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The tour is part of the league’s partnership with Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL). During their stay, B.LEAGUE UNITED will face two of the NBL’s top clubs: South East Melbourne Phoenix on August 6 and Melbourne United on August 9.

The league also announced that Damian Cotter has been appointed head coach of the team. Cotter most recently served as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls through the 2025–26 season.

With the cooperation of the Japan Basketball Association and after coordinating with national team commitments, 12 players were selected based on their overall performances and potential. The roster includes Gunma Crane Thunders point guard Takuto Nakamura and Chiba Jets point guard Riku Segawa.

As part of the league’s overseas development initiative, last year’s B.LEAGUE INVITATIONAL 2025 featured an international exhibition series in Japan against NBL SELECT, a team composed of standout players from Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL).

B.LEAGUE UNITED Roster

• Takuto Nakamura (PG, 25, 184 cm, 79 kg, Gunma Crane Thunders)

• Leon Watanabe (PF, 20, 206 cm, 100 kg, Altiri Chiba)

• Riku Segawa (PG, 19, 185 cm, 83 kg, Chiba Jets)

• Roy Hideki Igwe (PF, 21, 201 cm, 102 kg, Kawasaki Brave Thunders)

• Gakuto Arai (SG, 22, 190 cm, 90 kg, Yokohama B-Corsairs)

• Hayato Wakugawa (SG, 22, 197 cm, 90 kg, San-en NeoPhoenix)

• Eita Wakano (SG, 19, 186 cm, 85 kg, Nagoya Diamond Dolphins)

• Shuma Nishibe (SG/SF, 23, 189 cm, 87 kg, Kyoto Hannaryz)

• Haruya Matsuno (SG, 23, 190 cm, 83 kg, Hiroshima Dragonflies)

• Lucas Tanaka (SF/PF, 22, 194 cm, 95 kg, Nagasaki Velca)

• Higen Hasegawa (PF, 21, 202 cm, 85 kg, Yokohama Excellence)

• Taiga Okada (PG, 22, 174 cm, 71 kg, FA)

How Željko Pavličević Changed Japanese Basketball

In 2006, Japanese basketball reached a defining crossroads. Hosting the FIBA World Championship on home soil presented a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The Japan men’s national team earned its first victory at a World Championship in 43 years, inspiring optimism across the country.

Yet behind that historic achievement lay mounting tensions between the Japan Basketball Association and the national team’s coaching staff, painful reforms aimed at closing the gap with the world’s elite, and a series of challenges that would shape the program’s future.

This series looks back on the journey of the Japan men’s national team from 2006 to the present, examining how the program has evolved, what it has gained, what it has lost, and how it has continued its pursuit of competing with the world’s best.

Drawing on contemporary accounts and key events, each installment explores the turning points that have defined two decades of Japanese basketball.

1. Hiroshima, 2006—A Tournament Opens Amid Great Expectations and Immense Pressure

In August 2006, Hiroshima became the stage for a historic moment as Japan hosted the FIBA World Championship—now known as the FIBA Basketball World Cup—for the first time.

As the tournament approached, the Japan men’s national team found itself under unprecedented strategic pressure. At the time, Japanese basketball was struggling with its declining standing in Asia and the vast gap separating it from the world’s elite.

Against this backdrop, the Japan Basketball Association (JBA) faced three unavoidable objectives: to lead the host nation into the final round (the Round of 16), to complete the long-standing effort to build a bigger and more physically competitive team, and to demonstrate that the long-term development program entrusted to Croatian head coach Željko Pavličević in 2003 was producing tangible results.

Behind the scenes, however, the tournament was accompanied by deep structural tensions. While public enthusiasm continued to build, a fundamental rift had emerged between the JBA leadership and the national team’s head coach.

Determined to make the home tournament a success, the association placed its faith entirely in a single Croatian coach. Yet that decision also required Japanese basketball to accept a bitter remedy: a reform that challenged many of the assumptions and traditions on which the sport in Japan had long been built.

2. Željko Pavličević and the Arrival of a Global Standard

The appointment of Željko Pavličević marked one of the most significant turning points in the history of Japanese basketball.

A coach who had twice led European clubs to continental titles, Pavličević brought with him a philosophy that rejected many of the qualities traditionally regarded as virtues in Japan, arguing instead that they had become liabilities at the international level.

He openly dismissed Japan’s established style of play as “junior’s basketball.”

