JPN – Joji Takeuchi, Japan desperate for overdue Olympic return

WUHAN (FIBA Asia Championship) – It was November 10 1971 in Tokyo, a long time ago, when high-rise buildings were just starting to become the dominant feature of the city’s skyline.

Tokyo had hosted the 1964 Olympic Games and the event had acted as a catapult for the city to grow and eventually become one of the world’s great capitals.

The main event in town on this day however, was the Final of the FIBA Asia Championship.

Japan beat the previously undefeated Philippines to claim their second Asian title and qualify for the Munich Olympic Games the following year.

While they would finish 14th with a 2-7 record in Munich, a silver medal at the 1975 Asia Championship would secure a position at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, their sixth appearance at the pinnacle of sport in what was a growing tradition for Japan.

That was the last time the Japanese would qualify though, as current national team centre Joji Takeuchi is only too well aware.

“Yes it is a long time,” he said, before adding that there is a confidence in the team that they can break the drought.

“That is what we have all prepared for," he explained. "Everybody is very motivated for that and we have come together as a team, we think we have a shot at it."

The 26-year-old, who represents the national team with his twin brother Kosuke, was born 13 years after that last Olympic appearance, but he has lived through some near misses.

Japan has won 14 Asian Championship medals, but have frustratingly finished one position shy of qualifying for the Olympics on three occasions.

In contrast, their last three appearances at the continental championship have produced disappointing 10th and eighth place finishes.

Before worrying about the London Olympics, Joji and his team-mates are looking to re-establish credibility for the Japanese national team.

“First we have to get to the point when anybody we play respects us,” he said. “That’s what we want to achieve in this tournament.

"If we finish in second or third place in Asia we will have achieved that, but our ultimate goal is to be champions.”

Japan improved to a 2-0 record at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, using a 15-0 run at the start of the third quarter to set up their 92-87 victory over Jordan.

Takeuchi was superb, scoring 13 points and pulling in a whopping 19 rebounds.

“This was a key game for us, we needed to win, even if only by one point,” said Takeuchi, who has represented his country at a FIBA World Championship and two FIBA Asia Championships.

Japan face Syria on Saturday, the final day of the Preliminary Round.

Paulo Kennedy

FIBA