Fujisawa Yumekana plays the role of attacking the goal and scoring.

Owaki Haru is one of the members of the silver medal in the
previous tournament

Team Japan’s Women’s basketball squad is gearing up for the
“FISU World University Games“

in Germany, starting July 16th. The Japan Olympic Commitee (JOC) has
approved and certified 12 athletes for the national team. The team recently
concluded its second three-day training camp, solidifying the roster.

Adding international experience to the mix, Tateyama Moena (Hitachi High-Tech
Cougars) and Asahina Azusa (University of Tsukuba) recently participated in
an expedition to China as potential national team members. Head coach
Ogasawara Masato sees this as a significant advantage:
Its great that we were able to experience China’s height first. By
giving back what the two of us have experienced to this team, it will
become an even more captivating team.

During the previous training camp, the team engaged in scrimmages against
the Japanese Women’s National Team, providing valuable experience against
high-caliber opponents.
I asked to go to fight. Head coach Ogasawara stated, emphasizing the
importance of facing tough competition. This training camp focused on
prioritizing body positioning to gain an advantage, along with enhancing
speed and accuracy, crucial elements to overcome physical disparities in
international play.

The team also scrimmaged with the Edogawa University men’s team.The goal
wasn’t just about experiencing height or physicality, but about adapting to
differences in hand length and passing speed.
it’s not about letting you experience height or physicality,but the
difference in hand length and passing speed was the difference in hand
length. At first, it didn’t work, but after playing several five minutes
of games, I held back the opponent and got the ball, and just got the
ball, and I was able to do that and it was a success.
Head Coach Ogasawara praised the team’s adaptation. This mirrors challenges
faced by many U.S. collage teams when preparing for international
competition, where adapting to different styles of play and physicality is
key.

This approach is notably relevant for Japan, where physical differences
are a constant factor. The scrimmages, including those against the Japanese
Women’s National Team, allowed players to simulate the intensity of
international matches within their domestic training surroundings. Players
actively sought solutions and demonstrated continuous improvement.

Owaki Haru (Tokyo Medical and Health University),a returning player from
last year’s tournament,noted the importance of these training sessions:
There were times when things didn’t go well in front of big players. I’ve
been scrimming with the men’s team at training camp, and it’s an
opportunity to re-examine the length of my hands and the strength of my
body. I’d like to continue practicing,focusing on accurate passing and
finishing,irrespective of which team you’re at.
This highlights the team’s commitment to refining their skills in planning
for the unique challenges of international competition.

Japan’s Rising Stars Prep for William Jones cup & FISU Games

June 23, 2025

The hardwood is heating up as Japan’s next generation of basketball talent gears up for two major international tournaments: the 44th William Jones Cup in Chinese Taipei and the FISU World University Games in Germany. Think of it as their NCAA tournament and NBA Summer League all rolled into one – a chance to showcase skills, build chemistry, and prove they belong on the world stage.

The William Jones Cup, kicking off July 2nd, serves as a crucial tune-up before the FISU Games. Unlike the FISU Games, which are restricted to university students and recent graduates, the Jones Cup features national teams and professional athletes. This provides invaluable experience against seasoned competition.

One player to watch is Fujisawa Yumekana, a Yamanashi Gakuin University standout. Reflecting on her experience at last year’s William Jones Cup, Fujisawa stated:

It was my first international match, so I wasn’t used to it yet… I’m already practicing with the conscious of taking the plunge and doing my own play.I think it’s my job to score points, so I just want to take the plunge and make the most of the team with the goals.

This year, Fujisawa aims to leverage that experience at both the Jones Cup and the FISU Games. She acknowledges the heightened competition at the FISU Games, particularly in terms of size and physicality.

Addressing the challenges ahead, Fujisawa explained,

I think the height will be considerably higher than the William jones Cup. I want to use my speed to make a slight deviation so that I don’t lose to that size, and I want to play without hesitation even if the opponent is high and do my best to avoid losing.

This echoes the strategy employed by smaller guards like Muggsy Bogues, who used their quickness and court vision to thrive against taller opponents in the NBA. It’s all about leveraging strengths and minimizing weaknesses.

Team chemistry is also a key focus. According to Fujisawa, recent training camps have fostered a strong sense of unity:

Everyone is already communicating on and off the court. The seniors are kind, so I’m starting to be able to talk to anyone, and we’re all united as a team in a good way.

This cohesion will be vital as they face tough competition in the FISU Games, where Japan finds itself in Group C alongside Lithuania, Brazil, and Hungary. Their schedule is as follows:

• July 18th: Japan vs. Lithuania
• July 19th: Japan vs. Brazil
• July 20th: Japan vs. Hungary

The team is aiming to build on their silver medal performance at the previous FISU Games, their best result since 1967 and 2017. Can they bring home the gold this time? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: these rising stars are ready to make their mark on the international basketball scene.

Tournament details

44th William Jones Cup

• Dates: July 2nd (Wed) – 6th (Sun)
• Location: Taipei Peace Basketball Hall, Taipei City
• Participating Teams: Thailand, Korea, Chinese Taipei Universal Team, Philippines, Chinese taipei

FISU World University Games

• dates: July 16th (Wed) – 27th (Sun)
• Location: Rhine-Ruhr, Germany
• Qualifying Group Phase:
  • Group A: India, Finland, Argentina, Czech Republic
  • Group B: Chinese Taipei, Germany, America, Poland
  • Group C: Japan, Lithuania, Brazil, Hungary
• Key Dates:
  • July 18th: Japan vs. Lithuania
  • July 19th: Japan vs. Brazil
  • July 20th: Japan vs. Hungary
  • July 22nd: Quarterfinals and Ranking Match
  • July 23rd: Semi-finals and ranking match
  • July 25th: Finals and rankings

Previous Tournament Result: Silver Medal (Best Result Ever / 1967, 2017)

official FISU Games Website