【Part 1】Rui Hachimura Brings the “Global Standard” to Kobe: How 100 Junior High and High School Students Learned to Expand Their Possibilities

“One, two, three! BLACK SAMURAI!”

At GLION ARENA KOBE in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, around 100 junior high and high school students in black T-shirts raised their fists at center court and shouted in unison. Standing at the center of the circle—towering above everyone at 203 centimeters—was Rui Hachimura, Japan’s leading professional basketball player, who has been competing in the NBA since 2019.

On August 4 and 5, “Daiichi Life Group Presents BLACK SAMURAI KOBE CAMP”, a next-generation athlete development project created by Hachimura, was held in Kobe. Daiichi Life Group supported the Kobe camp as Presenting Partner and “Daiichi Life Group Presents BLACK SAMURAI SUMMIT 2026”, held in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, from August 6 to 8, as Diamond Partner—serving as the top sponsor of both events.

This April, our Group renewed its brand and embarked on a new chapter. The aspirations embodied in our brand and the ideas Hachimura seeks to pass on to the next generation have much in common. Through the voices of the junior high and high school students gathered at the Kobe camp, this article explains why we chose to support the initiative and looks back on the two-day program.

“BLACK SAMURAI” is a project Hachimura launched last year. It gives children opportunities to pursue ambitious dreams and provides a starting point for reaching the world stage. By openly sharing the experience and lessons he has gained at the highest level of the sport, Hachimura also aims to bring the world closer to them.

Looking back on the reasons for the sponsorship, Marie Shiohara of the Branding Promotion Office, Corporate Communications Unit, said: “The idea of supporting the next generation’s challenges through BLACK SAMURAI was very close to the vision we set out to achieve and the message we wanted to convey through our brand renewal. Hachimura is active globally and continues to embrace transformation and take on challenges without fear. In that sense, he truly embodies the kind of organization we aspire to be.”

With this shared outlook, we decided to support BLACK SAMURAI as the first sponsorship initiative following our brand renewal.

The Kobe camp brought together around 100 junior high and high school students—boys and girls selected from applicants across Japan—and was designed to give them an opportunity to “encounter the unknown and open their possibilities.” It was built around three themes: “Enjoy the Grind,” finding joy in the effort and challenges that lead toward a dream; “Fear No Challenge,” stepping into experiences not normally encountered; and “Expand Your Vision,” dramatically broadening one’s perspective. These principles, which Hachimura values, formed the pillars of the two-day program. They also resonate with our Group’s commitment to “open life’s possibilities.”

Phil Handy, an assistant coach with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, served as head coach for the two days of training. During Hachimura’s time with the Lakers, Handy was his skills coach, and he has also coached elite NBA players including LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Instruction was primarily in English, creating an environment in which participants could encounter diverse, globally relevant perspectives without leaving Japan.

Amid his energetic coaching, Handy emphasized the “quality of practice.” As the sessions progressed, the children’s concentration and intensity visibly increased. Hachimura reflected on the changes over the two days:

“At first, some of the kids were shy, but the coaches and I helped them loosen up, and from the first day they gradually began to express themselves. By the second day, they were showing their individual strengths in one-on-one and two-on-two play, so I think it became a wonderful camp.” —Rui Hachimura

The participants changed in just two days. Hachimura describes the junior high and high school years as a “sponge stage.”

“When I was a child, even one or two days could make me feel that I had grown. At this age, your ability to absorb things is at its highest, so I think they were able to learn a great deal.” —Rui Hachimura

The two days of practice were supported by an impressive group of professional players from the B.LEAGUE’s Kobe Storks. On the second day, approximately 6,400 people attended the fan event, “THE SHOWCASE”, which featured a talk session with Kobe Storks players and a one-on-one tournament among top-level junior high and high school students.

The Kobe Storks are also home to Hachimura’s younger brother, Allen Hachimura. Participating in his brother’s project for the first time, Allen described the significance of the event and offered encouragement to the students:

“I really do not think there has ever been a clinic of this scale in Japan, with more than 100 players gathered and an NBA player actually coming to take part. I am sure it was an invaluable experience for the junior high and high school students, and it was an excellent experience for me as well. When I was their age, the B.LEAGUE had only just been established, and there were very few opportunities to interact with professional players. Japanese basketball has truly changed. If I were in high school, this is exactly the kind of event I would want to join. I hope they use this experience to raise their own standards and keep working hard.” —Allen Hachimura