Young Stephen Curry fans in Tokyo have a new basketball court to play on named after their hero and lined with images of the NBA superstar.
In a few days, they will get to see the real thing up close, as Curry will match up against Japanese star Rui Hachimura in the NBA season opener in Japan.
On Sept. 28 in Japan time, the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors posted a greeting message, “Konnichiwa,” on its official Instagram account with a video.
Curry looked excited and said, “We’re going to Tokyo baby!” as players and coaches boarded the team plane.
The Warriors will open the season against Hachimura’s Washington Wizards at the NBA Japan Games 2022, scheduled at Saitama Super Arena, near Tokyo, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
For young Curry fans in Tokyo, the celebration already started days before with the opening of “Curry Court Tennoz Isle” on Sept. 24 in the capital’s Shinagawa Ward.
During a ceremonial event held on Sept. 23, lucky students attending elementary and junior high schools were invited to step on the new court, surrounded by Curry-inspired illustrations.
They then learned the MVP’s signature court moves from Yasuo Iijima and other star players of the Utsunomiya Brex.Exe, a 3×3 basketball team based in Tochigi Prefecture.
There are few outdoor permanent basketball courts open to the public in Tokyo.
Yusuke Yoshida, who heads Shinagawa Culture Club, which manages sports teams including soccer and basketball clubs based in Tokyo’s bayside area, said he was lucky.
One day, Yoshida was walking through the Tennouzu district and saw an empty lot that he thought would be perfect for a basketball court.
He contacted a municipality and a major real estate company that owns the site and was told that an apartment building is expected to be constructed there in the future but the site will remain vacant for several years.
“Would you open the site to the public while it is vacant?” Yoshida asked and negotiated with the realtor.
The realtor willingly consented to his idea, allowing the site to be used as a court for basketball and futsal.
Yoshida started a crowdfunding campaign to build a facility.
Soon, he received an offer from Dome Corp., a Japanese branch of Under Armour, a major sports apparel brand whose sponsored athletes include Curry.
From there, things dribbled along smoothly, Yoshida said.
“It was like a miracle that a small local club like us could work in partnership with Under Armor and was connected to Curry,” he said.
Yoshinori Kitajima, president of Dome, said: “Curry hopes children around the world play basketball. We wanted to embody his thinking.”
Kitajima said he dreams that one day children who play on Curry’s court will become a star of the B.League, a men’s professional basketball league in Japan, or even the NBA.
The court is open to the public for free every Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
The court is also available to be reserved for a fee, and reservations are accepted through the website of Shinagawa Culture Club.
Photo 1
Children celebrate the opening of a basketball court named after Stephen Curry, a star point guard of the Golden State Warriors, in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward on Sept. 23. (Shuhei Nomura)
Photo 2
Children take basketball instruction at a newly opened court named after Stephen Curry, a star point guard of the Golden State Warriors, in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward on Sept. 23. (Shuhei Nomura)
Photo 3
A basketball clinic is held at the Curry Court Tennoz Isle, a newly opened facility bearing the name of NBA superstar Stephen Curry, in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward on Sept. 23. (Shuhei Nomura)
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