Jan 18, 2017
Apache - Tokyo Apache
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Apache - Tokyo Apache
Tokyo Apache
“Let’s Go TO-KYO!” [Part 05] (This is a series of blog entries that will focus on my experiences with the Tokyo Apache during the 2010-2011 season) [Part 01 | Part 02 | Part 03 | Part 04]
The economic impact of the earthquake is going to be felt for years and arguably, the industry to be hit first and hit hardest was entertainment. How can you justify throwing a party after an disaster like that? Do your electricity needs outweigh those of the survivors? Can you guarantee the safety of your audience if something happens again?
And the most important question: When is the right time to move on?
Based on sympathy (and guilt), what is the appropriate length of time to forgo entertainment out of respect to the victims? A few days? A few week? A few months? A season?
How about two years?
I was informed of the unfortunate news about 3 months after the earthquake: the Apache management had decided to cancel the rest of this season AND all of next season.
Ouch.
On one hand, I can understand that live sporting events are wasteful, noisy, and generally inappropriate when disaster victims are literally living in a rival team's stadium. While on the other hand, it's efficient, fun, and a much needed piece of normalcy. I am 100% sure that the resources needed to run an event for 1000+ people is much less than having 1000+ people sit at home and watch TV.
Either way, what's done is done and all I can do is face forward and hope that when the Apache come back, I can be a part of the rebuilding process.
I loved every moment of being a part of the Apache and it's heartbreaking when I think about all the unrealized potential our team had..
Shoutouts to Shaun and Sean, Steve, Vance, Yoko, Kristen, Nao (UA), The Tokyo Girls, and all the Apache staff. I would love to continue what we started.
Tokyo Apache
“Let’s Go TO-KYO!” [Part 04] (This is a series of blog entries that will focus on my experiences with the Tokyo Apache during the 2010-2011 season) [Part 01 | Part 02 | Part 03]
Shoutout to Jeremy Tyler for getting drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats (then getting traded to the Warriors)! Remember the Apache, bro! It was actually his suggestion that made me choose Usher's "More" as this season's Apache theme song.
I developed a workflow and spent the days between games tweaking my setup, editing songs for the cheerleaders/players/management, and digging through my music collection to find different songs to accent different parts of the game (The reaction to Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" during an overtime game was awesome- I still get chills thinking back on it). I found myself really looking forward to the next game so I could show-off a more polished product.
We went on a 5-game win streak in my first 5 games so I like to think I had my own impact on the final score. (I remember one visiting team actually complained that my music was too loud, so I turned it down.. for half a timeout, haha) The team was playing a lot better, the crowd was really starting to get into it, and non-basketball fans started to recognize the team (this is HUGE in a country where basketball is regarded as a minor sport). Things were really building up and the stadium was filling up game by game.
Along the way, I danced during a halftime show, met Konishiki, got semi-sponsored by Under Armour (thanks, Nao!), and learned a LOT about sports entertainment.
I started to get to know the players, cheerleaders, and the staff better and the pieces were settling in. The entertainment team was really starting to jell (saku saku!). We were all learning and growing together and it definitely felt like we were on the verge of something huge.
And we were..
We just didn't know it would come in the form of an earthquake...
[Check back tomorrow for the conclusion!]
Tokyo Apache
“Let’s Go TO-KYO!” [Part 03] (This is a series of blog entries that will focus on my experiences with the Tokyo Apache during the 2010-2011 season) [Part 01 | Part 02]
By the end of our first homestand, I started to get a feel for the games and time seemed to slow down a bit. I also realized that the same fundamental DJ skills transferred over from the clubs: empathy, adaptation, foresight, and decisiveness.
My core DJing philosophy was a familiar friend in a new venue. (I don’t consider technical ability, song selection, or beat-matching as important because seriously- you’re not pro if you can’t do these in your sleep.)
The funny thing was, after a career spent building hype and tension, I also learned how to KILL hype. Usually this is a huge no-no at events and gigs but as a basketball DJ, you don’t want people cheering for the other team when they make a last-second 3-pointer to bring a 2nd overtime. Maybe I should add responsibility to the list too- they don’t call it home-court advantage for nothing.
No question, I made a ton of mistakes (never play the uncensored version of Enrique’s “Tonight I’m Loving You”.. in front of the company president.. on children’s day) but this was, by far, the most satisfying gig I had done in a VERY long time.
[Check back tomorrow for the next part...]
Meet Team Japan 2011 Coach: Natalie Nakase
10-11 Assistant Coach Tokyo Apache, bj league 08-10 Head Coach Wolfenbuttel Wildcats, Professional Women's Team, First Division in Germany 07-08 Played Professionally, First Division in Germany 04-06 Played Professionally in NWBL 99-03 Played at UCLA, starting point guard and captain for 3 years, psychology major
1) Coach Nat, can you let us know a little about your past playing career, and your transition to coaching?
Natalie: I started playing basketball when I was 6 years old, against my two older sisters, Norie and Nicola. After having a pretty successful high school career, I was wanted to get into my dream school UCLA. UCLA didn't heavily recruit me but the coach said I can walk-on my freshmen year on scholarship and that I would have to earn my scholarship each year. I ended up starting and becoming team captain for 3 years at UCLA. After that I played pro ball in the NWBL for two seasons and then one season in Germany, first division. I then tore my meniscus, and I promised myself I wasn't going to have another surgery in my career. I stopped playing and transitioned into a head coach for a professional women's team in Germany, first division. After two years in Germany, having a great coaching experience I wanted to see what Japan was all about. I had a few friends playing in Japan at the time, so I went to visit and fell in love with Tokyo. My good friend, Darin Maki, introduced me to Coach HIll and Casey Hill and it was a wrap. Actually Coach Hill's first words to me were "you can watch, just stay off the court!!!" I continued to come everyday to learn, and to help and eventually earned my assistant coaching spot.
