Rui Hachimura launches Black Samurai Summit basketball camp in Japan

NBA player Rui Hachimura, who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers, hosted the Black Samurai Summit 2026 at the IG Arena in Aichi on June 6. The event, aimed at nurturing the next generation of Japanese basketball talent, featured 17 invited players and focused on the purpose behind dribbling, shooting, passing and rebounding. Hachimura stressed that understanding the intent of each action is essential for skill development.

He spoke about his commitment to the Japan men’s national team, noting the upcoming training camp that begins on August 11 and his goal of helping the team win at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The summit also included a special match broadcast live on TV Asahi, with former NBA player Yuta Tabuse joining Hachimura for a discussion on the camp’s objectives and the importance of exposing young athletes to international competition and scouting.

Hachimura highlighted the rarity of an active NBA player running a development program in Japan and expressed hope that his presence will inspire high‑school players to pursue professional careers, whether in the NBA, Europe or elsewhere.