【Part 2】Rui Hachimura Brings the “Global Standard” to Kobe: How 100 Junior High and High School Students Learned to Expand Their Possibilities

Because this was a rare opportunity to experience the world firsthand, junior high and high school students came from across Japan and even from overseas. Many belonged to powerhouse schools and clubs.

Kuon Sato of Higashiyama High School in Kyoto had just finished as national runner-up the previous winter. “I joined determined to absorb everything I could, because I would be learning from Hachimura, who competes at the highest level of the NBA, and from his coach,” he said. True to his words, he remained at the front throughout practice, listening intently so as not to miss a single word.

At one point, Hachimura demonstrated about 20 minutes of his usual workout. Sato was deeply impressed: “His focus on every single shot was completely different.” He added, “Hachimura and I play different positions, but he is a fellow Japanese player performing at such a high level on the world stage. It renewed my determination to work toward competing globally myself.”

Rio Ota participated from Ohka Gakuen High School in Aichi, one of the leading teams in women’s basketball. “Every detail was precise, and the intensity was on another level,” she said. “We were told to value quality over quantity, so I want to focus on quality and work carefully through each fundamental skill.”

Rio Nonomura, captain of the local Kobe Storks U18 team, was another participant who made a strong impression during the two-day camp.

“I think I learned what it takes to compete at the world level. Watching the workout, there was no wasted movement in anything he did. Just observing was incredibly educational, and it made me realize that NBA players really do exist.” —Rio Nonomura

With eyes shining, Nonomura took on Sato in a one-on-one match before a large crowd at “THE SHOWCASE” on the second day. His dream of becoming a professional player for the Kobe Storks surely came into sharper focus over those two days.

At the same time, not every participant was already competing at the national level. Some had only recently taken up the sport, while others were aiming simply to earn playing time or advance beyond their regional tournament. “I was surprised by how big everyone was.” “They were unbelievably good, and I felt the gap between us.” Their comments reveal the uncertainty of stepping into a more advanced environment than usual—but that very uncertainty was also proof that they had seen beyond the limits of where they currently stood.

The words of participant Yurika Daikoku captured what the two days had taught her:

“There were so many different people here, and it gave me a lot of new inspiration. The environment I am in now is only one small part of the world. Coming here made the world feel much broader, and it made me want to keep working hard in high school.” —Yurika Daikoku

Where you stand today is not the whole world. The world is vast, and you can expand it through your own efforts. We felt that Daikoku’s words expressed one of the realizations born from the camp. To the young generation pursuing ambitious dreams, Hachimura left this message:

“Whether your goal or dream is in basketball, another sport, or something outside sports altogether, I believe it is important to have passion of your own. With passion, it becomes easier to overcome painful and difficult moments. That passion also helps you understand your true way of living—what you need and what you do not. I think facing those questions is what matters most.” —Rui Hachimura

Our Group hopes this experience will encourage every participant to reflect on their dreams and possibilities and take a new step forward. Even if a day comes when they leave basketball behind, we hope that the two days spent encountering a global standard will remain one of the experiences supporting their future challenges. Our Group will continue to support the next generation as they take on challenges and create opportunities for each person to “open life’s possibilities.”