His criticism was not directed at the players’ technical ability but at a deeper structural problem: Japan’s reluctance to embrace the level of physical contact demanded by international competition.

Pavličević set out to build a team with greater size without sacrificing mobility, fundamentally changing the direction of the national program.

The resistance to that vision reached a breaking point four months before the World Championship. In an extraordinary move, the JBA announced the national team roster without the head coach’s approval. The decision triggered an unprecedented boycott, with eight players withdrawing from the squad in protest.

After overcoming what amounted to institutional sabotage, only those who remained—Pavličević’s loyal disciples—would go on to experience firsthand the harsh realities of competing against the world’s best.

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Japan suffered a 81–79 road loss to Korea in its second game of Window 3 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, but still finished atop its first-round group with a 4–2 record.

Korea was without Hyunjung Lee, who is participating in the NBA Summer League, while Junghyung Lee was unavailable after suffering an injury against Chinese Taipei. Despite those absences, Korea delivered a spirited performance.

Japan led by eight in the opening quarter before Korea’s momentum was sparked by Edi Daniel’s energetic defense. A 12–0 run gave the hosts a 23–19 lead. Japan responded through Ryusei Sasaki, whose layup tied the game, and the remainder of the first half was closely contested, with Japan taking a two-point advantage into halftime.

Japan appeared to seize control in the third quarter. Josh Hawkinson scored on three field goals in transition and early offense during an 8–0 run that extended Japan’s lead to 11 points. However, Korea raised its defensive intensity, holding Japan scoreless for nearly four minutes. Junyong Choi scored on two jumpers and two free throws as Korea answered with a 12–0 run to regain the lead, 55–54, entering the fourth quarter.

Korea maintained its offensive rhythm in the final period, with Woosuk Lee attacking the basket and knocking down a three-pointer. Choi converted a second-chance basket with 5:40 remaining to push the lead to nine points.

Japan fought back behind Hawkinson and Yuta Watanabe. After recording a steal, Hawkinson followed his own offensive rebound for a basket that cut the deficit to 80–78. With seven seconds remaining, Woosuk Lee missed both free throws, giving Japan one final opportunity. Hawkinson was fouled after securing the rebound and had a chance to tie the game, but his second free throw bounced off the rim. Japan still had one last possession with 2.9 seconds left, but Sasaki’s potential game-winning three-pointer missed, allowing Korea to escape with an 81–79 victory.

Hawkinson finished with a game-high 30 points and 12 rebounds, while Watanabe recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. However, Japan's 17 turnovers proved costly, leading directly to 22 points for Korea and ultimately becoming the biggest factor in the loss.

The win improved Korea to 3–3 and secured the team’s place in the second round of qualifying. Woosuk Lee led Korea with 19 points, while Junyong Choi added 16. Nineteen-year-old Edi Daniel contributed nine points and five assists, providing a spark on both ends of the floor with his energy and defensive intensity.

After the game, Japan head coach Dai Oketani pointed to live-ball turnovers as the turning point.

“Korea played with even greater intensity than they did in Okinawa. They applied more defensive pressure and were much more physical today. When we built our lead, we gave up too many transition opportunities off turnovers. Live-ball turnovers remain one of our biggest issues.”

Yuta Watanabe was equally critical of Japan’s performance.

“I don’t think I played well at all today, so this was a game we deserved to lose. Korea defended with tremendous intensity because they were fighting for their lives, and they deserve credit for that. More than anything, though, we beat ourselves. We gave up far too many points off turnovers. If we continue playing like this, both Japan and I still have a long way to go.”

Japan earned an impressive 92–73 road victory over China in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, during Window 3 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers, securing a place in the second round with one game remaining in the first-round schedule.

China opened the game by taking a seven-point lead midway through the first quarter, but Japan responded immediately after a timeout. Keisei Tominaga capped an 8–0 run with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, giving Japan a 22–21 lead at the end of the period. After extending the advantage to double digits in the second quarter, Japan never allowed the hosts to mount a serious comeback.

Facing a Chinese team with a significant size advantage in the frontcourt, Japan countered with crisp ball movement and constant player movement on offense. The visitors recorded 24 assists, including a game-high six from Takumi Saito, while committing only 10 turnovers.

Josh Hawkinson led Japan with 27 points, knocking down three three-pointers as part of the team’s 12-for-30 performance from beyond the arc. Although China won the rebounding battle by six, Yudai Baba grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, making key contributions on both ends of the floor.

