TOKYO – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and ERUTLUC, Inc. (ERUTLUC), a Japanese youth sporting event company specializing in basketball development, today announced a multiyear collaboration for ERUTLUC to launch and operate the first NBA Basketball School in Japan.

Located at Shibuya Education Academy Shibuya Junior & Senior High School (1-21-18 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), the NBA Basketball School Japan will launch on Friday, April 5 and is open to youth ages 5-18 across Tokyo.  The tuition-based basketball development program will cover on-court training, skill development and basketball education for all skill levels.  Registration is open now by visiting www.japan-nba-basketballschool.com.

“The launch of NBA Basketball School Japan reflects our commitment to providing opportunities for Japanese youth to learn and play the game,” said Natalia Andre, Senior Manager of Basketball Operations, NBA Asia.  “Through our collaboration with ERUTLUC, young Japanese players at all skill levels will have access to a proven training program that will help them develop on the court and as leaders.”

“We are very happy to open the first NBA Basketball School in Japan,” said ERUTLUC President Yoshikazu Suzuki.  “In recent years, basketball has reached new heights in its popularity in Japan due to the accomplishments of Japanese players in the NBA and the national teams’ success on the world stage.  We believe that launching an NBA Basketball School in Japan will provide an opportunity for many children to become even more familiar with the sport and help them achieve their dreams.”

Nike, an official partner of the NBA Basketball School Japan, will outfit participants and coaches with Nike apparel.

The NBA Basketball School curriculum, which is designed to develop players and provide parents, coaches and organizations with a better understanding of the process of improvement, was created by the NBA’s International Basketball Operations department in consultation with current and former NBA coaches, players and player development specialists.  Since 2017, NBA Basketball Schools have been launched in Australia, Brazil, China, the Dominican Republic, Greece, India, Italy, Kuwait, Lithuania, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Uruguay.

Players and families can learn more about the NBA Basketball School Japan program, including about future programs across the country, by following NBA Basketball School Japan on Instagram @nbabasketballschool_japan.

NBA Rakuten, the one-stop destination for fans in Japan to watch NBA games and programming, currently offers viewers exclusive access to the 2023-24 NBA season.  Officially licensed NBA merchandise is widely available at more than 700 retail stores across the country and through NBAStore.jp, the official online NBA store in Japan.  For all things NBA, fans can visit The Sporting News, the league’s official local digital destination, follow the NBA’s localized social media accounts on Facebook, TikTok, X and “Friend” the NBA’s official account on LINE by adding @nba_global.

About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2023-24 season featured a record 125 international players from 40 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms.  NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.

About ERUTLUC
ERUTLUC, Inc. is committed to providing an environment where more children can become the best they can be, offering basketball development lessons across the country.

In addition, ERUTLUC has established four club teams, each with its own philosophy, providing team coaching and specialized training, injury prevention and care by athletic trainers, support for players by mental trainers, and nutritional training for sportsmen.

ERUTLUC has also released over 20 books, sold a basketball DVD series, and published nearly thousands of drills and webinars on the web to support self-practice and team-practices.