Mr. Inoue and Mr. Watanabe who had a talk just before the basketball World Cup
Just before the Basketball World Cup, which Japan is also one of the host countries, a super big conversation was realized.
On the other hand, Mr. Takehiko Inoue, the creator of “SLAM DUNK” and the creator, scriptwriter, and director of the animated movie “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK,” once again created a basketball boom in Japan.
On the other hand, Japan representative ace Yuta Watanabe, who survived the harsh competitive world and became a main player of the Brooklyn Nets in his fifth NBA season, and newly won a two-year contract with the Phoenix Suns.
The chemistry created by the conversation between the two conveys an overflowing energy!
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■ Defense polished in America
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will start on August 25th. Head coach Tom Horvath, who led the women’s national team to a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Like the women’s national team, they will compete with a style of basketball that suits the Japanese, who are inferior in size compared to the rest of the world. Yuta Watanabe is the person who embodies the strength of Japan. How was his weapon to compete in the NBA formed?
Yuta Watanabe (hereinafter, Watanabe)Three points (shooting) and defense, I had no choice but to focus on that. If you can’t do that, you can’t be in the NBA, really simple story. So I kept doing it all the time.
Last season, I was finally able to call the 3-pointer my weapon. To be honest, I want to improve my defense a little more.
Takehiko Inoue (hereafter Inoue)Since when did defense become your weapon?
Watanabe(George Washington) When I was a sophomore in college, there was a tournament called NIT (National Invitation Tournament). About 30 teams that didn’t make it to the NCAA Tournament participate in this tournament, and in the second round, they had an amazing player who scored an average of 20 points. The coach let me mark the player.
Originally, the ace stopper was in the team, but I was the first to avoid foul trouble in the first half. However, in the first half, we kept that player down to 2 points, and continued in the second half.
In the end, we were able to keep it down to about 6 points throughout the match, which led to the victory. I think this game was a big trigger for me.
InoueWhen the taste was occupied by the defense.
Watanabe(laughs) In this match, I somehow felt that I could do well as a defender.
InoueSince I was in college, I was still developing physically. Did you defend with height and footwork?
WatanabeMy opponent was a point guard (PG), so he was shorter than me. It was very effective to follow the side movement firmly, and at the end, the image of defense that matched the height was very effective.
InoueThe fact that you can protect against No. 1 (PG) is very distinctive. as a feature in the sense of strength.
WatanabeWhen I became a high school student, I grew taller, my jumping power improved, and I was able to do blocks easily, but Mr. (Takuya Shikama) of Jinsei Gakuen (Kagawa Prefecture) thoroughly taught me footwork.
Even if you get overtaken a little, you can win at the end, so if you want to skip it, you will skip it. However, when I did that during practice, I was stopped many times and told, “My current defense is completely useless.”
InoueShikama-sensei must have had his sights set on the future, too.
WatanabeI think that’s what they did.
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At Jinsei Gakuen, he won second place in the Winter Cup two years in a row. Watanabe, who was selected as one of the best 5 and has made a name for himself as one of Japan’s top players. However, he threw away his fame and flew to America. His first school was a prep school in St. Thomas More (Connecticut, USA).
■ A word that planted the mentality to fight in the United States
St. Thomas More is also the current recipient of the “Slam Dunk Scholarship,” which Mr. Inoue established for high school students who wish to continue playing basketball after graduating from high school. Mr. Inoue himself has visited the site many times. From pinpoint topics that can be shared, the content naturally goes deep.
InoueEven after moving to America, I really felt like I was growing step by step.
WatanabeSince long ago, my father and mother have always taught me that, and there is a part of me that is ingrained in me to make an effort.
When I first went to America, I would go to St. Thomas More when it was time to practice, just like everyone else, and then come back with everyone after practice. You came here to do it, right?”
At that point, there was a clear difference in level with those around me, but I felt that there was no way I could win if I kept practicing the same way. From there, I used the time in the morning and before and after practice to increase the amount of practice at once.
InoueDifferent language, different culture. The environment of life itself is different. At that point, it was already hard, and I had English classes and homework. And even more basketball effort – the amount of effort is not odd. I feel like I can do it because it’s the path I chose, because it’s the path I like.
