Japan's success at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Okinawa could trigger a leap in the sport's domestic popularity, as it edges upward behind baseball and soccer in recognition from the wider public as a game to view via live broadcasts.
The final matches scheduled in Okinawa Arena ended Sunday, and the co-host's qualification for the Paris Olympics, coupled with the festive atmosphere generated by fans flocking from across the country and abroad, has left many buzzing.
"It has been a tournament we can build on to make basketball's popularity explode. It's been a massive success," said Teruhisa Nakamura, the tournament's executive director in Japan.