2) What was your inspiration as a player growing up? Any mentors in particular, special training programs, work ethic, etc?
Natalie: As a kid, I never had a favorite NBA player that inspired me because I never knew them personally. My inspiration came from local players who had the best work ethics. I would watch players train who were a little bit older, and I would want to work just like them if not better. I always wanted to be the hardest worker in the gym. In high school and college I had one of the best trainers in southern california, Tom Marumoto. Tom taught me how important a high basketball IQ was for my height because I was only 5'2" and the average college PG was 5'8". He also taught me to always be humble. My dad was my inspiration to always work, he said "hard work always pays off, there's no short cuts to success."
3) Do you have anything going on outside of basketball that you would like to share with the fans, some special interests or projects you are working on?
Natalie: Right now I am working on a charity basketball event with Kristin Egusa and Shaun Inouye (Apache staff) to help raise money for the unfortunate tsunami and earthquake victims of Japan. Our organization is called Play for Japan and we have a facebook page set up with all the information. The event will take place Aug. 6th 2011 in Los Angeles. Please come out and support Play for Japan. The event will be a lot of fun and for a great cause!!!
4) How how has your experience been in Japan so far, working with the Tokyo Apache and other local clubs? (anything you want to say about Japanese basketball, people, fans, culture, etc. please let em know)
Natalie: My experience in Japan has been amazing! Working with Tokyo Apache has been a dream so far. I was able to learn the ins and outs of an NBA system and the importance of being organized every practice and every game. Coach Hill taught me that being a coach is not just about teaching the X's and O's, its about the responsibility that you take for your team's actions on and off the court. Our players, staff, and the Hill's treated me like family and that is a huge reason why I fell in love with Tokyo right away. I also coached a boys team in Yokohama called the Blue Devils, organized by Todd Wiley. After the very first practice I could see the difference in cultures. These kids were very obedient and respected my authority right away. Something coaches pray for with any team. I also noticed they were less physical than kids back in the states. In order for basketball in Japan to improve, we need to start working with the kids. As a kid, my summers were full of basketball camps, club tournaments, leagues, and agility workouts. These kids have access to not one of these.
5) Any message you want to send to the people of Japan regarding the earthquake and tsunami disasters of 3.11? And can we possibly bring a little relief to the situation here, through basketball?
Natalie: My heart goes out to the people of Japan that were effected by the tsunami and earthquake. We were very lucky in Tokyo that we didn't have any serious damage. The japanese have showed a lot of strength and courage throughout the aftermath. Something the entire world can learn from. Like most of our players have already mentioned, representing Japan in a national tournament will allow us to show the world our courage and pride for Japan. We have a great squad this year with a lot of talented players. We will do our best to bring home a championship and at the same time keep giving people of Japan some joy and inspiration. I am honored to be a part of this experience. Arigato gozaimasu!
Thank you Coach, and thanks to our Rising Fans for all the love and support. This marks the end of our team interviews and introductions. Hope you've gotten to know a little more about basketball in Japan, and what this Team Japan representation @ the Quai 54 is about.
Stay tuned this weekend and follow the action from Paris. We know its going to be an incredible experience, and hope to share every step of the journey with you-- Rising together, lets win for Japan...
Tokyo Apache
"Let's Go TO-KYO!" [Part 02] (This is a series of blog entries that will focus on my experiences with the Tokyo Apache during the 2010-2011 season) [Part 01]
Turns out, they actually hired this old guy to come in, sit down, and push play on some pre-made mixes during the games. Yea. So slight blow to my ego aside, I kept up my relations with the staff and patiently waited for the situation to implode.
After a couple of weeks, my predictions came true and the old guy got himself fired leaving the door wide open for an true DJ to come through. So after a short delay, I finally got my turn and signed on with the Tokyo Apache- making me the first (real) DJ signed to a Japanese pro sports team. Awesome~
Now, I’ve been spinning at clubs and events for almost a decade now so I’m pretty comfortable behind the decks but I have to be honest- I had NO IDEA what to do as a live in-game basketball DJ.
They told me I was in charge of “crowd pump”, playing songs during the downtime, and playing songs for the cheerleaders. Easy enough, right? Yea, once you learn to watch the players, watch the referees, cue up a song, feel the atmosphere, cue up a back-up song, listen to 2 sets of headphones, cue up a second back-up song, interact with the crowd, listen to the announcer, communicate with the director, and dance AT THE SAME TIME.
Live events are awesome and I learn best when it's on the fly. There are so many things to keep track of that all my senses were completely occupied throughout the entire game. My first couple of games completely flew by and the 4th quarter buzzer sounded before I could catch a breath. It's the perfect job for an impulsive multi-tasker. Why didn't I ever think of applying for this type of job before?!
[Check back tomorrow for Part 03!]
Tokyo Apache
"Let's Go TO-KYO!" [Part 01] (This is a series of blog entries that will focus on my experiences with the Tokyo Apache during the 2010-2011 season)
In January, I was presented with, no doubt, the most unique (and unforeseeable) DJing opportunity of my career. It was the chance to be the first DJ ever signed to a Japanese pro sports team.. to be the official DJ for the Tokyo Apache.
Let me just put this out there: I am a HUGE basketball fan. It’s really the only sport I follow. Coming from NY, I grew up going to Knicks and Nets games (even Liberty games!) and I used to have a massive collection of basketball cards (I wonder if they’re worth anything now…) so the chance to be a contributing member of a pro basketball [entertainment] team just blew my mind.
I HAD to get this job.
Only, I didn’t…
[Check back for the continuation tomorrow!]