Female players were warming up for basketball on a court set up in a high-rise building

When I came to the Sumitomo Building in Nishi-Shinjuku after a long absence, I found that the appearance of the ground floor had changed drastically. Entering the building from Chuo-Dori street, I passed through an area lined with trendy restaurants and found a large hall with a lively atmosphere. On this day, some basketball courts were set up in a large space, and a DJ was talking loudly.

Although there are much basketball-themed manga and anime, I wonder how popular basketball is in Japan. In contrast to the popularity of basketball as a club activity in junior high and high school, I don't think it is as popular as a sport to play or to watch as an adult. It's a shame because there are Japanese who play in the NBA, the world's top basketball league.

At the tournament held in Nishi-Shinjuku, the participating players were of course very enthusiastic, but the number of spectators was small. Not many people seemed to want to go out of their way to watch the event. It must have been difficult for the DJs who were struggling to raise their voices to liven up the venue.

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