In 2022, Machida Rui became the fourth Japanese WNBA (US Women’s Basketball League) player in history and won the domestic league MVP in the 2024-25 season, and Nagano Fuuka, the key to the offensive and defensive role of Nadeshiko Japan, who plays for Liverpool FC Women in the English Women’s Super League. The two are leading the sport as central figures in the Japanese basketball world and the Japanese soccer world.
Machida Rui still shows an overwhelming presence
Machida, who served as the commander at the Tokyo 2020 tournament, when the Japanese women’s basketball team won the silver medal, started in all six games, and in the semi-final match against France, he was a new tournament record of 18 assists. On defense, he contributed to the team’s victory on offense and defense, including pressing full courts, and despite losing in the final against the United States, he showed his specialty speed. At the Rio 2016 tournament, he played against the country in 11 minutes and scored 2 goals and assisted with 0 assists, but at the Tokyo 2020 tournament he was boldly matched up without any hesitation to the opponent’s center, who is 41cm tall. With his sharp drive, he repeatedly managed to get away with the opponent’s defense and created chances for shots, and even showed off his brilliant passing. His eye-catching play shocked not only Japan but also the world.
He has been wearing JAPAN clothing for over 10 years and has been active at the forefront. Although he was unable to compete in major international tournaments after the Tokyo 2020 tournament, after taking on the WNBA challenge in 2022, he was also selected for the Japan team at the Paris 2024 tournament last summer.
The petite 162cm point guard shows an outstanding presence that doesn’t make you feel this way on the court. He has been challenging himself with his sophisticated passing, known as the “passing magician,” his tricky playmaking and speed that makes use of his wide vision, and his extraordinary sense to challenge strong opponents head-on.
He is currently 32 years old. In the 2024-25 season, he contributed to the team’s consecutive victory in the domestic league and won the MVP. Its overwhelming presence is recognized by everyone, and it has become a goal and aspiration for young players.
Nagano Fuka is 26 years old and experienced
Nagano Fuka has also grown into a pillar in the middle of the game, and has become an indispensable part of her clubs and the Japanese national team. In addition to his excellent ball-keeping ability, he also makes a skilled pass from accurate judgment of the situation. At 26, she has been living an unprecedented career among Japanese female soccer players.
He won the world championship for under 17, which he participated in at the age of 15 in 2014, and was runner-up in the 2016 tournament and was selected as Golden Ball (Best Player Award). Furthermore, at the 2018 World Championships under 20, he contributed to being the number 10 in the world, carrying the number 10. He has been selected as a representative of the development age since his teenage years, and has been a top player in Japan. He also made his debut at Nadeshiko Japan in his teens.
She will currently play for Liverpool FC Women’s Super League. At first glance, it seems like he has been on an elite course that everyone envys, but after moving to Korea at the age of 19 and working in the United States, he has been playing overseas for six clubs in his third country, including domestic clubs. The mass of ambition has not settle for the current situation, but has always chosen an environment where they can grow while stimulating.
Nagano, who continues to challenge overseas, has continued to play overseas, played with the number 10 for the national team at the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Tournament last summer.
He also played No. 10 in the international tournament this February, which was his first match for manager Nils Nielsen, who took office at the end of 2024, and contributed to winning the title. Nagano is feeling a sense of accomplishment, saying, “Everyone was able to take on the challenge with confidence.” This year marks the seventh year of wearing the Japanese flag. Every year, our sense of responsibility and commitment to leading the team to victory have become stronger.
The two met for the first time in May 2025.
Why the two of them met
As it was the first time they met, there was a somewhat awkward atmosphere at first, but when Machida taught Nagano to play basketball and Nagano to play soccer, the distance suddenly narrowed.
Furthermore, as the topic of conversation began to spread to his professional awareness and the joy of playing abroad, he naturally smiled. Despite being a different sport, “basketball” and “soccer,” the two have played a central role in each team and have a goal of fighting around the world, and they often sympathize with each other, and apparently gained new stimulation and motivation through the conversation.
This conversation that transcends competition boundaries was possible because Mitsui Fudosan has built a relationship of trust and committed to the Japan Basketball Association (JBA) and the Japan Football Association (JFA) as a “city development partner.”
Mitsui Fudosan has sympathized with the philosophy and mission set out by the Japan Olympic Committee and the Japan Paralympic Committee, and has supported TEAM JAPAN, and has concluded a city development partner agreement with sports organizations such as the JBA, JFA, and the Japan Wheelchair Rugby Federation.
In 2016, the company signed a sponsorship agreement with the JBA, hosting a basketball academy with the aim of revitalizing the city’s community, and also creating opportunities for the Japanese women’s national team to strengthen the women’s team. It has special sponsored international competitions and contributed to strengthening.
In 2023, the company also signed a major partner agreement with JFA, and has launched projects to support the match against the Japan national team, starting up and supporting the project.
Mitsui Fudosan’s philosophy, which continues to create new value and challenge through coexistence, coexistence, and co-creation, has a high affinity with the attitude of sports that overcomes one’s own limits and overcomes as a team, and has aimed to create a city that utilizes the power of sports and entertainment.
The company believes that sports that will shake the hearts of audiences are powerful content for creating a city, and believes that the city’s appeal will become an absolute strength, along with fostering corporate value.
Mitsui Fudosan, which has created places where people gather and creates lively and new things, has been implementing measures to increase its appeal as time passes and become familiar with the surrounding environment and ages. He works in Nihonbashi and Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, and is creating a life and society that is connected to the next generation.
By fostering an extraordinary feeling, raising expectations, and improving comfort, we foster a sense of unity in the city and create an attractive space. Create a sports culture and people’s flows that are rooted in the community by creating city development that makes use of sports and entertainment. They have actively promoted city development through sports, including supporting the revitalization of the local economy.
The slogan “BE THE CHANGE” has been raised as a flag for city development that utilizes the power of sports, and has been newly established “MIYASHITA PARK” and “LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY” have been established and newly established with the slogan “BE THE CHANGE.” We have implemented initiatives to enjoy time before and after games at nearby commercial facilities, creating experience value that deepens relationships with the region. Furthermore, in 2021, Tokyo Dome was made a subsidiary, renovated the largest entertainment city in Tokyo, creating a sense of unity and attractive spaces in the city, starting with facilities, creating a new base for interaction in the city.
In a conversation, Machida and Nagano also mentioned that Mitsui Fudosan sponsors international basketball and soccer games, and said, “There are some people who want to come and see the games but can’t come, so it’s great that they can hold public viewings of international tournaments and create such opportunities. I hope they can grow even more exciting in sports from now on,” Machida said, “I’m going to work hard for these people, and they will move my own body. Support is truly a strength” (Nagano). He also expressed his gratitude for his continued support, and enthusiastically wanting to liven up the basketball and soccer worlds with more attractive plays.
Number x Mitsui Fudosan Athlete Crosstalk – Two Japanese national teams interact beyond competition
“Machida Rui x Nagano Fuuka” is now available!
Mitsui Fudosan is the official JBA city development partner and supports the Japan basketball team.
Mitsui Fudosan is a JFA town development partner and supports the Japan soccer team.
