The “A Better Future Together” Basketball Clinic was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium Second Hall, a legendary venue for basketball. With Hiroki Matsuzaki of the Yokohama B-Corsairs and Haruki Takahara of the Tokyo Haneda Vickies as guests, and former professional basketball player Yui Hanada serving as instructor, what did the 23 middle school students feel through their interaction with professional players?

The international basketball tournament “World University Basketball Series (WUBS),” where top university teams from around the world compete for the championship, was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium Second Hall from August 10 to 13. The basketball clinic was held on August 9, the day before WUBS, at the same venue.

On the day of the event, Tokyo was hot and humid after a heavy downpour. Just walking from JR Harajuku Station to the venue was enough to leave you drenched in sweat. But once inside the stadium, the energetic footsteps of middle school students undaunted by the harsh climate echoed inside the Yoyogi National Gymnasium Second Hall. The court seats 4,000 visitors, and is designed so spectators can feel the heat of the game from any angle. An Aurora Vision screen installed courtside gave the whole setup the feel of a pro game. Matsuzaki noted, “Being able to play here at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium Second Hall, the cradle of Japanese basketball, is a great opportunity for the middle school students.”

Most of the participants seemed to be meeting for the first time, but once on the court, everyone was on the same team. They were each getting ready in their own way, checking the feel of the ball, exchanging passes, and all eager for the clinic to begin. When Matsuzaki and Takahara made their entrance, the venue erupted with applause. The students had stars in their eyes at the sight of the players they admired. 24-year-old Takahara and 23-year-old Matsuzaki, both promising young players who carry the future of Japanese basketball, were close in age to the middle school students and served as role models. Coach Hanada called out to them, and they began with warm-ups. With the two players joining in the lesson, the students seemed a bit nervous.

Coach Hanada remembered, “This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play with professional players. There weren’t events like these when I was growing up, so first and foremost I wanted the students to enjoy this. They seemed nervous, but I wanted them to communicate well not just with each other but also with the players so that this would be a lasting memory for them.”

Sensing the students’ nervousness, Coach Hanada proposed having them practice passing in pairs and groups of five while introducing themselves to each other. Students who wound up in the same group as the players were surprised at first, but as communication flowed, their tension gradually eased and they began to enjoy the interaction. One first-year middle school boy who participated said with a smile: “It was my first time talking with a professional player. I was nervous at first, but he was so friendly it was easy to talk to him. I’m really glad I got to talk to him!” Interacting with professional players who usually live in a completely different world must have been a valuable experience for the middle school students. They were riveted by every single play the two players made.

Takahara: “I figured the kids would be nervous, so I made sure I was the one who approached them and talked to them first. Also, there aren’t many chances to participate in clinics like this, so I tried to enjoy the clinic myself as much as I could. I hope they enjoyed it too.”

After deepening their communication through team practice, the clinic moved on to its highlight: a game showdown. The participants were divided into Team A, led by Matsuzaki, and Team B, led by Takahara, for a series of mini-games. With each successful shot, the team compositions changed one after another—from “3-on-3” to “5-on-5” to “1-on-1.” The middle school students, calling out to each other and passing the ball back and forth, worked together so seamlessly that it was hard to believe they had only met that day. There were also moments when players boldly challenged Matsuzaki and Takahara. Although the match between the two teams ended in a tie, they concluded by applauding each other to acknowledge their strong performance.Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Matsuzaki: “Last year I participated in WUBS as a player, and this year I was able to be involved through teaching events. By participating in the clinic, I think I’ve been able to show them how fun and how appealing basketball is. The vibe was great. Going forward, I want to perform well in games and become a player that children can look up to as a source of hope.”

Takahara: “I’d be happy if I was able to bring out even a little of what the children have through this clinic. As the season gets underway, I’ll do my best to give back to everyone who supports us through my play.”

The important things are to actively communicate with teammates and to enjoy basketball. That was the message that the players and the coach wanted to convey through this clinic. Rakuten Sports will continue to focus not only on supporting teams and players, but also on nurturing the next generation as we aim for “a better future.”

Yuki Matsuzaki @hiro__m.24
Haruki Takahara @haruki3013

TEXT: Kodai Wada
PHOTO: Teppei Hori