In the immediate aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, Sendai 89ers guard Takehiko Shimura emerged as an encouraging voice and a brave, positive symbol of hope for the Tohoku region. And his tireless efforts involved traditional and contemporary methods.
Whenever I scanned social media websites in those days of uncertainty and sadness, Shimura's name appeared. He electronically filed a few dozen updates a day about his teammates, volunteer activities of other players and basketball-support staff — all vital information. Through unrelenting online activity, especially Twitter and Facebook, he became a visible leader.
Fans of the 89ers and others connected to Japan's ever-growing basketball community helped pass along Shimura's messages about the team's latest activities and what was happening in Sendai and Miyagi Prefecture.