Yuta Watanabe added 16 points, while Ryusei Sasaki, appearing in his first national team game since recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, scored 13 points off the bench.

Another positive for Japan was its ability to manage the workload of Hawkinson and Watanabe. With Koya Kawamata and Akira Jacobs each playing more than 10 minutes, both stars were limited to just over 30 minutes, providing valuable rest ahead of the upcoming game against Korea.

China was led by Hu Jinqiu with 15 points and Liao Sanning with 14. Liao had sparked China’s comeback victory over Japan in Okinawa earlier in the qualifying campaign, but this time the hosts struggled offensively, shooting just 38.9 percent from the field. China also allowed 23 fast-break points, reflecting defensive lapses throughout the game.

With the victory, Japan improved to 4–1 and remained atop the group standings. Korea, Chinese Taipei, and China are all 2–3, with Korea holding second place on the tiebreaker, followed by Chinese Taipei and China.

The final games of the first round will be played on July 6, when Japan travels to face Korea, while China meets Chinese Taipei at a neutral site in Korea.

Dai Oketani, Japan Head Coach

“We felt like after today’s game—and after Window 2, where we lost—we had made a lot of adjustments from the last meeting. We knew exactly how we wanted to attack and who we needed to focus on defensively. Everybody did a great job playing their role on both ends of the floor. Most importantly, this was a really good win in a very hostile road environment. It was a true team victory.”

Josh Hawkinson, PF/C

“First of all, I’m really proud of the way our team responded in a tough road environment. The China fans were loud and cheering against us, but everyone came together over the past two or three weeks, executed the game plan, and fully bought into the system. It was an incredible team effort. Our gang rebounding was especially important, particularly from our guards. Yudai grabbing 10 rebounds was huge, and so many players stepped up in different ways. It wasn’t about one individual—it was a complete team performance.”

A native of Hungary, Kovács has built a strong reputation in European basketball as an assistant coach. He was part of the coaching staff that won Spain’s top professional league, the Liga ACB, and has been widely credited for helping develop one of Europe’s most effective and entertaining offensive systems. He also contributed to a team that reached the EuroLeague Final Four, earning recognition as one of Europe’s rising coaching prospects.

Chiba enters the 2026–27 season facing significant roster changes, with all of its import, Asian quota, and naturalized players set to be replaced. However, the club’s Japanese core—including Yuki Togashi and Yuta Watanabe—remains intact.

How quickly that group adapts to Kovács’ system is expected to be one of the key factors in determining Chiba’s success in the inaugural B.Premier season.

Official Release

Henare enjoyed a distinguished playing career as a guard and represented New Zealand at the 2002 and 2006 FIBA World Cups as well as the 2004 Athens Olympics.

After retiring as a player, he began his coaching career in 2011. Henare served as head coach of the New Zealand national team from 2015 to 2019 and helped guide the Tall Blacks to the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Following the World Cup, Henare moved to Japan to become head coach of the Kagawa Five Arrows. He later took over the Shimane Susanoo Magic in 2021 and led the club to the B1 semifinals in 2023. Most recently, he served as associate head coach of Nagasaki Velca, helping the club capture its first B1 championship this season.

Ibaraki also announced the following additions and appointments to Henare’s coaching staff:

• Trent Adam — Assistant Coach

• Eito Yuminami — Assistant Coach

• Mao Ibori — Assistant Coach

• Dion Prewster — Player Development Coach

Official Release

Vickerman arrives with one of the most accomplished résumés in Australian basketball. He spent the past nine seasons as head coach of Melbourne United, guiding the club to three NBL championships since taking over in 2017.

Japan national team forward Yudai Baba, who played under Vickerman at Melbourne United, was part of one of those championship-winning teams before joining Nagasaki and helping the club capture the 2025–26 B1 title.

In addition to his club success, Vickerman has also coached at the international level. He served as head coach of the Australian national team during the February 2023 and November 2024 windows of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The appointment marks the beginning of a new era for Nagasaki as the reigning B1 champions look to build on their historic title-winning campaign under one of the most respected coaches in the Asia-Pacific region.

Comments from Dean Vickerman

I am extremely excited to be the next Head Coach of Nagasaki Velca.

I look forward to competing in the new B.LEAGUE PREMIER division and playing in front of the best fans in the league at HAPPINESS ARENA.

I would like to thank and congratulate Coach Mody, his players, and his staff for bringing Velca its first championship. My job now is to bring sustained success to the program and challenge for more championships.

