TOKYO (Japan) - Last September, after the game against Cape Verde in the FIBA Basketball World Cup held in Okinawa, Japan secured their spot in the Paris Olympics.
In the midst of the celebration, there was a song that played in the venue and fans sang all together.
It was "Dai Zero Kan" by 10-FEET, the theme song for the movie "THE FIRST SLAM DUNK".
Takehiko Inoue, the author of the famous manga "SLAM DUNK" and director of the movie, watched the scene before him with a big smile on his face, live in person at the venue. Reflecting on that moment, he said, "It was filled with a sense of celebration."
For Inoue and the fans, seeing the national team qualify for the Olympics on their own was a long-awaited dream, so it was truly a celebration. There was no other songs more suited for that moment.
Initially, Inoue was planning to watch only the first three Group Phase games of the World Cup in Okinawa. He returned to Tokyo after the three games were over, but he was so concerned about the national team that he could not get any work done, so he immediately returned to Okinawa again.
"In the end, I watched all five games of the Japanese team at the Okinawa Arena," he said.
Because he returned to Okinawa, he was able to witness the moment that the Japanese team secured their spot in the Paris Olympics and experience the excitement of everyone in the stands.
"I was moved to see the entire venue filled with JPN red even from before the game started. The audience in Okinawa knows how to watch basketball well. By seeing it, I felt the culture and history built by the Ryukyu Golden Kings, starting from the bj League and continuing to the current B.LEAGUE,". He expressed gratitude to those who have built the basketball culture in there.
In the 9th volume of the "SLAM DUNK" manga, released in 1992, Inoue wrote "Next, I want to see the Japanese national team in the Olympics. If the kids who started playing basketball because of 'SLAM DUNK' grow up and make it happen... I will cry."
At that time, basketball was gaining popularity in Japan due to "SLAM DUNK" and Michael Jordan, but the national team was not yet capable to be qualified to compete in the Olympics.
More than 30 years have passed since then, and Japan secured a spot in the Olympics on their own, coinciding with the release of the movie. It was as if the basketball culture nurtured by "SLAM DUNK" had grown and blossomed over time.
In fact, many of the current Japanese national team players grew up reading "SLAM DUNK."
For example, Yuta Watanabe said he read "SLAM DUNK" repeatedly as a child and memorized its lines. Phrases from the manga, such as "If you give up, that's the end of the game" and "Having experienced defeat will someday become a great asset," have become ingrained as a mentality for many players when they compete.
We could see that in Japan's game against France on 30 July.
Japan continued to challenge the host nation France, ranked 9th in the FIBA World Rankings Presented by Nike (Japan are 26th) and whose average height is 6 centimeters taller. Even when Rui Hachimura, who had scored 24 points, was disqualified in the fourth quarter for his second unsportsmanlike foul, and even when they were caught up to a tie after leading by four points in the final moments of the fourth quarter, their persistent fighting spirit embodied the motto.
"If you give up, that's the end of the game."
After losing a game they could have won, Yuki Kawamura said, "We want to use this experience in the next game against Brazil. We will achieve our goal to make it to the Quarter-Finals."
All the players showed a forward-looking, never-say-die attitude toward achieving their goals.
Before the Olympics, Yudai Baba said that "SLAM DUNK" is a symbolic presence that connects the Japanese basketball world.
"Without the 'SLAM DUNK,' basketball wouldn't be this popular in Japan. Even in the time when the Japanese national team couldn't win, Inoue continued to draw and dream for us, and because of that, we've been able to gradually make the achievement," said Baba. "That's why I think all the national team players have a desire to do their best for Inoue-san."
After the match against France, Inoue posted on X:
"It was a great game. I am proud of our Japanese national team. The world saw that they deserved to win. The challenge to make it to the top 8 continues.
France was also great as expected. Congratulations.
#AkatsukiJapan"
Inoue showed his support for both Men's and Women's national teams playing in Paris and sent an encouraging message:
"I believe there are things that only this team, with its current members, can achieve. I pray that the team comes together as one and to make that achievement."
(by Yoko Miyaji)
FIBA