Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2012
Japan’s amusingly named pro-basketball BJ League kicked off this month, with 21 teams competing in Eastern and Western Conferences to get to the playoffs in May. Though current champs the Ryukyu Golden Kings are based down in Okinawa, for those up in this neck of the woods there are four teams within easy reach.
SAITAMA BRONCOS
Based primarily in Tokorozawa out of Ikebukuro, but also playing some home games in central and eastern Saitama, the Broncos have been the perennial cellar dwellers of late, but still pull in a dedicated fan base including quite a few from US military bases in the prefecture. The league’s first-ever female head coach, Japanese-American Natalie Nakase, was given her marching orders after a disappointing 16-36 win-loss record in the Eastern Conference last season. The team is currently headed by Tracy Williams. www.saitamabroncos.com
CHIBA JETS
The Jets (the link to Narita is as obvious as it sounds) are this year playing their last season in the BJ League ahead of a move to the JBL (Japan Basketball League) in 2013/14. Well supported in the prefecture with the majority of their games played near Funabashi, the Jets have also parted ways with last season’s head coach Eric Gardow, and now looking to Shinji Tomiyama to make their last season in this league one to remember. Look out for their chubby yet extremely genki male cheerleader. www.chibajets.jp
YOKOHAMA B. CORSAIRS
The Kanto area’s most successful team last season in only their first year, the Corsairs (“pirates”—to go along with their logo and cheerleaders’ outfits) made the finals at Ariake Coliseum after a fantastic run of wins at the back end of their regular Eastern Conference campaign. The close season has seen them lose key players but the franchise is looking to court boss Reggie Geary to take them at least as far this year as last, if not higher. The majority of games are in and around the Yokohama area although they do call the whole of Kanagawa home. Some say their cheerleaders are the hottest in the Kanto area—you be the judge. http://b-corsairs.com
TOKYO CINQ REVES
One of the Eastern Conference newbies in a sense—alongside Gunma Crane Thunders—but essentially the defunct Tokyo Apache operating under another name, the Cinq Reves are Tokyo’s own and fans will be looking for captain Motofumi Aoki to lead his team to a respectable finish. Their home stadium is in Ariake—and a bit of a trek out into the bay on the monorail—but they will play games all over the capital during the season. http://tokyo-cinqreves.jp
- Tickets prices range from around ¥1,800 for adults to ¥5,000 upward for courtside seats
- Purchase from major convenience stores, or show up and buy them on the door
- www.bj-league.com