WatanabeIt was good that I quickly realized that I shouldn’t be the same as the people around me.
InoueIf you are in Japan, you can comfortably be in the top position, so it’s not strange to say “Let’s go home” at any time. But I feel extraordinary that I went on the road without making that choice. St Thomas More is cold in the winter.
Watanabeyes. I used to live in a dormitory by the lake, but in the middle of winter the lake would freeze right away. The school itself is very small, so I basically pass by the gymnasium wherever I go.
It’s always been the same, and I’ve been to the gymnasium over and over again for practice, so I have a special affection for the gymnasium. It’s just an ordinary, dirty gymnasium.
InoueBut the other day, I heard that the court was named after coach Jerry Quinn. because it’s a great coach. However, it seems that the size and shape remain the same just by repainting.
WatanabeCoach Quinn said to me, “Don’t be afraid to become great,” which left a strong impression on me. At that time, the team had a big ace. A big ace named Eric Pascal.
After that, he went to Fordham University, moved to Villanova University, became a champion, and entered the NBA (2019, 2nd round draft 41st pick from Golden State Warriors).
He’s the kind of player I imagined before I went to the United States, “There must be such an amazing American.” When I was comparing myself to him and I felt like I wasn’t good at all, Coach Quinn said, “There’s no difference between you and him.”
Inouelaw.
WatanabeJapanese people have a sense that it’s better to be humble rather than confident. It has its good points, but it also has its bad points.
Americans, on the other hand, stand on the court confidently saying, “I’m the best,” even if they’re not good at it. He said to me, who didn’t have that aggressiveness, “Don’t be afraid to become great.”
InoueBut it was nice to have Eric Pascal on the team. Because he was a bona fide top American high school student. That’s why I was able to create a “rule” of the distance between myself and him. In other words, I could see that “If you go to him, you can go to the top.”
WatanabeYes, I’m glad you’re here.
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Yuta Watanabe says he was able to measure the distance between himself and the NBA by having Pascal as his “index”. It seems that Mr. Inoue attaches particular importance to the visualization of the distance between “the top and myself.”
■ Significance of direct contact with NBA players
How will Japan compete with the rest of the world in the coming World Cup? At present, Japanese basketball, which is growing rapidly, needs results, but at the same time, it is also important to have them feel a “dream”. To get the current Japanese children to be absorbed in basketball. They know that now is the critical time to become a bridge between the past and the future.
WatanabeWe will never be able to beat them in terms of height and strength, so we will focus on speeding up the development and whether or not we can make three-pointers with a high probability. If we can score three points with a high probability, I think we can play a competitive match until the very end.
InoueAfter all, the transition is fast, and it feels good to see the three points going in and out. It is also interesting that the smaller one beats the larger one. Tom’s basketball doesn’t really stick to size. That’s why I think it will resonate with many Japanese people.
Also for children. Children are small compared to adults. That’s why I think it’s easier to sympathize with games where small people play an active role or defeat big teams.
WatanabeIn the NBA, practice time before games is the only chance to get autographs from players. Basically, I practiced before the gymnasium opened and the audience entered, but one day there was an audience on the court.
I was told to go and say hello to everyone, so when I went, the kids came up to me saying, “Yuta, give me your autograph!” I was very happy to know that people in Brooklyn appreciated me so much.
InoueI think that just being able to meet NBA players has a huge impact on children.
Expectations are high for Watanabe, who says he wants to lead the Japanese national team through play!
WatanabeWhen I was young, I wondered if there was a clinic like that… Oh, I went to the Five Star Camp.
InoueThe Five Star Camp is run by Mr. (Kazuhiko) Shimamoto (former chief editor of Monthly Basketball) and Mr. (Yasutaka) Okayama (former representative of Japan), right?
WatanabeI remember when I was still in elementary school.
InoueWhen it comes to basketball clinics in Japan, he is a pioneer.
Watanabeyes. That was all I had at the time. On a personal note, I just held a clinic. That’s because I didn’t have the opportunity to interact with NBA players. So, I wondered if I could do something about it, so I asked many people to take action and implemented it.
InoueThe significance would be enormous. What you learn is important, but actually meeting the athletes, seeing them in front of you, standing in front of them — from how to walk, how to approach practice, and how to speak — everything. will be learned. Above all, it becomes a longing, and you can see the place you should aim for. I think it will be a great experience for children.
