Japan's slam-dunk success built on perseverance and planning

The progress of Japanese basketball in recent years can be credited to perseverance, according to Akira Yamamoto, senior manager of the youth and technical development section of the Japanese Basketball Association (JBA).

At the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Japan was the only Asian team to earn a spot at the Paris Olympics, marking its first qualification for Games on foreign soil since 1976. Additionally, the Japanese women's team secured its place at Paris 2024 in February.

In a written interview with Xinhua, Yamamoto said that the experience gained from the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics has elevated the strength of Japanese men's basketball. Meanwhile, the Japanese women benefited from their silver-medal finish at the Tokyo Games, allied to the dedication of coaches, staff and players.

He outlined several key factors behind this breakthrough: strategic leadership from the national coach, support from national staff, the involvement of NBA players, daily development of Japanese players through an enhanced domestic league, and sufficient exposure to international competition.

The JBA is supportive of players who ply their trade abroad, deeming it helpful for them to gain more international experience, and conducts regular check-ins to monitor their progress. Japan boasts two NBA players, one in France, and several in NCAA Division 1 for men. On the women's side, players are active in the top-tier leagues of Australia and Spain.

Japan's B.League currently allows each team to sign three international players and one Asian import. It is reported that the B.League plans to further relax restrictions on the number of appearances by foreign players.

Yamamoto believes that the presence of foreign players contributes greatly to improving the quality of the game and has a positive impact on the performances of Japanese players.

The influence of the Slam Dunk manga series has significantly boosted interest in basketball across Japanese society. As of 2023, Japan had over 570,000 registered basketball players, distributed across various age groups.

"We usually start our Under-16 and Under-18 national team camps with approximately 30 players, and after organizing several camps, we select a final squad of 12 players," Yamamoto said.

Yamamoto stressed that the JBA has built strong links with Japan's high-school league and college basketball scene, emphasizing the crucial role of campus leagues in nurturing talent.

"For the high-school league, we organize the Top League and the Block League with top high-school programs. Top League is for high schools that have won or have ranked highly in the national championships. For the Block League, we divide 47 prefectures into nine blocks, and these feature the schools that are not playing in the Top League," said Yamamoto.

"For college basketball, leagues are organized in nine blocks as well, and games are played from September to November. The competition format is different for each block. Also, there is a national tournament where top teams from each block participate," he added.

Besides basketball, Japan's soccer and volleyball teams have also produced impressive performances in recent years. Both the men's and women's soccer teams are top contenders in Asia, and are enjoying increasing success on the global stage. The Japanese men's volleyball team made history last year by reaching the top four in the FIVB World League and securing a spot at the Paris Olympics.

Asked about the similarities in the progress of the three sports in Japan, Yamamoto replied: "Although we do not see a direct link, we believe that the High Performance Center initiatives of the Japanese Sports Council (JSC) have had a positive impact on the strategic planning of each organization."

Moreover, Yamamoto emphasized the importance of perseverance, stating it is something they are aware of in terms of developing their sports.

Expressing respect for Chinese basketball, Yamamoto said: "China's national teams have young and talented players. Let us work and develop together to raise the level of Asian basketball."

Xinhua