Certainly, Japan is not the country of basketball, but it is also far from being a place that keeps its distance from the sport. In fact, there are some movements that prove exactly the opposite.
Over the years, the sport has begun to win its place in the hearts of the Japanese people, and this did not happen by chance. There were small seeds sprouting little by little in the daily life of the people of that country.
But do you really know what happened to get to the current scenario and what this scenario actually is? Follow along to discover a little more about Japan’s relationship with basketball.
We also recommend reading:
Table of Contents
Japan and Basketball: How It All Started
If you believe that the country’s relationship with the orange ball has always been like this, you are very mistaken. A painstaking effort has been made since the last century. The path taken went from a manga artist in the 90s to today’s NBA bets. But there were many more factors of relevance along the way:
- Japan hosting the Basketball World Championship in 2006;
- Appearance of Japanese players in the NBA;
- Creation of national championships like the B. League.
Let’s get to know a little about each topic to piece together the history of the sport in the nation.
Takehiko Inoue, the Artist
We can say that Takehiko was the great precursor of the sport in Japan, even though he was not an athlete. Everything happened in the early 90s when the artist created a manga themed around the game.
Called Slam Dunk, this was a manga series that revolved around a high school basketball team in Japan. The story became a craze, and it is estimated that shortly after its emergence, the number of basketball practitioners in Japan jumped to 5 out of every 6 young people. This was, literally, the greatest and strongest influence the country had to turn towards the sport and it continues to bear fruit even today, more than 30 years later.
We recommend reading: List of Countries That Watch the Most Anime
Basketball World Championship – 2006
In 2006, Japan hosted the Basketball World Championship organized by FIBA along with the Japan Basketball Association. Previously, the competition had 16 competitors, but this year it expanded to 24 teams.
Japan qualified as the host country, and 7 other countries had the opportunity to participate in the tournament. In that edition, the champion was the Spanish team, with Japan finishing in 20th place (just after Brazil, which was in 19th).
Japanese Players in the NBA
You may not have heard of them, but there are some Japanese players who have reached the highest level of an athlete’s career in the sport: they made it to the NBA. In the discreet manner known to the Japanese, the players were called up and fulfilled their roles in some games. They were:
1. Rui Hachimura: this is the name of the biggest Japanese star in the NBA. He already has over 100 games in the League and has been with the Washington Wizards since then. The player still has a great future ahead and promises to his compatriots to be the face of the sport in the nation.
2. Cam Thomas: more recent in the championship, Cam was selected by the Brooklyn Nets in 2021. A rookie in the NBA, he has only played about 50 games for the team and still has a great future ahead. This is a name that will certainly shine a lot on the courts.
3. Yuta Watanabe: currently playing for the Toronto Raptors, Watanabe arrived in the NBA in 2018, through the Memphis Grizzlies.
4. Yuki Togashi: the little guy who made noise. Signed in 2014 by the Dallas Mavericks, the player held the title of the shortest player in the League. Unfortunately, all the frenzy lasted only a year, causing the athlete to leave the NBA in 2015.
B. League
In 2016, Japan decided to create a professional men’s basketball league. It is affiliated with FIBA and arose from a merger, required by FIBA itself, of the National Basketball League with Japan Professional Basketball. Since then, the tournament has three divisions, with the top two having 18 teams each and operating with a promotion and relegation system.
Of course, there are numerous other factors contributing to the popularity of the sport in the country. Japanese schools strongly encourage the practice of various sports through their school clubs.
We recommend reading: Bukatsu – School Clubs in Japan – Extracurricular Activities
Sports Betting
As for sports betting, the Japanese scenario is very similar to the Brazilian one. Currently in Japan, only horse racing, bicycle racing, motorcycle racing, and boat racing are allowed in the country.
However, in the current year, the possibility of expanding the number of sports is being studied, all to make the economy in the sector thrive. While it is not regulated, the Japanese can place their bets online, just like us Brazilians. And, as in the rest of the world, this modality is a great trend appreciated by the Japanese people.
Leave a Reply