Japan warmups include exciting Tokyo event against Angola, France and Slovenia

TOKYO (Japan) - Japan stage three warm-up tournaments, including one in Tokyo with games against Angola, France and Slovenia, before their FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign tips off in Okinawa.

Among the most anticipated of the preparation events will be at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo against Angola (August 15), France (August 17), and Slovenia (August 19), which means fans will be able to not only see their own Akatsuki Japan squad but some of the biggest and brightest stars in international basketball.

Luka Doncic is expected to be with Slovenia while France are likely to have this year's potential top NBA Draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, along with national team stalwarts Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier.

Angola, France, and Slovenia are among the 32 teams playing at the World Cup, which gets underway on August 25 in Okinawa, Manila, and Jakarta.

Before those games, Japan will host another World Cup-bound team, the New Zealand Tall Blacks, in a two-game series on August 2 and August 4 at the Open House Arena in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture.

Even ahead of those games, Japan's first warm-up competitions will be against Asian foes Chinese Taipei at the Hamamatsu Arena in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, in back-to-back games from July 8-9.

There is so much excitement in Japan about the national team and the upcoming World Cup that the games against Chinese Taipei are already sold out.

FIBA