RISING SUNS JPN

2009 TEAM RISING SUNS, photo by K. Couliau/Bounce Magazine We...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:43:48 +0900

2009 TEAM RISING SUNS, photo by K. Couliau/Bounce Magazine

We made some breakthroughs with that first trip to the Quai 54 International Streetball Championships back in ‘09. With a tiny squad of young Tokyo streetballers, we were only down 19-15 at halftime, and we did it against the eventual 2011 Quai 54 champs= Le Relevè.

Since that first year, we’ve tried a few different approaches at “le Quai”. Here’s a quick recap of our past Rising Suns teams:

RS2009 = all amateur/street players. 38-20 (L) vs. Le Relevè (France)

RS2010 = a mix of street & pro. 37-24 (L) vs. Duke All-Stars (Belgium)

RS2011 = all-pro players. 30-17 (L) vs. Shest Hustleur (France)

Now for 2012, who will represent Japan at the big 10th Anniversary edition of this Jordan Brand event?? Again this year, we’re making an effort to bring a team of Japan’s best up-and-coming players to Paris. More info and updates about our 2012 Rising Suns tryout schedule and team selection coming soon.

Here’s the final wrap-up from our trip to the 2011 Pacific...

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:51:24 +0900

Here’s the final wrap-up from our trip to the 2011 Pacific Open in Vladivostok. Learning how to win happens when you get out there and play. Plain and simple. Some advice for kids out there, dreaming of reaching the highest level: don’t be afraid to lose a few games along the way, in reaching for your goals.

Keep rising, Japan!

If you watch only one Rising Suns video, this is the one...

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:45:59 +0900

If you watch only one Rising Suns video, this is the one you’ve all gotta see. FIRST WIN IN TEAM HISTORY! (yeah, we were pretty excited about getting it). Finally, after three years :) The journey is the reward…

These guys from Street China and SKY were bringing some crazy...

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:59:39 +0900

These guys from Street China and SKY were bringing some crazy energy the whole weekend, and made the experience a lot of fun for everybody. Great time hanging out with you guys. This is how we do it, rise together…

Day before the big tournament, we had a walk around Vladivostok...

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:56:53 +0900

Day before the big tournament, we had a walk around Vladivostok with our team’s private tour guide, Natasha. She’s a foreign language/student intern who was brought in by the Pacific Open organizers to help out with communication during our stay.

Thanks for the great help with everything, and making our team feel right at home! Next time, we need to come prepared to speak a little more Russian. Priviettttt!

Check out some highlights from Team Japan’s trip last...

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:47:51 +0900

Check out some highlights from Team Japan’s trip last month to the 2011 Pacific Open in Vladivostok, Russia. This was the first time for some of our players to ever get a visa. Big world out there. Make it happen, Rising Suns!

One last clip from our trip to Quai 54, watching La Relevè lift...

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:34:11 +0900

One last clip from our trip to Quai 54, watching La Relevè lift up that trophy and a few closing messages from our team members.

Happy summer holidays, Rising Fans!

Check out these crazy dunks @ le Quai 54, featuring Justin...

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:42:06 +0900

Check out these crazy dunks @ le Quai 54, featuring Justin ‘Jus Fly’ Darlington from Team Flight Brothers, Young Hollywood, and our very own John Helicopter Humphrey putting it down for Team Japan.

Rising Suns’ Masashi Joho represented Japan in the...

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:53:01 +0900

Rising Suns’ Masashi Joho represented Japan in the Footlocker 3-point shootout at Quai 54 this year. Joho had the NBA’s greatest shooter from downtown Ray Allen watching over his shoulder. Sharing the court with a true legend.

Getting our first look at the Jordan court under the Eiffel...

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:44:10 +0900

Getting our first look at the Jordan court under the Eiffel Tower. Most epic spot for a tournament on the planet…

Here’s video #3, getting around on the Paris subway and...

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:12:54 +0900

Here’s video #3, getting around on the Paris subway and first look at le Tour for our guys. Rising!

