Andrew Pace
Japan and South Korea have both produced elite basketball players who have competed in the NBA and in Europe. Japan is one of the most successful basketball teams in Asia, having won the Asian Basketball Championships twice. They have also qualified for the Olympic Games 7 times and the FIBA World Cup six times. South Korea, on the other hand, has had more success in head-to-head matchups against Japan, winning 23 out of 30 games played since 2006.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of games played since 2006 | 30 |
| Games won by South Korea | 23 |
| Points per game for South Korea | 80.5 |
| Games won by Japan | 7 |
| Points per game for Japan | 72.1 |
| Last 5 games, South Korea | Won 4, Lost 1 |
| Last 5 games, Japan | Won 3, Lost 2 |
| Points per game in the last 5 games, South Korea | 86.6 |
| Opponent points per game in the last 5 games, South Korea | 81.2 |
| Points per game in the last 5 games, Japan | 73.6 |
| Opponent points per game in the last 5 games, Japan | 80.2 |
| Number of times qualified for the Olympic Games | 7 |
| Number of times qualified for the FIBA World Cup | 6 |
| Ranking in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup | 19th among 32 teams |
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Head-to-head results
Japan and South Korea have well-established and popular basketball leagues. Japan has produced NBA players like Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe, Yuki Kawamura, Rui Machida, Yuta Tabuse, J.R. Sakuragi, Takuya Kawamura, and Takumi Ishizaki.
Since 2006, Japan and South Korea have played 30 games against each other, with South Korea winning 23 and Japan winning 7. In the last 5 games, South Korea has won 4 and lost 1, while Japan has won 2 and lost 3. South Korea has a higher average number of points per game (80.5) compared to Japan's 72.1. Japan's national team first participated in an international tournament at the 3rd Far Eastern Games in Tokyo in 1917. They were also a founding member of the Olympics Basketball competition in Berlin in 1936. Japan has since qualified for the Olympic Games 7 times and the FIBA World Cup 6 times. They have won the Asian Basketball Championships twice and are the second-leading nation in qualifications for the event.
Japan has had some notable performances at international competitions, such as finishing as runner-up at the Fukuoka Universiade in 1995 and the FIBA Asia Cup in 2012. They also exceeded expectations at the FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup in 2010 by finishing as runner-up. However, they have faced setbacks, such as missing the goal of reaching the Final Four at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, where they finished 7th out of 15. Japan also fell behind other Asian competitors like Iran, South Korea, the Philippines, and China due to the absence of top players from their national team.
In summary, while both Japan and South Korea have established basketball scenes and have produced talented players, South Korea has a stronger head-to-head record against Japan in recent years.
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Top players
Some of the top male basketball players from Japan include Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe, Yasutaka Okayama, Yuta Tabuse, J.R. Sakuragi, and Wat Misaka. Hachimura, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, is the first Japanese player to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft. Watanabe is the second Japanese-born basketball player to play in the NBA and the first to be awarded a Division-1 basketball scholarship. Okayama is the first Japanese to be selected for the NBA draft in 1981, although he did not join them. Tabuse is the first Japanese-born player to appear in an NBA game and was referred to as the "Michael Jordan of Japan" during his high school days. Sakuragi, who played for the Vancouver Grizzlies, is the first person of color (non-Caucasian) to play in the NBA. Misaka is another notable name, who was the first Japanese-born student athlete to secure an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship.
Some of the top female basketball players from Japan include Rui Machida, who plays for the Fujitsu Red Wave of the Women's Japan Basketball League (WJBL). She represented Japan in the women's tournament at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in 2020.
South Korea has also produced several talented basketball players over the years, including Hur Jae, Seo Jang-hoon, Heo Ung, and Lee Kwan-hee. Jae is considered a legendary figure in South Korean basketball, known for his superior scoring instincts and ability to create plays. Jang-hoon is known for his imposing presence and exceptional skills in both offense and defense. Ung is renowned for his ability to exploit defenses and make timely passes, while Kwan-hee is known for his exceptional skill as a floor general and court vision. Ha Seung-Jin is another notable name, being the only South Korean to ever play in the NBA.
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Olympic success
Japan and South Korea have both enjoyed success in basketball at the Olympic Games, although Japan has had more success overall. Japan's men's national basketball team is one of the most successful in Asia, having won the Asian Basketball Championships twice. They have qualified for the Olympic Games seven times, most recently in 2024, and for the FIBA World Cup six times. They were a founding member of the Olympics Basketball competition in 1936 and participated in the Games until 1976. They also took part in the 2008 Olympics but did not qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
Japan's women's national basketball team has also achieved success, winning Olympic medals and reaching the FIBA Women's World Cup finals.
South Korea has also experienced Olympic success in basketball, with their women's national team winning Olympic medals and reaching the FIBA Women's World Cup finals.
In head-to-head matches, South Korea has historically had the upper hand, winning 23 of the 30 games played since 2006, with Japan winning 7. However, in their most recent encounters, Japan has been more successful, winning 3 of the last 5 games, with South Korea winning 2.
Both countries have produced NBA players, with Japan's Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe, Yuki Kawamura, and Rui Machida, and South Korea's unknown players achieving success in the league.
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Performance in Asia
Japan and South Korea have well-established and popular basketball leagues. Japan has produced several elite Asian basketball players, including Yuta Tabuse, J.R. Sakuragi, Takuya Kawamura, and Takumi Ishizaki. However, these players rarely represented the national team, causing Japan to lag behind other Asian powerhouses like Iran, South Korea, the Philippines, and China.
Japan has won the Asian Basketball Championships twice and is the second-leading nation in qualifications for the event. They have qualified for the Olympic Games seven times and the FIBA World Cup six times. In 1976, Japan's Shigeaki Abe scored 38 points and made 10 assists against Puerto Rico. In 1995, Japan placed second at the Fukuoka Universiade, and in 2012, they finished as runner-up at the FIBA Asian Cup. In 2023, Japan co-hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup and finished 19th out of 32 teams.
South Korea has had more success against Japan in head-to-head matchups, winning 23 of their 30 games since 2006. However, Japan has shown improvement, winning three of their last five matchups.
Both countries have had success on the women's side, with South Korea and Japan's women's national basketball teams winning Olympic medals and reaching the FIBA Women's World Cup finals.
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Coaching history
Japan and South Korea have a long history of competing against each other in basketball. Japan is one of the most successful basketball teams in Asia, having won the Asian Basketball Championships twice and qualified for the Olympic Games seven times and the FIBA World Cup six times. Japan's national team made its international debut at the 3rd Far Eastern Games in Tokyo in 1917 and was a founding member of the Olympics Basketball competition in Berlin in 1936.
Despite Japan's historical success, South Korea has dominated in head-to-head matchups, winning 23 of the 30 games played since 2006. In the last five matchups, South Korea won four, while Japan won two.
In terms of coaching history, Japan's national team has been led by several notable coaches. In 2010, American coach Thomas Wisman took over the management of the team and made significant improvements, leading Tochigi Brex to its first and only national title. However, he was dismissed in 2012, and the country's coaching legend Kimikazu Suzuki took over. Suzuki had concurrent success coaching the Aisin SeaHorses Mikawa and guided Team Nippon to a runner-up finish at the FIBA Asian Cup in Tokyo in 2012.
Japan's roster for the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge was coached by Zeljko Pavlicevic. They also had success under the guidance of Croat Željko Pavličević in the late 1990s, qualifying for the 1998 FIBA World Championship.
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Frequently asked questions
South Korea has the better head-to-head record, winning 23 out of 30 games since 2006.
Yes, Japan has won 7 out of the 30 games played between the two countries since 2006.
Japan is considered one of the most successful basketball teams in Asia, winning the Asian Basketball Championships twice. They have also qualified for the Olympic Games 7 times and the FIBA World Cup six times. South Korea, on the other hand, is considered one of Asia's elite basketball teams, along with Iran, the Philippines, and China.
Both countries have produced NBA players. Japan has NBA players like Yuta Tabuse, Takuya Kawamura, and Rui Hachimura. South Korea also has NBA players, although specific names were not mentioned in the sources.
