JPN - Basketball cheering up Japan in waiting for cherry blossoms.

TOKYO (Hoop Hope) - In a country that has been heavily affected by one of the most devastating natural disasters in its history, resulting in a death toll of 11,000 people – and 16,000 still missing – basketball has brought about hope and smiles to kids in affected areas as well as it impressively united considerate basketball fans.

Immediately following the earthquake, Japan men’s and women’s national team players Kosuke Takeuchi (Aishin) and Yuko Oga (JX) joined up for an initiative by Japanese athletes that calls for donation, using JustGiving.

Former WJBL Player was the first to be followed by Kohei Aoki of bj’s Tokyo Apach and Masami Tachikawa of WJBL’s Fujitsu, showing “united” Japanese basketball, and the movement inspired basketball fans especially when Sendai score-leader Shimura joined the team with aspiration to help his heavily affected hometown.

To date, almost ten players from JBL/WJBL and bj have pledged on the web platform to collect donations online, while numerous teams and players have spent time appealing to people to donate.

Japan’s first-ever pro bj league was the first of Japanese pro sports to organize charity games in unaffected regions after the unprecedented earthquake. The bj league operated four games on each day of the weekend of March 19 and 20, and a record-high audience filled up the Shimane arena where the game triggered calls for “Nippon!” (meaning “Japan”), as well as for cheering for the Sendai 89ers, which have been most affected and was forced to end the season.

The teams which did not have any games on the weekend also contributed to the efforts to support Japan by fundraising donation in their own communities as well as by collecting relief goods and delivering them to affected areas.

On Wednesday, the 23 March, Sendai 89s’ players visited two evacuation shelters in Natori  - one of the most affected areas - to hand out basketballs, towels and sportswear.

In the school yard of Natori Second Junior High School, the 89’s scorers and the basketball club members set up an improvised game.

The captain of the school basketball team, who is currently volunteering at the evacuation shelter, said with a big smile: “I am so glad to be supported by the players whom I always support! They gave me the courage!”

The Sendai 89ers announced on past Thursday that they will give up the rest of the season, as players serve as volunteers in assisting their communities. Sendai native Shimura said: “Unexpectedly we were able to play basketball with kids. I am so glad. I want to continue to encourage them by playing ball.”

Japan Basketball League (JBL) clubs have also been contributing to the efforts to help Japan. Many teams and players have also volunteered to call for donations, while Kataoka - - captain of Tochigi Brex - has made a visit to affected areas to teach kids basketball.

Ex-NBA player Tabuse has even suggested the possibly of organizing a charity game with NBA players.

Not only pro teams but also street-ballers have been very active in helping Japan look forward to a brighter future. Remarkably they led Japanese basketball by creating a platform website called Hoop Hope for all basketball players compiling all the information including messages and charity activities and events, such as “Play and Pray,” a free-style basketball event that will be held in Yoyogi park this weekend.

Also many kinds of charity items have start to be sold soon, including smile T-shirts and cards with smile paintings by Takehiko Inoue.

Inoue has contributed towards a recent basketball boom in Japan thanks to his very popular manga “Slum Dunk.” Amazingly the T-shirts are already sold out on the day of the sale.

In spite of the challenges that face Japan, there lies much hope, epitomized by the many youngsters who have used basketball to encourage and united people.

Our sport has united people together heading towards a future with more smiles.

Basketball remains with us, in spite of this terrible disaster, waiting for cheer blossoms in our mind.

Mie Kajikawa