It’s been an August to remember for Rui Hachimura and Japan.
The ‘Black Samurai’ has been touring his native land for the last few weeks. Setting up camps in Kobe (like his Mamba and Mambacita dedicated jersey number), hosting talk sessions in Tokyo, and mounting summits with hoops guru Phil Handy across the land of the rising sun.
All whilst finding time to visit the Studio Ghibli park in Nagoya. Posing for pictures with a cast of characters, from Totoro to No Face.
During this time, the newly minted Los Angeles Clipper has committed to the Japanese national team for next month’s second-round of 2027 Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers. Not to mention, hopefully the 2028 Olympics in an LA he always likes to throw up. Whether in Lakerland or a part of Clipper nation.
Flanked by former NBA sharp-shooter Yuta Watanabe, and current fan-favourite Yuki Kawamura, the mid-range magician who is dominant from downtown will help Japan show the world they’re ready to play, compete and contend. Just like the women’s national team who went all the way to the gold medal game in Tokyo 2020.
One of the best and brightest in Japanese basketball, Mai Yamamoto, has just entered the WNBA, signing with the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces. And Mai hasn’t wasted any time either. Hitting 16 points and passing out 6 assists during a 111-71 loss to the New York Liberty, August 10th.
Now, after Yamamoto follows former W player Rui Machida into the American leagues, Yuki Kawamura follows Rui Hachimura to Hollywood. All after returning to Japan to help out in relief efforts following the devastating Kumamoto earthquake. A hero indeed.
Yuki, who last season played for the Chicago Bulls, before working out with Indiana this off-season, has just inked an exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. Which will, if he makes it to camp (like he should), make hoops history with Rui as the first Japanese teammates in the NBA. A sweet script, just like when sensei LeBron James played on the same LA team as his son Bronny.
The plays run between the two could help the Clips forget that they might not even have Brandon Ingram, let alone Kawhi Leonard, this season if that Toronto trade doesn’t go through for legal reasons.
Kawamura is a perfect passer and the LAC have already told Rui they want him to attack the rim more this season. The volume scorer from all areas is about to show the L why he was once a top ten draft pick in this coming campaign.
Before all that, it’s time to travel and enjoy the summer, like this world-traveller always does. Stamping likes on his Instagram and country seals in his passport.
Tokyo has to be a stop, mind you, back home in Japan. And the Jordan Brand Nike athlete, with a beautiful set of new denim, zip-up kicks, had to head back to the World Of Flight flagship store in Shibuya that’s as impressive as it is inspired.
A spaceship like facade greets you with a Hall of Fame long corridor, almost like a tunnel running to the floor of a court. All before amazing apparel, with a bold backdrop of Apple white, showcases the stunning exhibits of sneakers and style that almost feels like an art gallery.
And just you wait until you go into the real hardwood house of hoops and see a mini-museum like shrine to the G.O.A.T. himself, Michael Jordan. Complete with perfect portraits and memorabilia from the man that truly changed the game, from the mid-range, like Rui truly.
Opposite copies of Japan’s hugely popular basketball manga, turned anime movie, ‘Slam Dunk’, is Mike’s Dear Basketball letter. Penned years before the late, great Kobe Bryant turned his retirement ode into an Oscar winning short animation.
If you find yourself in Japan, you have to take a trip to the World Of Flight and take in all from the man who reinvented the slam dunk, like he was the first one to do it.
Sit on the cool couch that all these compelling hoops artefacts surrounds and just absorb the amazing.
The same couch that a roster of fifteen lucky fans got to join the ‘Black Samurai’ on for a meet and greet photo. Maybe a hundred fans lined up to make the raffle’s cut, including yours truly (hey, Hachimura is one of this writer’s all-time favourite Lakers), and meet Rui, who even got on the DJ decks of Samo and Kengotaki for this launch of an exclusive apparel customization workshop at the W.O.F.
Under the rising sun red torii gate like H of Rui Hachimura’s logo, we all waited patiently to hear our number called. Of course, I lost, but then two young students who I’d never met before changed the game of fate. These generous gentlemen, more soccer mad (I got you) than hoop aficionados, came up to me and said “present” and simply switched tickets with me so I could take a flick with the man of the moment.
Now, that’s the moving kind of kindness that stays with you. Thank you.
Always.