WatanabeIt’s my first time and I’m still fumbling… But I thought it would be nice if I could tell you something.
InoueI talked about Pascal earlier, but if you can see the distance between yourself and Yuta Watanabe, the top player in the NBA, you’ll be able to hit the road.
Then, in order to become an NBA player, I started to think concretely about what I should do. At least try to think. The effect is immeasurable. It will be an experience that will last a lifetime. If only I had a clinic like this (laughs).
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In fact, this summer, the B League was also moving to respond to Mr. Inoue’s desire to look up to the sky, saying, “If there is one in my time.” From July 20th to August 14th, the “B.DUNK KIDS PROJECT” will be held by “Slam Dunk Scholarship” scholarship students and B leaguers for elementary school students nationwide. We must not forget that Japan Basketball is embarking on sustainable development by making efforts to focus not only on the attention-grabbing top team, but also on the base of the team.
■ Strength and fun
Yuta Watanabe is now an NBA player who leads Japanese basketball. As for himself, when he was young, he was a boy who was obsessed with reading “SLAM DUNK”. While he was talking about his work, he leaned forward and looked as innocent as a boy over 2 meters tall.
WatanabeEver since I was little, I’ve read “SLAM DUNK” over and over again. That’s all the players, read it over and over again so that you can remember all the lines. My older sister used to play volleyball, but she started playing basketball after reading “SLAM DUNK”.
InoueIs that so?
WatanabeMy father and mother always wanted my sister to play basketball. But I cried and said, “I definitely don’t want to play basketball!” However, when I woke up one morning, she suddenly said, “I’m going to start playing basketball” (laughs). After reading “SLAM DUNK”, where did your hatred of basketball go? It looks like it’s changed.
InoueMaybe the imprinting of my parents worked (laughs).
WatanabeNo, really, “SLAM DUNK” has changed my sister’s life so much that it’s indispensable for the Watanabe family. The movie was a lot of fun too!
Inouethank you. When I saw people in America tweeting, “I can’t watch the ‘SLAM DUNK’ movie,” I told all the movie staff, “I’ll definitely do it until Yuta Watanabe returns to Japan.” . I’m glad it was accomplished.
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The movie version of “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” released at the end of 2022 is a big hit not only in Japan but all over the world. In Japan, the number of children who start playing basketball is increasing, causing a basketball boom in Japan similar to the serialization, and it is still open to the public. This year’s Basketball World Cup, which will be held on the back of this heat and momentum, will attract high expectations.
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WatanabeI would say that international competitions are particularly exciting in Japan. The reason why soccer and baseball are so popular is because they have achieved results in international competitions. I think the reason why basketball doesn’t have that kind of passion is because we, the Japanese national team, haven’t been able to win.
This World Cup, which is also held in Japan, is a chance. I also feel the responsibility of whether the basketball fever will ignite at once, or if it will stagnate.
InoueOf course, winning and making a good record may boost Japan’s excitement, but I think the fact that basketball itself is fun is also a plus. Tom’s basket is fun, so I want him to show it at the World Cup and surprise the world with it. I have high hopes for that as well.
“I’m pretty good at it,” said Watanabe, who showed off his finger-twisting skills.
●Takehiko Inoue
Born in 1967, from Kagoshima prefecture. manga artist. “SLAM DUNK” (Shueisha), which started serialization in 1990, sparked a basketball boom in Japan. Since 1998, “Vagabond” (Kodansha) has been serialized, and in 1999, “Real” (Shueisha), which features wheelchair basketball. In the animated movie “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” released in 2022, he served as the original, scriptwriter and director.
● Yuta Watanabe
Born in 1994, from Kagawa prefecture. professional basketball player. He belongs to the NBA Phoenix Suns (from the 2023-24 season). He is 206cm tall. After entering Jinsei Gakuen High School, he participated in the national tournament from the first year. In his first year, he was selected as a candidate for the U-18 Japan National Team, and in his second year, he became the first high school student to be selected as a candidate for the Japan Men’s National Basketball Team. After graduating from high school, he studied abroad in the United States, and in 2018, he became the second Japanese NBA player.
2023-08-14 18:44:34
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