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In this project, the buyer in charge of men's authentic fashion on the 7th floor of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building coordinates the latest fashion items for athletes each time. This time, however, they made contact with professional athletes for the first time. They visited the Kawasaki Brave Thunders, a strong club in the professional basketball B.League.

Thanks to the Hachimura effect and the Tawata effect, basketball is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity.

The basketball world is currently a hot topic, with Rui Hachimura being selected in the first round of the NBA draft and Ryo Tawata appearing on the popular TV show "TERRACE HOUSE." Attention is also focused on the rise of 3x3 basketball and the fierce competition for a spot on the Olympic team. The opening of the professional basketball B.League in 2016 allowed the league to move beyond its previous chaotic period, leading to a dramatic improvement in both players' awareness and skills. Attendance has also increased dramatically.

The Kawasaki Brave Thunders were founded in 1950. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the B.League, making them a historic and traditional club. They have produced numerous Japanese national team players and have reached the championship for three consecutive years since the B.League's inception. While they suffered a narrow defeat to the Sunrockers Shibuya in the Emperor's Cup in January, they have significantly pulled ahead of second-placed Seahorse Mikawa in the Central Division this season, already boasting a winning percentage exceeding 70%. They have lit the magic number earlier than any other team in the division, making them a strong contender for the championship. (As of February 19, 2020)


From this consistently winning team, we picked out three notable players and asked them about their clothing preferences. We were able to hear about their private clothing choices, as they all share the common traits of being nearly 2 meters tall, with long limbs and large feet. One might expect that, given the image they project from their basketball uniforms, they would prefer loose-fitting, street-style fashion that would conceal their physical "handicap," but surprisingly, they all wear elegant, clean casual wear on a daily basis. So, buyer Uematsu decided to select brands suitable for adult casual wear and create some outfits for them.

Three players from the Kawasaki Brave Thunders, who are aiming for their first B.League championship, made an appearance.

#3 Shotaro Hayashi: A young points scorer who has come from Hokkaido to Kyushu and then to Kawasaki.

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Hayashi, a native of Hokkaido, is a tall shooter standing at 194cm. He competed in the Inter-High School Championships during high school and won the Kyushu regional championship while attending Tokai University Kyushu. He was selected for the Universiade Japan national team and has experience competing in tournaments such as the U24 Asia Pacific Championships. While still a student, he joined the Kawasaki Brave Thunders as a specially designated player and moved to Kanagawa.

Hailing from snowy Hokkaido, his special skill is snowboarding. However, the B.League regular season overlaps with the snowboarding season. "As long as I'm a professional athlete, I've given up on snowboarding," he laughs, but he honestly admits that Kawasaki was a team he admired when he saw them in magazines during his student days. Having been invited to join the historic club, he now has a strong sense of professionalism and a desire to contribute to the team.


When asked about his everyday fashion, he said he prefers collared shirts to T-shirts. He likes simple clothes, but often can't find clothes that fit, so he likes shirts that he can wear like a jacket as long as the sleeves are long enough. He mostly wears knitwear over his shirts. He rarely wears jackets or suits, and is still learning about adult fashion. He came to Kawasaki from Hokkaido and Kyushu. He doesn't yet feel like Tokyo is his territory, and says he mostly browses the shopping centers in Kawasaki when he shops.


The outfit I chose for today is Theory set-up. Instead of a jacket, it's a minimalist and modern suit consisting of a zip-up blouson and matching pants. For the inner layer, I chose a white fine-gauge knit instead of a T-shirt. This choice gives a more mature feel than a T-shirt or cut-and-sew top. I finished the look with white Adidas Stan Smiths for a light and casual feel.

She's dressed in a simple yet elegant black and white monochrome outfit. She keeps blushing, saying, "I've never worn such fashionable clothes before," which is probably because her senior teammates are with her. However, this talented player caught the eye of top teams even during her student days, and she showed a confident presence in front of the camera. She seems to be the type to be considerate of her seniors during practice. If she can be as assertive and express herself during matches as she was today, the results will surely follow.

#27 Naoya Kumagai: Bringing a fresh perspective to Kawasaki with his B.League championship experience.

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His last name, Kumagai, is pronounced "Kumagae." Unlike Hayashi, who is from Hokkaido, he hails from Fukuoka in Kyushu. He was always at the back of the line when lining up by height when he was little. He started playing basketball in the third grade of elementary school and remained an unknown player until high school, when he entered Nippon Sport Science University and began to make a name for himself. After graduating, he joined Link Tochigi Brex (now Utsunomiya Brex), a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. In 2017, he also experienced winning the B.League championship. After that, he played for Osaka Evessa before joining Kawasaki last year. He is expected to bring a breath of fresh air to Kawasaki, a team with many homegrown players.


