TOKYO (Japan) - One of the B. League's most respected coaches, Dai Oketani, has been put in charge of Japan's national team.
Oketani succeeds Tom Hovasse, who had led Japan since the end of the Tokyo Olympics but parted ways with the program on Monday.
In a little over three weeks, the new coach will be on the sidelines in Okinawa when Japan host China and then Korea in the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Okinawa is where Oketani's Ryuku Golden Kings team is based.
The new coach is enthusiastic and ready to take on the challenge.
"While following the foundation built by my predecessors, I'd like to work with the players and staff to create a Japan national team that always stands shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading countries," Oketani said on Tuesday.
"I will fight alongside you all and do my best so that we can all share in the moments of victory. I would like to ask for your continued support for the Japan national team."
Basketball's popularity in Japan has been soaring, with both the women's and men's national teams making plenty of headlines the past several years.
Under Hovasse, Japan won three consecutive FIBA Women's Asia Cup titles, reached the Quarter-Finals of the Rio Olympics and the Final of the Tokyo Games.
He then moved into the head coaching role of the men's team and had a memorable 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, leading the side to the highest finish among Asian teams. The 19th place finish in the 32-team field was good enough to clinch a place in the 2024 Olympics.
Oketani has a lot of experience. He led Ryuku Golden Kings to the 2022-23 B League crown and to the 100th Emperor's Cup in 2025.
I'D LIKE TO WORK WITH PLAYERS, STAFF TO CREATE A JAPAN THAT ALWAYS STANDS SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE WORLD'S LEADING COUNTRIES
Dai Oketani
He coached the club in a previous stint to the BJ League championship in 2011-12. Oketani has also coached Oita Heat, Iwate Big Bulls, Osaka Evessa and Sendai 89ers.
Japan will go into the second window with two wins in as many games against Chinese Taipei after the first window.
FIBA