Japanese 2012-2013 National Team

[CKR13]

JBA chairman Taro Aso congratulated the JOC and all the civic volunteers. About basketball, he stated that the basketball climate will be "very different" by 2020.

Standouts from the Universiade like big guard Ryogo Sumino is still viable for 2020. Women's team will also look different as from the current roster, Ramu Tokashiki and Yuki Miyazawa are just 21 years of age.

[CKR13]

A basketball stadium named Youth Plaza Arena B has been announced by the JOC and JBA in downtown Tokyo that will accommodate 20,000 people and will start construction in 2016.

[reamily]

Hopefully basketball's popularity in Japan would get a shot in the arm when they host the olympics..

[CKR13]

JBA already has an information drive and an awareness campaign with the media. After the JBA board congress late this year, we can expect something concrete not just with asynchronous PR campaigns but a veritable program with equities involved.

[CKR13]

Japan's National Basketball League pledges an all out support for the 2020 Olympics and with the impending change for the next world cup's qualification format, the NBL stated that the league will be flexible and accommodating for the national team's preparation by then.



Manifesto: http://www.nbl.or.jp/news/%E7%A5%9D%...%9A%21%21/121/

[CKR13]

Japanese East Asian Games National Team

Daiki Tanaka
Yuya Nagayoshi
Leo Vendorame
Yuma Fuji
Sohei Kawakami
Soichiro Fujitaka
Kevin Hareyama
Kengo Nomoto
Toru Minagawa
Taku Bando
Taito Nakahigashi
Seiji Ikaruga

The team is undersized as Nagayoshi is the only pure center at 199cm. Kengo Nomoto and Toru Minagawa are power forwards in regards with their positions. Most likely, Kengo "King Kong" Nomoto will back-up Nagayoshi at center. This team will be very perimeter oriented as the designated sniper is Taku Bando.

[CKR13]

The team is indeed an Under-23 selection. Dubbed "Hayabusa Project".

[reamily]

Pound for pound in asia.. the Japanese has the best skillset offensively.. but certainly last in terms of toughness..

[CKR13]

Depth Chart:

Yuya Nagayoshi / Toru Minagawa
Kengo Nomoto / Sohei Kawakami
Daiki Tanaka / Soichiro Fujitaka / Kevin Hareyama / Taito Nakahigashi
Leo Vendorame / Taku Bando / Seiji Ikaruga
Yuma Fuji


Sohei Kawakami may move up to play some PF as he is heavier compared to the other forwards.Then again, head coach Kenji Hasegawa likes to push tempo and insert an SF into the PF on which SF on the team will move up to PF for pressure on the transition defense. Yuma Fuji is a point guard and among the guards that can play some minutes at point is Leo Vendorame, who is known for his aggressive press on defense. While Taku Bando is in the mold of a Keijuro Matsui as Bando can shoot.

[JAMSKIE]

Pound for pound in asia.. the Japanese has the best skillset offensively.. but certainly last in terms of toughness..

I'm impressed with Japanese shooting guards & small forwards. Perhaps among the best in Asia. Kawamura & Kanamaru are as good as the Koreans guards & swingmen. Furukawa & Hiejima, on the other hand and promising.

[CKR13]

It seems that a scrimmage with the U16 team is lined up for the East Asian games bound team. It will benefit the U16 more in playing against their elders while this U23 team has assembled since last year and participated in the 2013 Universiade.

[Dotch]

CKR13, can you profile the half and foreign born Japaneses playing in the current FIBA Asia U-16 tourney? thanks. And any other foreign-flavored Japanese currently in the pipeline?

[CKR13]

CKR13, can you profile the half and foreign born Japaneses playing in the current FIBA Asia U-16 tourney? thanks. And any other foreign-flavored Japanese currently in the pipeline?

The current U16 team has Senegalese Rui Hachimura, born in Japan. Same said for Daniel "Dan" Nanna who is Nigerian but born in Japan. In the pipeline, Kevin Hareyama, Tenketsu Harimoto and Leo Vendorame are being trained for the future.

EDIT:

[CKR13]

The Japan Basketball Players Association has been ratified as an association but not a labor union. Their aim is to help promote the game of basketball in Japan. National team players who did not suit up for this year's event, in Yusuke Okada (Toyota) is the President.

Current national team players included as officials are: Hiroyuki Kinoshita (Wakayama Trians), Ryota Sakurai (Levanga Hokkaido), Joji Takeuchi (Hitachi Sunrockers Tokyo). Retired national team players who are executives: Shogo Asayama (Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dolphins Nagoya), Shinsuke Kashiwagi (Aisin SeaHorses Mikawa) and Ken Takeda (Link Tochigi).

[CKR13]

Daiki Tanaka, Yuya Nagayoshi, Yuma Fuji and Sohei Kawakami will be playing in the NBL next year. All four are full time members of the senior national team with Tanaka and Nagayoshi being promoted in 2012. Fuji was promoted in June while Kawakami was recently promoted.