BEIRUT (Lebanon) / TOKYO (Japan) – Yuko Mitsuya’s name caught the attention of the basketball world at a time of turbulence in one of sport’s most traditional strongholds in Asia.
Many an eyebrow rose in pleasant surprise when the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics volleyball bronze medallist was ushered in to lead a restructured Japan Basketball Association (JBA) in 2016 at a time when the sport itself was looking to make a turnaround in the Land of Rising Sun.
And what a turnaround that induction has proven to be with the National Team began to deliver sparkling performances in international competitions – the women team’s silver medal at home in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics being the most productive.
We caught up with Mitsuya on the journey so far and her insights into her job as a Woman Leader in Basketball.
Excerpts from an (email interview)
FIBA: Describe your experience of the President of JBA for almost 10 years.
Mitsuya: I have been involved in volleyball since I was 12 years old. After that, I was partially involved in soccer and other sports, but becoming President of JBA was a big challenge because it was something I had not imagined at all.
However, I soon realized that it did not matter what sport I came from as long as I understood what the goals of the people involved in the association were, how well they carried out their designated roles and what kind of message they sent within and outside the association. It has been a very good experience for me.
Now I am at a stage in my career when I need to groom the people who will take over and carry the sport forward.
FIBA: What are the top three happy moments for you as JBA President in the last 10 years?
Mitsuya: The first was when we qualified to the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2019. It was a particularly emotional moment because JBA had been working to strengthen men’s national team after the suspension was revoked by FIBA in 2016. And we came back from 4 consecutive losses in the Asian Qualifiers.
The second was when our women's team won the silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. I was happy for the medal, but the best moment came when we defeated France in the Semi-Finals. I was also happy about the dramatic win over Belgium in the Quarter-Finals. I still remember the moment when I screamed so loud that the people around me turned their heads to look at me suspiciously.
The third is also related to the Tokyo Olympics and it was when the FIBA Central Board decided that the Japan national teams had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in all four categories. Ultimately, due to a conflict with quota, the 3x3 women's team had to play in Qualifying Tournament, but the decision of the Central Board brought tremendous joy to the Japanese basketball community.
Of course, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 from which our men’s national team qualified to Paris 2024 is also memorable but the above three are the most pleasant results.
FIBA: You became JBA President at the time of great challenge in Japan basketball. And today Japan basketball is a success story. How did you achieve this turnaround? Tell us from a governance and management perspective, not only basketball results.
This is not the result of my efforts alone, nor is it an achievement of mine. It is the result of the efforts of many people, especially the JBA staff and the prefectural associations.
When I started the JBA and the B.LEAGUE had administrative offices on the same floor. This was a fortuitous. I went around talking to various people regardless of whether they were in the JBA or the B.LEAGUE. Looking back, I think that it was through such repeated communication that we were able to unify everyone's thoughts.
In fact, I have nothing but gratitude to all those who worked really hard.
FIBA: As a woman leader, a rare happening in Asian sport, how does it feel to break the tradition?
I have myself never thought of leadership in terms of gender, and I do not think that qualities of a leader gender-dependent. Compared to the olden days, when the world was feudalistic and restrictive in many ways, women now have opportunities in a wide range of fields. And in fact, the number of active women leaders is increasing. In this context, I think it is natural - extremely natural, for women leaders to emerge.
FIBA: Are the challenges for a woman in this position more difficult than that of a man? Please explain either way.
I believe that it is quite natural for women to be leaders. On the other hand, I believe that there are a certain number of people, regardless of gender, who do not think so. I think they do not think so because they are under the spell of thinking that “women are not suitable” or “women are not capable”.
In my case, I think it was significant that my boss was Mr. Saburo Kawabuchi, who was very tolerant and nonjudgmental toward gender. It is true that Mr. Kawabuchi's encouragement was a great source of strength, and after all, it was also due to one man's way of thinking. In light of the fact that men have been the leaders in the past, I think it ultimately depends upon the mindset of men.
I think it is also true that as long as men think “women...” it is difficult to create an environment for women to truly demonstrate their power.
FIBA: How does it feel to be an inspiration to many youngsters world over - not only women but also men?
Mitsuya: Thanks to your (FIBA) support, basketball in Japan is now generally on the upswing. However, we’re still in the middle of the road. We need to develop more players and more teams that could be competitive in international competitions. Things have indeed improved a little, but we don’t want to settle for the status quo.
FIBA: What should be done for more women to come into positions of leadership?
Mitsuya: First - challenge yourself. Then - don't be hasty in seeking results. In other words, do not be afraid of failure. If we try to do well from the beginning, our thoughts and actions will become small.
This “don't be afraid of failure” is exactly what sports has taught me.
Mistakes are inevitable in life. I think sport teaches you to recover from those mistakes and not repeat them. If you don't challenge yourself because of fear of failure, I think you will only get results commensurate with safe efforts.
FIBA: What is your view on
Women in global sport
I have attended many conferences that promote the advancement of women, including sports-related conferences such as those by the IOC. I am aware that the number of women representing their countries is increasing.
However, it would be extremely disrespectful to women if they are being promoted or assigned to positions based solely on their gender (simply because there is a call to increase the percentage of women in the workforce) and not on their abilities. This has been suggested even to me. I was greatly disappointed and angry at the time.
People should be chosen to a position based on their abilities (and a good human being), rather than based on gender. Women should be able to play an active role in this process. It is good that more women are participating in international conferences.
Women in Japan sport
Japan needs to work harder. Although things have changed a lot in Japan as a country and in central organizations, the number of women in local areas is still very small.
It is necessary to determine whether women who raise their hands are not selected or whether there are not enough women who raise their hands in the first place. Since about half of the population, including in sports, are women - I would be happy to see a society in which women are more willing and are able to get involved.
FIBA: What is your message for
Asian basketball (including men)
The current status of Asian boys is still not as good as Europe, America, and Oceania. This may be due, of course, in large part to factors such as physique.
However, Tom Hovasse (Head Coach of the Japan men's national team), went into the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 with one of his catchphrases, “Shock the world.” Although our overall ranking is not very high, Japan still managed to win three games for the first time at the World Cup and then played an overtime against France at the Paris Olympics.
In the future, I would like that the whole of Asia, including Japan, to work together and make Asian basketball something that will shock the world.
Women’s basketball in the world
Japan women's team won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics but then lost in the preliminary round at the Paris Olympics. We think this came was a result of many countries around the world studying Japan over the past few years and taking countermeasures.
I believe that such ups and downs are unavoidable in the path for Japan to join the world's powerhouses. Instead of being happy or sad when results are achieved or not, we will once again take on the challenge of building a basketball that is unique to Japan.
I believe that the day will come when we will shock the world again.
FIBA