No. 5 Kensae Maeda
F.: Why did you decide to start playing freestyle basketball when basketball in general is the major sport?
I was originally a member of a basketball club, but there was a period of time when I entered high school when I did not have any club activities. At that time, I started going to the street court and started playing basketball outside of club activities. While playing basketball in such an unusual environment, I learned that there was such a thing as free freestyle basketball.
I quit and joined the basketball team a couple of times in high school, but after my father passed away when I was a sophomore in high school, I wanted to devote myself to something. . and that's how I got into freestyle basketball.
What do you like about freestyle basketball?
. to be able to just perform as we like, regardless of rules or goals. And we can do it with just one ball, regardless of where we are. In Japan, there are not many basketball courts, so it is not easy to play, but with freestyle basketball, it does not matter. It is a sport where you can entertain people just by spinning the ball on your fingers.
What is the environment surrounding freestyle basketball nowadays?
The number of players is not that large yet, but overseas, in China, it is very popular, and I go there about 3 or 4 times a year for competitions. Freestyle basketball is somewhere between basketball and dance, and it is still a minor culture, so it is up to each individual to decide what constitutes a professional. Some of the most famous freestyle basketball players are also company employees.
. I think it was a courageous choice to make a living by playing basketball at a time when it was common for people to get a job after graduating from college.
It took courage, of course, but first of all, it was difficult to gain the trust of those around me. My parents and others were against it, so it took me quite a while to reassure them that I would be okay with basketball. However, just as the message of "Stance" is that "conventional is boring," I believe that the feeling of "not wanting to do the same thing as others" is an important part of continuing one's activities.
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Today, I asked you to wear socks from "Stance," which also produces official socks for the NBA, but did you know about the brand?
Of course I knew that, and I love wearing them on a regular basis because they are so comfortable. I didn't know that it was official to wear them with the logo on the inside (laughs).
What do you think of the design?
. I like the fact that it is a collaboration model with an NBA player. I usually wear a lot of flashy designs, so I feel like it fits me in that sense as well.
What are your future plans?
As I mentioned earlier, freestyle basketball is still a minor culture, and I would like to close the gap between freestyle basketball and major culture. Therefore, I would like to take advantage of opportunities like this to appear in the media, and to let people know about freestyle basketball. I would like to do my best to make people who see me start freestyle basketball and get excited about it.
PROFILE
. born in 1997, started his career as a freestyle basketball player at the age of 15. He has contributed to the development of freestyle basketball as a representative player in Japan, winning three consecutive championships in the "IFBC," a tournament to determine the best university student in Japan, and also participating in overseas tournaments.
Instagram:@ken5_fsbb