Oketani, who will continue to serve as head coach of the Japan national team, recently stepped down from the Ryukyu Golden Kings after leading the club to five consecutive B.LEAGUE Finals appearances.

After graduating from high school, Oketani studied at Arizona State University before beginning his coaching career with the Oita HeatDevils in the bj-league. He later served as head coach of the Ryukyu Golden Kings, Iwate Big Bulls, Osaka Evessa, and Sendai 89ers.

Returning to Ryukyu in the summer of 2021, Oketani guided the club to its first B1 championship in 2023 and its first Emperor’s Cup title in 2025, cementing his reputation as one of Japan’s most successful coaches.

Kawasaki has been searching for a way back to contention since the retirement of franchise legend Nick Fazekas. The club hired former Czech Republic national team coach Neno Ginzburg, but inconsistent results led to his dismissal last November. Associate coach Jeffrey Katsuhisa took over on an interim basis, but Kawasaki finished the 2025–26 season with a league-worst 16–44 record, placing 12th in the Eastern Conference.

After two difficult seasons, the Brave Thunders have turned to Oketani, whose track record of building winning programs makes him one of the most respected coaches in Japanese basketball. The club hopes his leadership can accelerate its return to playoff contention in the B.Premier era.

Official Press Release

Mikawa also added Norio Sassa as associate head coach. Both Anzai and Sassa previously served as head coaches of the Utsunomiya Brex and bring extensive experience at both the club and national team levels.

Anzai guided Utsunomiya to the 2021–22 B.LEAGUE championship, while Sassa has worked as an assistant coach for the Japan national team, helping the program at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Under Richman, Mikawa reached the postseason in each of the past three seasons. However, the club was unable to advance beyond the quarterfinals during that span. This season, despite securing home-court advantage as the second seed in the Western Conference, Mikawa was swept by the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the quarterfinals. The team also fell short in the Emperor’s Cup Final.

With a proven championship-winning coach in Anzai and an experienced associate head coach in Sassa, Mikawa is clearly aiming to take the next step and establish itself as a true title contender in the B.Premier era.

Official Press Release

Rana spent three seasons with the Kyoto Hannaryz through the 2024–25 campaign and brings extensive experience from both the international and professional ranks. He built his reputation as a longtime head coach in Canada’s youth basketball system, including at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), and coached the World Select Team at the Nike Hoop Summit, a showcase that has featured many future NBA players.

On the international stage, Rana guided Canada to the gold medal at the 2017 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. He later served as an assistant coach for Germany at the Tokyo Olympics and was the head coach of Egypt at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Rana also has NBA experience, having worked as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings.

According to the club’s official press release, Nagoya expects Rana’s international background and player-development expertise to help build on the team’s recent success and establish a new chapter under his leadership.

Official Release

Richman had been linked with Alvark in several overseas reports prior to the official announcement. Before coming to Japan, he worked with the NBA’s Washington Wizards as both a video coordinator and assistant coach. He was appointed head coach of the Seahorses Mikawa ahead of the 2023–24 season and guided the club to three consecutive postseason appearances. This season, he also led Mikawa to the Emperor’s Cup Final.

In February, Richman joined the Japan men’s national team coaching staff as offensive coordinator.

Throughout his coaching career, Richman has emphasized the concept of “Kaizen”—the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement. How that approach translates to an Alvark Tokyo team that has been eliminated in the quarterfinals for two straight seasons will be one of the key storylines heading into the new campaign.

Richman will also be looking to overcome a hurdle that followed him at Mikawa, where his teams were knocked out in the quarterfinals in each of the past three seasons. At Alvark, he will have another opportunity to take the next step and guide a title contender deeper into the postseason.

On the final day of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 East Asia Regional Qualifier, Japan defeated China 63–56 to finish the tournament with a 3–1 record.

Japan, China, and Korea all ended the competition at 3–1, but tiebreakers based on point differential placed China first, Korea second, and Japan third in the final standings. All three teams secured qualification for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026, which will be held in India this August.

The game opened as a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find their shooting rhythm. Japan held a narrow 11–10 lead after the first quarter before beginning to create separation in the second.

Roy Honda scored on consecutive layups, and Alex McMillan extended the lead to eight points with a three-pointer at the 8:04 mark. McMillan followed with a turnaround jumper before Tetta Sakurai’s layup pushed Japan’s advantage to 14 points with 5:17 remaining in the half.

China responded with a 10–0 run fueled by three-pointers from Xuan Hao and Yuxiu Chen, cutting the deficit to three by halftime.

