While Japanese basketball may be floundering, there's still some hope at the individual player level. This was demonstrated in the just wrapped-up All-Japan Championship (Emperor's Cup) 2009 final.

The identical twin Takeuchi brothers — Kosuke of the Aisin Sea Horses and Joji of the Hitachi Sunrockers — are now among the most recognized players in the nation. Playing in just their second season in the Japan Basketball League, the brothers have been basketball celebrities since playing for Rakunan High School, Kyoto's perennial powerhouse, where they won a national title.

But the 205-cm brothers, who were known as "The Twin Towers" during their high school days, aren't getting attention just because of their height. Still just 23, Kosuke and Joji are steadily, if not rapidly, acquiring strong overall skills as well as confidence.