Raise your hand if you can name a Japanese pro basketball coach who is famous and well-respected outside of Japan.
Japanese coaches are not well-known figures in this country, and that says something about the major challenges that basketball faces to grow and have greater recognition in the future.
For the bj-league's Japanese coaches, I believe many of them would benefit if they could get coaching experience in other nations, too.
The idea comes to mind today after reading a small report in the Daily Yomiuri about former national team soccer player Toshiya Fujita, who plans to coach a Dutch youth team (VVV Venlo) next year.
In the article, Fujita said, "Considering many Japanese players join European teams, the time will come when Japanese coaches go abroad. If former players become coaches and spread their influence around the world, it will help bring Japanese soccer to higher level."
Japanese coaches and team and league executives need to think outside the box, too, and recognize the value of careers outside of Japan. That will play a major role in giving the next generation of impact-makers broader perspectives, greater command of English, an invaluable skill on the international level and confidence that comes with it to communicate with anybody.
Saturday's story on Fujita:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/T120713004403.htm
Japanese coaches are not well-known figures in this country, and that says something about the major challenges that basketball faces to grow and have greater recognition in the future.
For the bj-league's Japanese coaches, I believe many of them would benefit if they could get coaching experience in other nations, too.
The idea comes to mind today after reading a small report in the Daily Yomiuri about former national team soccer player Toshiya Fujita, who plans to coach a Dutch youth team (VVV Venlo) next year.
In the article, Fujita said, "Considering many Japanese players join European teams, the time will come when Japanese coaches go abroad. If former players become coaches and spread their influence around the world, it will help bring Japanese soccer to higher level."
Japanese coaches and team and league executives need to think outside the box, too, and recognize the value of careers outside of Japan. That will play a major role in giving the next generation of impact-makers broader perspectives, greater command of English, an invaluable skill on the international level and confidence that comes with it to communicate with anybody.
Saturday's story on Fujita:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/T120713004403.htm
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