TOKYO (Japan) - With a lot of intriguing young talent and a powerful fan base, Japan are ready to make the world know they are among the best according to rising star Yuta Watanabe.

Japan have certainly taken great steps to make sure their country will be well-represented at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China. Head coach Julio Lamas made developing their chemistry a priority in their preparation games before they head to Shanghai for Group E action.

"JAPANESE BASKETBALL WANTS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE IN ASIA AND IN THE WORLD."
Yuta Watanabe

"It has been very important to spend that whole time together, to share moments and to work hard all together during the practices and during the games we played until now to get ready for the World Cup," Watanabe said.

"We had some very good games, and even in the ones we lost, we learned a lot. The win against Germany was very good, and it gave us a great boost of confidence for the next matches. We are ready for the start of the World Cup, ready to show Japan's national team to the world."

Much of Japan's confidence stems from the fact that they've played their tune-up games on home soil and in front of their rabid fans, who have come out in droves to show their support and buoy the Akatsuki Five's spirits. Watanabe is hoping the fans follow them to China and continue to cheer for them in Shanghai and perhaps even beyond.

"We were able to play in front of our fans and families, and the energy in the stands was so good," Watanabe described. "It is so great to be having this 'sixth man' pushing you and cheering for you. We are one year away from the Olympics, and we are about to start a very competitive tournament, so having and feeling the love of the country is good for us. We can tell that basketball is growing a lot in Japan, and to see all the stands packed during our games was such a blessing."

In spite of the amazing fan support, Watanabe is aware of the herculean task ahead of him and his teammates. Drawn in a group with defending champions Team USA, 2010 second-placers Turkey and resurgent Czech Republic, the Japanese may be the underdogs of the group, but they do have the size and talent to match up.

"We all know that it’s a tough group, but we aren't scared," Watanabe declared. "Nobody said it would be easy, but we are going to embrace the challenge with the highest level of motivation and energy. We have nothing to lose to be honest, and we have the ambition to show the world that we can compete at this level and make life hard for our opponents. Team USA is the clear favorite of the group, but the fight for the second spot is going to be very open."

Making it to the Second Round would be a landmark achievement for Japan, though the odds seem stacked against them. Secondary to that will be making sure their young generation of players can get as much experience as possible, with the objective of preparing them for next year's Olympic Games at home. Watanabe knows that as basketball grows in stature in Japan, the national team should improve its standing on the world stage.

 
"We have to see it in a bigger picture and keep working, building, and improving for the future," Watanabe explained. "We want to keep learning and gain experience for the next couple of years, as Japan’s basketball wants to be one of the most competitive in Asia and in the World. This competition is very important for us, very important for our basketball and for the national team."

The face of Japan's rise, of course, has been Watanabe's star teammate and now fellow NBA talent, Rui Hachimura. The 21-year-old NBA rookie is projected to be one of the most explosive players at this year's World Cup, and his tandem action with Watanabe should certainly make for a very interesting upside for the Japanese.

"Rui is such a talented player, a huge positive and impactful guy on the team both on and off the court. He is going to be one of the players to follow in the World Cup and also for many years to come," Watanabe said of his friend.

"He is the face of Japanese basketball, and he is going to help our sport grow so much in the next couple of years. He is a great example of inspiration for the youth, and a hard worker who is going to have a successful career both in the NBA and with Japan's national team."

 
That's not to say Watanabe is nothing but a second fiddle, of course.

As a bona fide member of the Memphis Grizzlies and a long-time standout on the national team, debuting at the senior level way back in 2013, the 24-year-old also knows his special role in the greater scheme of things for Japanese hoops. He is aware that his own production and efforts will go a long way in helping propel what many have termed a potential 'golden generation' for Japanese basketball as far as they can go.

"I am so happy every time I wear the national team jersey, and I can't wait to start the tournament with my fellow teammates and all the fans that are coming to cheer for us in China," he said.

"Playing for your country is more than just basketball, it's about pride and about making your fellow compatriots proud. I am the kind of player who always thinks 'team first.' That is my mindset. We are a team, we are a family, united and eager to do great."

FIBA