The "A Better Future Together Basketball Clinic" was held at the sacred ground of basketball, Yoyogi Second Gymnasium.The guests were Yuki Matsuzaki from the Yokohama B-Corsairs and Haruki Takahara from the Tokyo Haneda Vicky's, and the lecturer was Yui Hanada, a former professional basketball player.What did the 23 middle school students who participated feel through their interactions with professional players?

The ‘World University Basketball Series (WUBS)’, an international basketball competition where the world’s top university teams vie for the championship, was held at the Yoyogi Second Gymnasium from August 10th to 13th.The basketball clinic being introduced this time was held at the same venue on August 9th, prior to WUBS.

On that day, Tokyo was humid after the rain. The high heat and humidity is so intense that you can break out in sweat just by walking from JR Harajuku Station to the venue. However, in the Yoyogi Second Gymnasium, the lively footsteps of junior high school students reverberated, undeterred by such harsh weather conditions. The court, viewed from the stands that can accommodate approximately 4,000 people, is spectacular, and from anywhere within the 360° view, you can feel the heat of the game up close. An Aurora Vision has been set up beside the court, making it feel just like a professional game. Matsuzaki said, “Being able to play at Yoyogi Second Gymnasium, the sacred ground of basketball, is a great opportunity for middle school students.”

Most of the participants seemed to be meeting for the first time, but once they stepped onto the court, everyone was a teammate. Each person was preparing while eagerly waiting for the clinic to start, checking the feel of the ball, exchanging passes, and so on. And when the time came to start,  Matsuzaki and Takahara made their appearance. The venue is enveloped in a big round of applause. In front of their admired athlete, the junior high school students’ eyes were sparkling. Takahara is 24 years old, and  Matsuzaki is 23 years old. Both of them are promising figures who will carry the future of the Japanese Basketball world. For middle school students, they are of a similar age and serve as role models. Coach Hanada, who serves as a lecturer at the clinic, initiated the session with a warm-up. During the lesson, which also involved two athletes, the expressions on the junior high school students’ faces were a bit stiff.

Hanada : “This is a precious opportunity to play with professional players. When I was in junior high school, we didn’t have events like this, so I was hoping that you could first enjoy this opportunity. It seems that they were nervous, but including the athletes, the participants tried to communicate as much as possible. We wanted to create a clinic that would leave a lasting impression on everyone,”

Hanada, sensing the tension among the middle school students, suggested a practice where pairs or groups of five would introduce themselves while exchanging passes. The middle school students who ended up in the same group as the athletes, although initially surprised, gradually relaxed as they communicated and enjoyed the interaction. The junior high school first-year male student who participated said, “This is my first time talking to a professional player. At first, I was nervous, but they spoke to me in a very friendly manner which made it easy to talk. I’m glad I was able to communicate,” he said with a smile. Interaction with professional athletes, which is usually not possible. Even just that would have been a valuable experience for a middle school student. The middle school students were captivated by every single play made by the two athletes.

Takahara : “I think the middle school students were also nervous, so I made sure to initiate the conversation and communicate with them. Opportunities to participate in such clinics are not frequent, so I was mindful to enjoy the clinic myself. It would be nice if the junior high school students also enjoyed themselves.”

After deepening communication through team practice, the clinic moved on to the highlight game confrontation. The mini-game was conducted with the A team led by  Matsuzaki and the B team led by Takahara. The showdown continues as the team formation changes consecutively with every shot made, switching between “3 on 3”, “5 on 5”, “1 on 1”, and so on. The middle school students, calling out to their teammates and passing the ball around, were coordinating so well that it was hard to believe they had only met that day. There were also scenes where the Matsuzaki and Takahara bravely initiated the game. The match between both teams ended in a draw, but they finished by applauding each other in recognition of their good fight.

Matsuzaki : “Last year, I participated in WUBS as a player, and this year, I had the opportunity to be involved in a teaching role for the children. Through the clinic, I believe I was able to convey the enjoyment and fascination of basketball anew. The atmosphere was nice. Of course, these clinic activities are very important, but as an individual, I want to perform well in future matches and become a player who can inspire hope in children.”

 Takahara: “I would be pleased if I was able to bring out even a little bit of the children’s goodness at this clinic. As the season is about to begin, I will do my best to repay the support of those who cheer for us through our play.”

The important thing is to actively communicate with your teammates and enjoy playing basketball. That was the message that the athletes and coaches wanted to convey through this clinic. Rakuten Sports not only supports teams and players, but also focuses on nurturing the next generation, aiming for “A BETTER FUTURE”.

Yuki Matsuzaki @hiro__m.24 Haruki Takahara @haruki3013

TEXT: Kodai Wada PHOTO: Teppei Hori