Despite holding a size advantage along the frontline, China struggled to generate consistent offense. Hao’s driving layup gave China a 39–38 lead with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter, but Japan immediately answered. Just 18 seconds later, McMillan converted a three-point play to put Japan back in front.

Japan maintained its advantage behind key baskets from Chuson Jack Shiratani and Sakurai before Honda’s layup with 7:17 remaining in the fourth quarter restored a double-digit lead at 55–45.

The Japanese defense then took over. After Jianhao Huang’s reverse layup with 3:35 left, China was held scoreless for the remainder of the game as Japan closed out the 63–56 victory.

McMillan led Japan with 22 points and 8 rebounds, while Honda added 16 points. Sakurai contributed 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals. Despite being undersized, Japan outscored China 38–30 in the paint and forced 19 turnovers, converting them into 18 points.

China was led by Yizhaojie Zhang, who scored 11 points.

Postgame Comments — Japan U18 Head Coach Sota Katamine

“The key to today’s win was our solid defensive performance. In our previous three games, we weren’t consistently applying pressure in the backcourt and making opponents work for every possession.

During our meetings yesterday and today, assistant coach Shinji Tomiyama prepared video clips showing our current level of play. They weren’t necessarily clips the players wanted to watch, but they helped deliver an important message.

We don’t have the size or physicality to simply make up for mistakes on the back end. However, the court is still 28 meters long, and we can force opponents to spend time and energy getting into their offense. Our identity has to be built on effort and discipline rather than physical advantages, and that was the mindset we brought into this game.

We struggled to make shots early, but the fact that we were able to hold the game at 0–0 for the first few minutes was symbolic of the way we wanted to play. Defensively, we stayed locked in from the start.

Offensively, China had the size advantage with their No. 17 and No. 15 big men, but because of that, we felt this game would allow No. 10, Alex McMillan, to showcase his strengths. Beginning with yesterday’s game, we instructed No. 14 Roy Honda and No. 15 Chuson Jack Shiratani to make a conscious effort to get Alex the ball.

It was very encouraging to see our offense flow through him. His shooting ability, as well as his strong fundamentals that allow him to create opportunities without turning the ball over, were major factors in today’s victory.”

Final Standings

（The top four teams qualified for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026.）

1. China (3–1)

2. Korea (3–1)

3. Japan (3–1)

4. Chinese Taipei (1–3)

5. Hong Kong China (0–4)

On the fourth day of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 East Asia Regional Qualifier, Japan defeated Chinese Taipei 109–76 to secure a place in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026, which will be held in India this August.

After struggling in a loss to Korea, Japan took control from the opening minutes. Chuson Jack Shiratani delivered an explosive first half, scoring 28 points before the break. However, Chinese Taipei found its rhythm offensively in the second quarter, knocking down three three-pointers during a key stretch and taking a 44–42 lead with 3:46 remaining in the half.

Shiratani responded with a series of momentum-changing plays. He converted a three-point play off a second-chance opportunity with 2:27 left, followed it with a steal and dunk 13 seconds later, and then buried a three-pointer with 34 seconds remaining. Japan entered halftime with a 53–50 advantage.

The game shifted decisively after the break as Japan raised its defensive intensity. Roy Honda and Fumiya Nakamura, who were both scoreless in the first half, knocked down consecutive three-pointers to spark a decisive run. Honda scored 23 of his points in the second half, while Shiratani finished with 32 points and 9 rebounds.

Unlike the loss to Korea, Japan displayed strong ball movement and offensive execution throughout the game, recording 27 assists while committing only nine turnovers. Defensively, Japan forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 36 points, a major factor in the lopsided victory.

Japan will conclude the tournament on Sunday against China.

Postgame Comments — Japan U18 Head Coach Sota Katamine

“Before the game, we emphasized starting with high defensive intensity. It didn’t fully carry over in the first half, and we had to call several timeouts. Offensively, though, we shot the ball extremely well and moved it effectively. The adjustments we worked on in practice yesterday were reflected in our offense.

The bigger issue was that we weren’t executing the defense we wanted in the first half. We addressed that at halftime, and the players responded with the right mindset. Their execution improved, and that was the main reason we were able to reduce our opponent’s scoring.

Securing a spot in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup was one of our goals, so that gives us some peace of mind. However, we still have one game remaining against China, and we intend to compete with this group and go for the win. We’ll recover properly and do our best in the final game.”