In the NBA, supporters who dedicate themselves to cheering on a specific team or player are called "superfans." umj23 is an ardent fan of the Golden State Warriors, one of the most popular teams in the NBA supported by Rakuten, and its ace player Steph Curry, and he is exactly the kind of person who embodies that fan culture in Japan. We asked him about his fandom journey so far and what makes it so rewarding.

“I started following Curry’s play in 2014. It began when my NBA-loving father sent me a LINE message saying, ‘There’s an incredible player in the NBA.’

I had been enthralled by the NBA in the 1990s during the heyday of the Chicago Bulls, so Curry’s performance and demeanor completely overturned my image of NBA players I’d had until that point.
I had thought of NBA players as fiercely competitive “jock types”―but Curry played with such obvious joy, and he was so carefree and expressive. And then, I saw Curry at an off-season event in Japan in the 2014-15 season, and seeing him interact and play with children up close made me think, ‘What a wonderful player, he’s so happy when he plays basketball. I want to root for him.’ And my fandom activities began.

I started collecting his jerseys, the signature shoe models he wore, related merchandise, and the clothes he produced himself, and I watched him play on TV… I now have about 30 of his jerseys and 50 pairs of shoes. Once a year, I organize a one-week NBA match-watching tour with my basketball friends, and we go to the U.S. to watch Curry play live, both home games and away games. And whenever there’s a promotional tour in Asia, I always attend in person.

When I first went to watch a live NBA game in 2015, I managed to get a jersey signed by Curry. Curry is incredibly caring toward fans―maybe because he rose from a place where he wasn’t rated highly― and after his pre-game warm-up, he signs autographs for the fans. Even though the game I went to was an away game, Curry was incredibly popular even there, with lots of people waiting for his autograph crowding the concourse. I was getting jostled around, but I just stuck my hand with the jersey out onto the concourse, and when I pulled it back, it was like, ‘Oh, he’s signed it!’ It was just unreal.

Maybe that’s how I started wanting more. I wanted to get a cleaner autograph the next time, then I wanted one that wasn’t abbreviated, then I wanted that message he writes on shoes that says, ‘I can do all things…,’ and from there my fandom basically went into overdrive. Each time I went to the U.S. I’d get his autograph, and I’d also purchase other things signed by him through auctions and official shops, so I now have about 30 or 40 of Curry’s autographs!

My most memorable encounter with Curry so far was in 2019, when I was able to get an autograph up close, and even got a photo taken with him. And then I went to an auction to bid for the jersey that he was wearing that day, and got him to sign that special jersey along with a special message I’d always wanted at last year’s Japan Games. That jersey was actually quite expensive, and it was a miracle that my wife let me bid, because it was right after our daughter had just been born.

People sometimes ask me, “Isn’t it hard rooting for a player so far away in America?” But Curry just gives me so much energy even though he’s far away, and through my fandom activities I’ve become friends with Curry fans from around the world. I feel a sense of connection with all of my Curry fan friends, so there’s nothing difficult or frustrating for me at all. Curry fans around the world are all such good people, maybe because Curry is someone who values his teammates and friends so much. When my daughter was born, well wishes came in from around the globe.

Because it’s not easy to go and see Curry in the U.S., using my hard-earned money to go and see him is something very special, and it motivates me to work hard so I can go see him again. Maybe that’s why, even when I stay up to watch a game from 4 AM then go straight to work, I never feel like it’s tough. I think, ‘All the players are working hard, I’ve got to keep up, too!’ and I actually arrive at work feeling good.

As a fan, there are still a few things left on my bucket list. One is to take my wife and daughter to an NBA game in the U.S. The second is to build a house with a personal study, where I can make a beautiful display of all my collections I’ve gathered over the years. And the third is to actually talk to Curry. I can’t speak English, and in the past I’ve never been able to say anything even when I had the chance to because my nerves always get the best of me. But someday I want to tell him, ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making my life richer.’

Left: the jersey that received the first autograph in 2017. Right: the one received during Curry’s visit to Japan at last year’s Japan Games. A game-worn jersey with his autograph and motto “I can do all things….” written on it.

Part of umj23’s jersey collection. These are all NBA 75th Anniversary models from the 2022 championship season, which the Golden State Warriors won.

This jersey is a custom-made Carolina Panthers (NFL) jersey from Curry’s hometown of North Carolina. The shoes on the right were received at a game in Houston in 2019. All are signed.

Watching from GSW’s home Oracle Arena in 2018.

First ever meeting with Curry in person in 2019. umj23 gifted him custom-made wooden keychains.

At the 2022 Japan Games tour, umj23 gave Curry yunomi cups featuring Curry’s family drawn in ukiyo-e style.

INTERVIEW & TEXT: Miho Aoki