Rising Fans, here’s video from our practice session @ St....

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:38:17 +0900

Rising Fans, here’s video from our practice session @ St. de Coubertin (aka George Eddy’s gym), the day before Quai 54 in Paris. Finding some rhythm!

Walking through our plays with Coach @ the old Quai 54 home,...

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:47:00 +0900

Walking through our plays with Coach @ the old Quai 54 home, Georges Carpentier Sports Park, near Port d’Italie side of Paris. Trying to get some chemistry fast!

RISING FANS お待たせしました！Check out Team Japan’s trip to the...

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:54:00 +0900

RISING FANS お待たせしました！Check out Team Japan’s trip to the one and only QUAI 54 International Streetball Championships, sponsored by Jordan Brand.

Site will be under construction while we work out some issues...

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:28:24 +0900

Site will be under construction while we work out some issues with those images and pages not loading. Should have it fixed with some new updates soon. Please check back in a minute!

Japan hoops in the spotlight We go to Quai 54 every year to win,...

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:43:00 +0900

Hiro getting interviewed by Trace TV

Handling it

Need a little help...Jason!

No problem

Japan hoops in the spotlight

We go to Quai 54 every year to win, of course. But beyond that, the trip for our guys is also about introducing Japan’s players on the world’s stage, and giving them some much needed experience or ‘face time’ in that spotlight. Most Japanese players rarely get this opportunity with the lack of national media attention here.

Hanging back behind the main court, our Rising Suns big man Hirotaka Sato got the call from Trace Sports Network, a local television company doing a feature on the Quai 54 tournament. Hiro handled it like a champ, just calling me over for to help explain something once or twice. But it was all English, and he represented with great professionalism. What its all about right there. Keep rising, Japan.

More pics from Quai 54! game photos by CultureBasket/Sky The...

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:18:00 +0900

Rising Suns vs. Shest Hustler-Fusion

Got to stop 'The Boss'

Trying to hold onto this lead

Bangin in the paint

Long halftime show

Coach talking things over with Heli

Rising Bigs

After party in Champs elysees

More pics from Quai 54!

game photos by CultureBasket/Sky The Limit

Play for Japan Charity Basketball Event Aug. 6th, 2011 @ West...

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:17:05 +0900

Play for Japan Charity Basketball Event

Aug. 6th, 2011 @ West Los Angeles College

Rising Suns’ Coach Nakase is doing some great work with this charity event for disaster relief in Japan. Check out their new event page on Facebook to find out more! And please continue to support the Japan relief effort.

Rising in Russia! (part 2) Great memories for our guys, walking...

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:24:00 +0900

Focused

Worm reppin' Team Japan

Warming up with Team China

ST from deep

Pre-game intros

Battling with Team USA

Worm getting the interview for local TV

K-TA getting some air time

Our big win vs. Team Mosty!!

Rising in Russia! (part 2)

Great memories for our guys, walking onto the massive square in downtown Vladivostok to see the tournament grounds, getting to bang with Team USA in our opening game, and oh yeah, that cool weather… we miss you, Russia!

Rising Suns in Vladivostok! Here’s a look at our first...

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 09:02:00 +0900

Quick ride from Tokyo, only 2 hours!

View outside Hyundai Hotel

Energyyyyy

Old reliable...Subway sandwiches

Morning lift before breakfast

Hitting the streets with guide Natasha

1st stop on the Siberian Express

A new Golden Gate Bridge...coming soon

Central square in Vladivostok

Ready to hoop, Russia!

Rising Suns in Vladivostok!

Here’s a look at our first couple of days in Russia. We were just getting into the flow and finding our way around this quiet little seaside town— thanks to our wonderful guide Natasha.

Vladivostok has some big things coming up, with their scheduled hosting of the 2012 APEC Summit. Much of the town seems to be still under construction (including that massive bridge which will hopefully be stretching across the bay by this time next year). Cheering for you, Vladivostok friends!