Japan Basketball Welcomes New Talent as Olympic Preparations Intensify

Tokyo, Japan – Japan’s national men’s basketball team, known as Akatsuki Japan, is gearing up for international competition with a renewed focus on developing emerging talent. Recently, Suzuno Higuchi received a coveted invitation to participate in a training camp in preparation for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament.

A Rising Star Earns Recognition

Higuchi, currently playing for the Hitachi High Tech Cougars, is experiencing a surge in recognition following a successful career at Prestige International Aranmare. This selection marks the first time she has been considered for the A national team.

Self-Analysis and Skill Development

Higuchi attributes her selection to a conscious effort to broaden her skillset. She explains, When I was in college, there were a lot of great players around me, so I often made plays that took advantage of those around me by scattering passes. Yet, since I joined the W-League, both last season and this season, I was first asked to score points. I think my improvement in that area led to this evaluation.

The transition from a pass-first role in college to a more aggressive scoring presence in the W-League has been pivotal in her development.

Learning from the Best

During training camp, Higuchi has had the opportunity to learn from and compete alongside some of Japan’s most established players, including Rui Machida and Saki Hayashi. She expressed her admiration for Machida, stating, I’ve only played in the Future League before, so I’ve never had the chance to play against Machida-san. This was the first time I was able to match up with him live, and I was amazed by the accuracy of each play and the precision of the effort he takes before making a pass. She also highlighted the support she receives from Hayashi, a senior from her high school and university days.

Looking Ahead

Higuchi aims to be a point guard who can change the pace of the game and push the ball faster than anyone else to accelerate Japan’s offensive attack. She identifies her pull-up jumper as a key weapon in her arsenal.

Higuchi expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, saying, I was really happy to see my name on the list (of national team candidates). She is now focused on proving her value on the international stage.

Did you know? Japan has won the FIBA Asia Cup twice and is the second leading nation in qualifications to the event.

Stay tuned to 247sports.news for continued coverage of Akatsuki Japan and the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament.