{{short description|none}} {{Self-published|date=March 2021}} {{Update|reason=Header needs current statistics about the sport’s popularity and not those from 2007|date=August 2024}} Basketball is included in top sports being played in Japan but it is less popular than football and baseball.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Blog|first=Japan Wonder Travel|date=2021-03-16|title=10 Most Popular Sports In Japan|url=https://blog.japanwondertravel.com/popular-sports-in-japan-20565|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Japan Wonder Travel Blog|language=en}}</ref> Takehiko Inoue's manga series ''Slam Dunk'' (1990–1996) is frequently cited as popularizing the sport in the country and for inspiring a generation of players.<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Lianne|url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/11/29/showbiz/takehiko-inoue-human-to-hero/index.html|title=How 'Slam Dunk' Manga artist brings characters to life |work=CNN|date=November 29, 2012|access-date=June 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Wong|first=Alex|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/the-comic-that-inspired-the-nb-as-growth-in-japan-142923536.html|title=The comic that sparked Japan's interest in the NBA|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=October 9, 2019|access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref><ref name="asahislam">{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/culture/news_culture/TKY200711080197.html|title=マンガの力（１） スラムダンク奨学金（上）|work=The Asahi Shimbun|language=Japanese|date=November 8, 2007|access-date=June 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109143913/http://www.asahi.com/culture/news_culture/TKY200711080197.html|archive-date=November 9, 2007}}</ref> The number of high school basketball players reached a record high of more than 113,000 boys in 1995, and over 77,000 girls in 1994.<ref name="asahislam"/> The Japan Basketball Association later presented Inoue with a special commendation for his contributions to the sport.<ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|date=June 9, 2010|title=Japan Basketball Association Awards Slam Dunk's Inoue|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-09/japan-basketball-association-awards-slam-dunk-inoue|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007065314/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-09/japan-basketball-association-awards-slam-dunk-inoue|archive-date=October 7, 2013|access-date=June 17, 2013 |publisher=Anime News Network}}</ref> However, the numbers have continued to drop since then.<ref name="asahislam"/> Okuyoshi Shinada, a director of the JBA, said in 2007, "We didn't take advantage of the golden opportunity. In the end, compared to soccer, basketball couldn't get beyond the boundaries of school physical education."<ref name="asahislam"/>

== Domestic competition == The B. League is a professional basketball league in Japan that was established in 2016.<ref name=":0" /> It is a combination of Super League and bj league enforced by FIBA.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Moore|first=Shotaro Honda|date=2019-06-15|title=Japanese Basketball On The Rise?|url=https://shotarohondamoore.medium.com/japanese-basketball-on-the-rise-d0d9e9b5b5f9|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref>

B. League has three divisions, with 18 teams in Divisions 1 and 2. Division 3 only has 12 teams.<ref name=":1" />

== International competition == Japan is represented in international competitions by the men's national team and the women's national team

=== 1976 World Olympics === This was the last major appearance of the National Team at the Olympics. The Women's National Team reached its highest ranking, at 5th place.<ref name=":1" />

=== 2019 FIBA World Cup === The Men's National Team was able to enter after a great performance during the qualifiers, even though they ranked 48th in the world.<ref name=":1" /> They ranked 31st in the final standings of the competition.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Final standings of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019|url=http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/groups|access-date=2021-03-23|website=FIBA.basketball|language=en}}</ref>

The Women's National Team ranked 9th in this competition.

=== 2020 Tokyo Olympics === As host of the Olympics, the men and women's national teams automatically qualified to compete.<ref name=":1" /> The men's team placed 11th, and the women's team earned the silver medal.

== References == <references />

== External links ==

* [https://www.bleague.jp/ B. League official website] {{Basketball in Japan}} {{Sport in Japan}} {{Asia topic|Basketball in}} Category:Basketball in Japan