Yutsu Wakamatsu (class of 2018, Department of Children’s Communication), a graduate of Edogawa University (Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture), participated in the women’s basketball competition at the 25th Summer Deaflympics Tokyo 2025 as a member of the Japanese national team, and the team won the gold medal for the first time in history. The Deaflympics are an international “Olympic Games for people who are deaf or hard of hearing,” and this is the first time that they will be held in Japan. Mr. Wakamatsu served as the captain, and together with his teammates and staff, he put into practice the “speedy and aggressive defense” he had promised, and won the championship with a perfect record.
The Deaflympics were first held in 1924 and have generally been held once every four years. The 100th anniversary tournament was held in Japan for the first time, and 21 competitions were held from November 15th to November 26th.
While attending Edogawa University, Wakamatsu was the captain of the women’s basketball team, but after graduating she began to notice a decline in her hearing and obtained a disability certificate. He developed a desire to participate in def basketball and participated in the national team selection meeting.
In deaf basketball, it is difficult to communicate verbally, so in addition to using sign language, the players try to come up with a variety of ideas during practices and games, such as creating signs that share common understanding. At this year’s Deaflympics, Wakamatsu took on the heavy responsibility of being a captain and fought through a grueling schedule of 5 games in 8 days with his teammates and staff, winning all the games and winning the gold medal.
■Comment from Yutsu Wakamatsu
I was able to achieve my goal of winning a Deaflympics gold medal since I started playing Deaf Basketball. Starting with the match against Ukraine in the semi-finals, it was a very tough battle, and we continued to struggle both mentally and physically, but as a team we continued to look forward and continue to pursue our goal, and as a result we were able to reach the gold medal.
Thanks to my teachers who have raised me, my friends who have fought and competed with me, and everyone who has supported me, I have been able to continue working hard. Thank you very much for all your support.
●Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics website
https://deaflympics2025-games.jp/
(Reference link)
○Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics: Japan’s Deaf Basketball Women’s National Team wins gold medal for the first time in history (Japan Basketball Association web page)
https://www.japanbasketball.jp/news/84088
○Deaf Basketball – Yutsu Wakamatsu | Overcoming frustration and heading to the quiet court (Tokyo Forward 2025 web page)
https://www.tokyoforward2025.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/player/player-wakamatsu-yuzu/
●Edogawa University HP article
・Alumnus Yutsu Wakamatsu selected as Japan women’s basketball representative for “Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics” (2025.11.13)
https://www.edogawa-u.ac.jp/news/20251106_1.html
・Yutsu Wakamatsu, a graduate of Edogawa University and member of the Japanese Deaf Basketball National Team, wins the Asian Games 2024 (2024.10.07)
https://www.edogawa-u.ac.jp/news/20241004_2.html
・Alumnus Yutsu Wakamatsu selected as Japan Deaf Basketball Women’s National Team (2023.10.17)
https://www.edogawa-u.ac.jp/news/20231010_1.html
▼Contact information regarding this matter
Public Relations Division
Address: 474 Komaki, Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture
TEL：04-7152-9980
FAX：04-7153-5904
Email: kouhou@edogawa-u.ac.jp
[Release source]University Press Center https://www.u-presscenter.jp/
