Basketball is a globally popular sport played by 450 million people. In this ”GlobasketUntied” article series, Mie Kajikawa, Founder of Next Big Pivot and Advisor to the FIBA Foundation (2023-2027), visits Embassies of basketball powerhouses in Japan to explore the role of basketball in each country.
Through the interviews, GlobasketUnited learns about popularity and potential of the power of basketball for good from the following four perspectives.
#1: Popularity of Basketball
#2: Sports Policy
#3: Power of Basketball for Social Good
#4: Views on Basketball in Japan
Our first stop is the Philippine Embassy. In the first-half article, we touched on the popularity of basketball in the Philippines. Here is a conversation with Darrell Artates, First Secretary and Consul (Public Diplomacy and Economic) at the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Tokyo, who has been familiar with basketball in her family since she was a child.
Many Filipinos play for B League.
3rd Quarter : Power of Basketball for Social Good
ーーーWe are hoping to collectively promote the basketball for good. What kind of roles would you expect basketball for your better society and a better world? Do you have any stories in your country that brought about better lives and social change?
That’s a heavy question. But it might be very important and that is the basis of the UN resolution which declared World Basketball Day. Parts of those resolution, it is pointed that the role of basketball breaking down barriers and fostering understanding between and among different cultures.
So it’s focusing on what binds us rather than what divides us. And again, the benefits of basketball, physical health, mental well-being and those values that are very important especially in this world right now – as well as sportsmanship, cooperation, friendship, and harmony, working well with others despite differences.
Those are the things that the basketball is not just a potential but an actual force for social good.
It’s already happening and it has been happening. I believe the relationship between the Philippines and the United States, where basketball was born, is already strong.
And in my country there are countless stories of someone coming from a lower class or poverty who learned to play basketball, and got a scholarship in college that supported the studies, and then that changed their entire life.
So there’s an industry and an entire ecosystem around (basketball) support millions of livelihoods and businesses around the world.
And so in the Philippines, it’s all about what everyone plays.You’re a part of the community because basketball is part of your blood. So you know the rules, you know all the teams, and you know all the staff. So instantly you become part of that community and regardless of your status in life, everyone can enjoy it.
4th Quarter : Views on Basketball in Japan
ーーーHow do you see Japan and Japanese basketball in the Philippines?
Filipinos love Japan
I have to say at the very start, Filipinos love Japan. Our public opinion in Japan is very positive.
So it has been more than just a relationship, but it’s a friendship. There’s friendliness and friendship even when we are competing against each other.
And now with many Filipino players in the B-League, more and more Filipinos are becoming aware of Japanese basketball and Japanese basketball players.
There’s the momentum to get to know not just Japan but basketball enthusiasts and players across Asia, because it has always been the Philippines.
ーーーSo we co-hosted the basketball big event (FIBA World Cup) together last summer and through the process or preparation around the operations of the big tournament, have you seen any stories of collaboration between the hosting countries?
Well, the co-hosting itself is already, I would say. It testified to the strong relationships among Indonesia, which is a fellow ASEAN country, and Japan, which is one of the Philippines’ most enduring and important partner.
After this, I hope and expect that more collaborations would happen in the future because of just how successful it was.
Basketball used to be as a Western sport, but now it’s our sport. That’s why we have World Basketball Day.
So more people join (the community), more areas of the world get to enjoy the basketball more.
I mean the organization like you continue your work and you’ll raise the profile of basketball here in Japan.
ーーーThank you very much.
