RISINGSUNS

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2009 TEAM RISING SUNS, photo by K. Couliau/Bounce Magazine

We made some breakthroughs with that first trip to the Quai 54 International Streetball Championships back in '09.  With a tiny squad of young Tokyo streetballers, we were only down 19-15 at halftime, and we did it against the eventual 2011 Quai 54 champs= Le Relevè.

Since that first year, we've tried a few different approaches at "le Quai". Here's a quick recap of our past Rising Suns teams: 

RS2009 = all amateur/street players. 38-20 (L) vs. Le Relevè (France)

RS2010 = a mix of street & pro. 37-24 (L) vs. Duke All-Stars (Belgium)

RS2011 = all-pro players.  30-17 (L) vs. Shest Hustleur (France)

Now for 2012, who will represent Japan at the big 10th Anniversary edition of this Jordan Brand event??  Again this year, we're making an effort to bring a team of Japan's best up-and-coming players to Paris. More info and updates about our 2012 Rising Suns tryout schedule and team selection coming soon. 

RS

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Here's the final wrap-up from our trip to the 2011 Pacific Open in Vladivostok. Learning how to win happens when you get out there and play. Plain and simple. Some advice for kids out there, dreaming of reaching the highest level: don't be afraid to lose a few games along the way, in reaching for your goals.  

Keep rising, Japan! 

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If you watch only one Rising Suns video, this is the one you've all gotta see.  FIRST WIN IN TEAM HISTORY! (yeah, we were pretty excited about getting it). Finally, after three years :) The journey is the reward...

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These guys from Street China and SKY were bringing some crazy energy the whole weekend, and made the experience a lot of fun for everybody. Great time hanging out with you guys. This is how we do it, rise together... 

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Day before the big tournament, we had a walk around Vladivostok with our team's private tour guide, Natasha. She's a foreign language/student intern who was brought in by the Pacific Open organizers to help out with communication during our stay.

Thanks for the great help with everything, and making our team feel right at home! Next time, we need to come prepared to speak a little more Russian. Priviettttt!  

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Check out some highlights from Team Japan's trip last month to the 2011 Pacific Open in Vladivostok, Russia. This was the first time for some of our players to ever get a visa.  Big world out there. Make it happen, Rising Suns! 

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One last clip from our trip to Quai 54, watching La Relevè lift up that trophy and a few closing messages from our team members.

Happy summer holidays, Rising Fans! 

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Check out these crazy dunks @ le Quai 54, featuring Justin 'Jus Fly' Darlington from Team Flight Brothers, Young Hollywood, and our very own John Helicopter Humphrey putting it down for Team Japan.

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Rising Suns' Masashi Joho represented Japan in the Footlocker 3-point shootout at Quai 54 this year. Joho had the NBA's greatest shooter from downtown Ray Allen watching over his shoulder. Sharing the court with a true legend.  

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Getting our first look at the Jordan court under the Eiffel Tower. Most epic spot for a tournament on the planet... 

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Here's video #3, getting around on the Paris subway and first look at le Tour for our guys. Rising!

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Rising Fans, here's video from our practice session @ St. de Coubertin (aka George Eddy's gym), the day before Quai 54 in Paris. Finding some rhythm! 

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Walking through our plays with Coach @ the old Quai 54 home, Georges Carpentier Sports Park, near Port d'Italie side of Paris. Trying to get some chemistry fast! 

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RISING FANS お待たせしました！Check out Team Japan's trip to the one and only QUAI 54 International Streetball Championships, sponsored by Jordan Brand.

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Site will be under construction while we work out some issues with those images and pages not loading. Should have it fixed with some new updates soon. Please check back in a minute! 

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Japan hoops in the spotlight

We go to Quai 54 every year to win, of course. But beyond that, the trip for our guys is also about introducing Japan's players on the world's stage, and giving them some much needed experience or 'face time' in that spotlight. Most Japanese players rarely get this opportunity with the lack of national media attention here.

Hanging back behind the main court, our Rising Suns big man Hirotaka Sato got the call from Trace Sports Network, a local television company doing a feature on the Quai 54 tournament. Hiro handled it like a champ, just calling me over for to help explain something once or twice. But it was all English, and he represented with great professionalism. What its all about right there. Keep rising, Japan. 

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More pics from Quai 54!

game photos by CultureBasket/Sky The Limit