TOKYO (Japan) - Three years after winning Japan's first-ever silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Japan is aiming for an even higher achievement: the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Tom Hovasse, who led the team to silver, took over as head coach of the men's national team after the Tokyo Olympics, and now Toru Onzuka, the assistant coach during the Tokyo Olympics is leading the team as the head coach.
At first glance, it might seem that Onzuka is simply continuing Hovasse's basketball philosophy. The smaller players are running around, moving actively, scoring on fast breaks, and taking three-point shots. In this respect, the current Japan is indeed similar to the one from the Tokyo Olympics. In fact, nine out of the twelve players are from the roster of the Tokyo Olympics. However, the fundamental has been changed, and this change is to win the gold medal.
Onzuka explained, "I expected that after watching the final against the USA at the Tokyo Olympics, other countries would start to do the same. Deny the point guards, deny the shooters, and switch on all screens."
As a countermeasure, Onzuka chose a strategy that emphasizes maximizing Japan's strengths rather than addressing its weaknesses. The team's concept is to be a "Gunning squad that wins by running."
This was the criteria for selecting the final roster.
It was said Hovasse had over 100 formations ready for the Tokyo Olympics. After the tournament, players admitted, "That was challenging to memorize."
Onzuka, on the other hand, uses what he calls a "script" – a roadmap and philosophy for the victory. While there are numerous scripts, Onzuka instructed the players to memorize them thoroughly. He also told them, "If you're uncertain, follow the script, but if you can come up with something better, feel free to improvise."
"This approach allows us to showcase the team's strengths without stagnation and also leverages individual creativity. We're aiming for both," says Onzuka.
What is the difference between Hovasse's formations and Onzuka's scripts?
Here's what Yuki Miyazawa, a member of the current national team who also played in the Tokyo Olympics, said:
"Memorizing the script is harder than the formations. In formations, everyone has predetermined movements. There are counter-plays for certain opponent moves, but the basic movements don't change. However, with the script, you have to instantly decide what to do based on the opponent's moves. If even one person gets it wrong, the play breaks down. That's a significant difference compared to formations."
Rui Machida, who became the assist leader as Japan's point guard at the Tokyo Olympics, also finds Onzuka's scripts more challenging than Hovasse's formations.
"When we make decisions, many plays only work when everyone fully understands the play and knows the options. So we need to practice a lot to get it right," says Machida.
Of course, no matter how good a system is, it won't succeed unless the players believe in it. According to Onzuka, the team started to feel confident around February this year, before the Olympic qualifiers.
"The players started to mention about "Gunning squad that wins by running" as part of their identity," Onzuka says.
With a new head coach and a new system, the Japanese women's national team is aiming for the gold medal.
FIBA