18 Questions Unveiling the True Character of Allen Hachimura, Who Has Joined SUNNY SIDE UP

In February this year, Allen Hachimura (Hachimura Aren) signed a management contract with SUNNY SIDE UP.

He is the younger brother of Rui Hachimura, who plays for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. Selected for Japan’s age-group national teams since high school, he is currently active as a member of the Gunma Crane Thunders in Japan’s men’s professional basketball league, B.LEAGUE B1. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the life he leads behind his glamorous career is shrouded in mystery.

To get a closer look at who he really is, we asked him 18 questions, including about basketball and his private life.

About Basketball

1. Why did you start playing basketball?

“I’d tried a variety of sports in the past—baseball, track and field, and water polo. When I was doing track and field, I was invited to join mini-basketball, and I went about once or twice a week. I started taking it seriously around my first year of junior high. Since then, I’ve been all about basketball.”

From a young age, Hachimura had experience with sports other than basketball as well.His key strength—his outstanding athleticism—may have been developed precisely because he was exposed to a wide range of sports in his early years.

2. Who is your favorite (or role-model) player?

“LeBron James, who is still active in the NBA. I think he’s truly one of a kind, and a player with an impact that will be remembered both in records and in people’s minds. I’m still developing, but I want to keep working to become a player who can make an impact on and off the court like he does.”

3. What was the happiest moment in your basketball career?

“Winning the Winter Cup (the All Japan High School Basketball Championship) in my third year of high school. The previous year, we lost in the second round at the Inter-High, and in the first round at the Winter Cup, and it was really frustrating. Using that frustration as motivation, I was determined that ‘my class will definitely win,’ but we lost in the final at the Inter-High in my third year and couldn’t win. So I worked even harder after that. That effort paid off with our Winter Cup championship in my third year. I don’t think there will ever be a moment that tops that (laughs).”

4. What is your pre-game routine?

“Listening to music. I get ready for the game while listening.”

It is well known that athletes value their routines. Hachimura is no exception, and says he makes a point of sticking to his routine.

5. What do you value most as an athlete?

“I value switching between on and off. I don’t think it’s necessary to be ‘an athlete’ all the time, and I believe respecting my natural self also leads to better performance.”

Rather than the old-school, grit-and-guts mindset of “sports spirit,” Hachimura has a more modern way of thinking. It is clear that switching between on and off is extremely important for athletes as well.

6.What do the fans (boosters) who support you mean to you?

“Our fans are indispensable to me. Their support gives me tremendous energy, and I believe it’s because they are there that I’m able to play basketball like this. That’s why I make a point of playing and engaging with them in a way that makes them think, ‘That was fun,’ and ‘I want to come again.’”

7. What are your goals for this season and your career as a basketball player?

“First, as a club, we want to qualify for this season’s CS (B.LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP). To do that, I’m focusing on playing aggressively right now. My career goal is to become a ‘top player in the B.LEAGUE.’ Also, some of my former teammates (Yudai Nishida, Yuki Kawamura, Ren Kanekon, and Soichiro Inoue) are active on the Japan national team, so I aim to one day fight alongside them as a player who can compete against the world.”

Provided by Gunma Crane Thunders

About His Private Life

8. What is your bedtime routine?

“Watching dramas and anime on Netflix (laughs).”

9. How many hours do you usually sleep?

“I get 7 to 8 hours. Lack of sleep is an athlete’s enemy.”

10. How long do you spend in the bath?

“I soak in the tub for about 15 to 20 minutes. During that time, I do things like massage my body.”

11. What is your favorite fashion brand?

“Amiri.”

12. What is your favorite music genre?

“Hip-hop. My favorite artist is ‘Lil Baby.’”

13. What are your hobbies?

“Gaming. What I play most is FPS (First-person shooter).”

14. What have you been into lately?

“My mom sent me a houseplant for my birthday, and I’ve gotten really into taking care of it.”

15. What was your dream as a child (kindergarten/elementary school)?

“I admired ‘Hajime no Ippo’ and wanted to become a boxer. But my parents stopped me, saying my face would get all messed up (laughs).”

In a good way, Hachimura’s private life is “normal,” and he seems well-versed in subcultures such as anime, dramas, and games. It offers a glimpse of a side of him beyond being an athlete.

Hachimura relaxing in the office entrance

About SUNNY SIDE UP

16. Please share your honest reason for joining SUNNY SIDE UP this time, and your impressions.

“I think a big reason is that a classmate from my university days (the author) worked at SUNNY SIDE UP. I’m honestly happy to have been able to join.”

17. What do you think now that you’ve actually visited the office?

“I really like the atmosphere at the SUNNY SIDE UP office. It doesn’t feel like a stiff, formal ‘office,’ and the people who work there are calm, so it’s very comfortable.”

18. What would you like to achieve together with SUNNY SIDE UP?

“I want to do things that will benefit children in the future. I hope my activities can bring energy and dreams to young kids. I believe that together with SUNNY SIDE UP, I can make that happen.”

Hachimura and the author enjoying handmade onigiri made by Smile Keepers in the central kitchen

Hachimura and the author during their university days

With the major goal of delivering energy and dreams to children, Hachimura’s eyes were shining. What kind of impact will his success have on Japan’s basketball scene? We very much look forward to what he does next.

Profile

Name: Allen Hachimura
Date of birth: December 20, 1999
Hometown: Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture
Team: Gunma Crane Thunders

His older brother, who is two years older, is an active member of the Japanese national team and Rui Hachimura, who belongs to the Los Angeles Lakers of the world’s highest峰 basketball league, “NBA”.

In elementary school, he played baseball, soccer, and track and field. He began playing basketball in earnest from his first year of junior high, and was first selected for Japan’s U-16 national team in his first year of high school. Since then, he has steadily moved up through the ranks, including the U-18 and U-22 Japan national teams. He was also selected for the B.LEAGUE ASIA RISING STAR GAME held on January 13 this year, and is expected to be one of the players who will lead Japanese basketball in the future.

＜Major Career Highlights and Results＞
2015 All Japan High School Basketball Championship: Champions
2015 All Japan High School Basketball Invitational Tournament: Champions
2017 All Japan High School Basketball Championship: Runners-up
2017 All Japan High School Basketball Invitational Tournament: Champions / Tournament MVP
2018 All Japan University Basketball Championship Commemorative Tournament: Champions / Outstanding Player Award
2020 All Japan University Basketball Championship: Champions
2020 Joined Sunrockers Shibuya as a specially designated player (2020–21 season)
2021 All Japan University Basketball Championship: Runners-up / Outstanding Player Award
2021 Joined Gunma Crane Thunders as a specially designated player (2021–22 season)
2022 Signed an official contract with Gunma Crane Thunders (2022–23 season)

▼Related pages
Notice of management contract with Allen Hachimura
Professional basketball player Allen Hachimura