How to watch Japan live at 2023 FIBA World Cup
The tournament co-hosts will face Germany, Finland and Australia in Group E in Okinawa. Here's how to watch Japan at the tournament, which runs from 25 August to 10 September.
Basketball
One win. For coach Tom Hovasse and the Japanese men's basketball team, that’s where it begins at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Tournament co-hosts alongside the Philippines and Indonesia, Japan will play in Group E in Okinawa in the first round where they will face Australia, Finland and Germany.
At the last World Cup in 2019, held in the People's Republic of China, Japan were wiped out in the first round by USA, Czech Republic and Turkey, and went on to lose both classification games to New Zealand and Montenegro.
Japan finished 31st out of the 32 teams, just ahead of the Philippines.
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The bruising would get worse as Japan lost all three group games at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games against Spain, Slovenia and Argentina.
Under Hovasse - who took over for Julio Lamas after the Olympics - and without their best player Rui Hachimura, can Japan finally win a game on the international stage? We’re about to find out.
And if they should, it potentially opens up a path to Paris 2024. If Japan manage to finish as the highest-ranked Asian team in this tournament, they will obtain a quota at the upcoming Games.
Hovasse has his work cut out as the Japanese men have not qualified for an Olympics since Montreal 1976. They made an appearance at Tokyo 2020 thanks to the quota reserved for the host country.
Find the details on the Group E schedule and how to watch the Japanese team below.
FIBA World Cup 2023: Group E schedule
*All games at Okinawa Arena. Times are local.
Friday, 25 August
Finland vs Australia - 17:00
Germany vs Japan - 21:10
Sunday, 27 August
Australia vs Germany - 17:30
Japan vs Finland - 21:10
Tuesday, 29 August
Germany vs Finland - 16:30
Australia vs Japan - 20:10
2023 FIBA World Cup: How to watch Japan live
All Japan games will be televised live on TV Asahi and NTV.
DAZN will live stream every game of the tournament, including the Japan games.
Friday, 25 August
Japan vs Germany - 21:10 (NTV; NHK Okinawa for Okinawa residents)
Sunday, 27 August
Japan vs Finland - 21:10 (TV Asahi)
Tuesday, 29 August
Japan vs Australia - 20:10 (TV Asahi)