Rui Hachimura, the Japanese national basketball player at the Tokyo Olympics for men's basketball, said in an interview, "I'm really looking forward to fighting on the big stage."
Hachimura, who belongs to the NBA = American professional basketball Wizards, joined the Japanese national team on the 13th before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics.
Hachimura, who responded to the interview, said that he would play for the Japanese national team for the first time in two years since the World Cup, "I played for two years in the NBA, and I became very strong physically and my shooting ability improved. Especially mentally. I've been preparing to fight on a big stage in the part, so I'm really looking forward to the Olympics approaching. "
When asked about his hometown of Toyama, he said, "I always think of Toyama. I'm very happy to hear that basketball is becoming very popular."
And for the Tokyo Olympics, "I have mixed feelings about being held in Corona, but I am very grateful to be able to play basketball. I am proud to be able to participate in the big stage of the Olympics. People all over Japan I think they are watching, so I want to work as one in Japan and aim for one win first. And I hope to show the strength of Japan to the world and win a medal. "
Hachimura is scheduled to participate in the Japan national team's warm-up game to be held in Saitama City on the 16th and 18th before the opening of the Olympic Games.
Yudai Baba, who belongs to the Australian professional league "with Hachimura from the same Toyama"
Yudai Baba, who belongs to Melbourne United, a professional league team in Australia that has been selected as the representative of Japan for the Tokyo Olympics along with Rui Hachimura, said, "I have the experience and confidence that I have played abroad for two years, so I have been playing so far. I think that I can bring a different atmosphere to the team. I was able to prove that I can thoroughly protect overseas players in the defense part. The shooting power from the outside is also more reliable than two years ago I think it's the Olympics that can express how Japanese basketball has changed. I'm really looking forward to it, and I want to play without forgetting my gratitude. " did.
Also, regarding playing with Hachimura, who is also from Toyama prefecture and is a junior in junior high school, as a representative of Japan, "I'm really looking forward to it, and it's a great honor to be able to show each other how they are growing each time. I think it's hard to see each other's growth on the stage of fighting with Japan on their backs. I want to do my best together with the idea of leading the Japanese national team. "