He loves sneakers and collects Air Jordans, but apparently they're not for games, but for travel. On this particular day, he was wearing "FOG ESSENTIALS × Converse Chuck Taylor 70," a model not yet released in Japan, a collaboration with the luxury streetwear brand also favored by Kanye West.

Not only are these shoes a rare premium model, but finding a size that fits her large 32cm feet must have been quite a challenge. "I regularly check overseas online shopping sites. When I'm traveling by Shinkansen or bus, I'm almost always looking at them on my smartphone. The prices fluctuate daily, so I have to keep checking them frequently."

I buy not only sneakers but also clothes from overseas websites because they have larger sizes than domestic shops. "But I can't try them on, so I worry until they arrive. If possible, I'd really prefer to try on clothes before buying them." When I was a student, I lived in Tokyo, so I used to shop in Omotesando, Shibuya, Harajuku, and ISETAN MEN'S . Now that I've moved to Kawasaki, it's easier to visit my old favorite shops. "But I still have trouble with sizes. I tend to stick to the same imported brands all the time."


In winter, he usually just throws on a long-sleeved T-shirt and a down jacket, and says he doesn't really think about coordinating his outfits these days. He says that since turning pro, he hasn't had many opportunities to choose clothes that fit him. So, for this shoot, he's wearing Brooks Brothers . He's paired a blouson with a cable knit sweater and stretch chinos, creating an American traditional style that's only possible because the brand offers larger sizes.

"I usually wear clean, American traditional brands, but if I stick to one brand, I can consciously coordinate outfits, like adding a patterned knit as an inner layer under a jacket. Also, I have thick calves, so I've always avoided skinny pants, but these slim-fit chinos give a smart silhouette."

#24 Yuto Otsuka, a master of 3-point shooting with 300 successful attempts.

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In his tenth year as a professional, Otsuka achieved his 300th career three-point shot in B1 in January of this year. Like Hayashi, he is from Hokkaido. When he was a child, he apparently preferred skiing and snowboarding to basketball. "I was dragged to play by a basketball coach who was also a friend of my father. I never thought I'd be doing it for this long (laughs)." However, he was already 172cm tall in sixth grade and 183cm in third year of junior high school, so he was quite a talent.

After graduating from Tokai University, he signed with TGI D-RISE, then in JBL2, which was the lower division of Link Tochigi Brex of the JBL. He later played in Miyazaki and Akita, and also played for Sunrockers Shibuya, the team that fought a fierce battle in this year's Emperor's Cup final. Last season, he started in 58 games for Toyama Grouses, accumulating an astonishing total of 532 points, and came to Kawasaki at the same time as Kumagai.


She recalls being exceptionally tall even in kindergarten. By middle school, she was over 180cm tall, and looking back, she realizes she was often dressed in adult clothes. Perhaps because of this, she prefers designer and luxury brands over street fashion. "I always try to wear proper adult clothing because of my age, but on weekends I often go out with my family, so I try to choose clothes that are moderately relaxed. I don't choose clothes based on brands, but I sometimes buy clothes overseas because they have my size there."

Today's outfit is all by MACINTOSH PHYLOSOPHY. Those around me complimented it, saying it looked like the usual Otsuka-san and didn't seem out of place. He even looked great wearing the coat as a jacket. His smart style is evident, as he regularly practices elegant casual wear. While it may not solve his problem, he seemed happy to know that, unlike when he worked at a local club, he can now choose clothes at ISETAN MEN'S without having to travel overseas.


"I can wear any top as long as the sleeve length is right, but choosing pants is really difficult. If I choose pants that fit my waist, the crease disappears on dress pants (laughs). I'm really grateful that denim has become so much more comfortable with stretch fabrics these days. If casual pants are made of stretchy material, I might be able to wear them without a crease without it looking strange."

Having played for six different clubs so far, he's had to wear a suit when traveling to some of them. Of course, a custom-made suit is a must, but he also wants to have custom-made leather shoes someday. There are size issues, but he has a very strong sense of fashion. And as the oldest Japanese player on the team and a member of the generation that remembers the pre-B.League era, he's thinking deeply about his second career and his future in basketball.

"Right now, our priority is to win the regular season. Next, we want to aim to become the best club in Asia. Of course, I'm also thinking about supporting the team after retirement, perhaps as a coach or in management. That's because I know what it was like in the past when balancing work and basketball was the norm. I know how much influence club management has on the players and the games."

A traditional powerhouse team aims for the world from the B.League.

Uematsu, I hear you all like sophisticated, adult casual style. I thought you might like street style clothes, like basketball shoes or hip-hop-inspired outfits.
Otsuka: Today I'm wearing Yeezy Boosts, but I also sometimes pair them with creased pants.
Kumagai: I check out streetwear brands, but I also wear luxury brands. Because of sizing, I tend to wear a lot of imported brands.
Hayashi: Even if there are clothes I want, I couldn't spend that much money on clothes when I was a student, so high-end brands are still a bit out of the question for me...


