Naomi Kawase, a film director, has been appointed as the new chairman of the W League, a basketball girl.

This was decided at the W League board meeting held on the 4th.



Mr. Kawase is 52 years old from Nara prefecture.

He has been highly acclaimed overseas as a film director, having won the Grand Prix, which is a special jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival, one of the three major film festivals in the world, and is also the director of the official film for the Tokyo Olympics.



Mr. Kawase started playing basketball in junior high school and has participated in the national polity as a captain in high school.



The W League is facing the challenge of increasing awareness, and in order to make more people aware of the league, Mr. Kawase, who has a good reputation and ability to communicate, was selected as the new chairman.



Mr. Kawase said, "It was undoubtedly basketball that supported me as a teenager. It is no exaggeration to say that the days I spent with my friends through team play support me as a movie director. As an official movie director, I got a connection while chasing the Japan Women's Basketball Team with a camera, and I was appointed this time. Although I am a newcomer, I created a whirlwind with the players as a "new wind", and women's basketball I want to open up the future of the world. "