Uematsu: I recently watched a game! Actually, it was the first time I'd ever properly watched a basketball game. The last time was when I was a student and did a homestay in America, and I watched my host family's high school son play.
Kumagai: Lately, basketball has been featured in the media quite a lot, so I think people are probably seeing the word "basketball" (laughs).
As has been covered in Uematsu Sports News and other media, it can be watched not only on BS and CS broadcasting, but also on Amazon Prime, and I also learned that Yahoo! Premium members can watch the internet broadcast on "Basketball LIVE".
With Otsuka Basketball LIVE, you can watch all B1 and B2 games.
Even at Uematsu , watching it live is a completely different experience. I instantly realized I was hooked! (laughs). I've already checked the schedule so I can go see it regularly.


During the season, there are games every weekend. You can also watch the men's B.League, the women's W.League, and the Japanese national team games. The "EARLY CUP," held before the start of the season, is a regional tournament cup competition held before the regular season. All 36 clubs participating in the 2019-20 B.League season are divided into 6 regions across the country and compete. It's a close call, so it's quite intense.
Like Uematsu Soccer's J1 and J2 leagues, there's B1 and B2, then B3, and then corporate teams, so I didn't realize the base was this broad. And even within that, Kawasaki is an incredibly strong team.
Even back when I was a student at Hayashi High School , Kawasaki's matches were always featured in newspapers and magazines, and I always watched them if they were broadcast. They're a team that's always been strong and has a long history and tradition. I sometimes wonder if a country bumpkin like me should even be here (laughs).
All you need to do is become a player worthy of the Kumagaya team.
I feel that Otsuka B League is the most traditional club, and I want to be involved in building a new team while preserving its traditions.
Uematsu Otsuka is the oldest Japanese player. I'm sure he was called up to Kawasaki because of his experience playing for other clubs.
Kumagai: I joined at the same time as Otsuka-san. Kawasaki has always had a culture of developing student players, so I think we were called up because they were looking for something new and extra.
Otsuka: Taking on new challenges is something that our team is currently aiming for.


I think a lot has changed compared to before the Uematsu B League was established. Bringing in Saburo Kawabuchi, the former chairman of the J.League, and introducing a league and club management system modeled after professional soccer leagues was a major turning point, as it led to improved regional cooperation and technical skills.
I really feel that the Kumagaya B.League as a whole is gaining momentum. We played against Kawasaki many times during the NBL era, but the attendance at home games wasn't as high as it is now. Since it became the B.League, tickets sell out for every game. I can really feel that things have changed and that it's really thriving.
It's the same at Otsuka and other clubs. I think there used to be hardly any spectators in the second tier seats. Now, even on weekday games, they get 4,000 people. It's a great motivator for the players, and I really feel that a good environment is being built for Japanese basketball.
Isn't this completely different from Uematsu 's basketball style?
University basketball and professional basketball are completely different things. I don't know about the situation in the Kanto region, but in Kyushu, university games were free to watch, but the only spectators were friends and hardcore basketball fans. However, at professional games, people buy tickets, and club fans and local people come to support the team, so the level of passion is on a different level. Moreover, the number of spectators this year is definitely much higher than when I joined three years ago.
Uematsu: I thought so! In basketball, the distance between the spectators and the players is closer than in other sports, isn't it? If you're in the front row of the first floor seats, the players come right in front of you during timeouts. I thought that the cheers would reach them easily, which would be encouraging for the players. It seems like if you called out to an individual player, they might even reply.
The excitement of the Kumagaya match can be felt up close. I think the thrilling, immersive experience offers a unique kind of enjoyment.
The fact that more points are scored than in baseball or soccer is similar to basketball. The skills are also improving, and there are comebacks and close matches that are quite exciting to watch.
Hayashi: It's really impressive to watch tall players running around on a small court. Even from the bench, we think it's amazing.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye on Uematsu from now on. Finally, could you tell us your aspirations for this year?
Hayashi: We won the Central Division in the regular season. We won't let our guard down in the championship either, and we want to aim to be the best in Japan to overcome the disappointment of this year's Emperor's Cup!


The Kumagaya team's goal is to overcome the disappointment of being runners-up in the Emperor's Cup and win the championship to avenge that defeat. If the players, staff, and fans all have a strong desire to win, we can achieve it. Finally, we want to create a team that can make everyone smile.
Otsuka : I want to get results and prove to the fans and everyone involved that what we've been doing since joining the team this summer was the right thing to do. After that, it's the Asian Champions Cup. We'll work hard until then. Kawasaki is looking at the world.