~ Winning and charming ~ What is the reason why the captain of the Japan national team is natural in both basketball and golf? – Basketball Japan National Team – Number Web

Yuki Togashi, the point guard = control tower of the Japanese national basketball team, who makes Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe, who are active in the NBA, play comfortably. It is the “face” of the Japanese basketball world that is popular with these NBA players and is by no means inferior.

As men’s basketball is booming this year, which is one of the host countries of the World Cup, Togashi, who actually “loves golf”, wore the Master Bunny Edition wear, which advocates “winning and showing off”.

“I like golf” enough to go to the course even during the season

It is said that he made his debut on the course about five years ago in Hawaii when he went around with team officials. Since then, he has fallen in love with the pleasantness of playing in nature, and has become a golf enthusiast, going to the course even during the season.

“I think Hawaii was a good place to start. Perhaps it has something to do with basketball being an indoor sport, and the very act of swinging the club and walking in nature felt good. Chiba is the base of the team. There are many courses nearby, both inside and outside the prefecture, making it an ideal environment for golf.”

Two or three times a month at most. It’s quite a deal, because it’s said that there are times when I visit during the league.

“People who are into it go two or three times a week, so it’s less compared to that. Sometimes I go to the course on the day after the B League game. If the tip-off is at 7:00 pm, I go to bed at midnight. Around 2:00 a.m. Even so, I still go out at 6:00 a.m. However, I’m not good at getting up early, so I sometimes wonder if it will rain tomorrow (laughs).”

Nevertheless, even if it is a little hard, there is a good reason to enjoy golf in the morning.

“More than anything, I can relax. It’s like an active rest. After hitting the first shot of the day, the engine finally starts. After that, it feels like a walk and the score doesn’t matter (laughs). ).I don’t have many hobbies other than basketball, so a round at a golf course surrounded by nature is an important time for me to recover physically and mentally.”

As for gear, he sticks to a free style of playing with a half set that he often uses in his practice club case instead of a full set.

Togashi is familiar with the stylish appearance of fighting with a hair style that is hardened with gel, but is he particular about his choice of clothing?

“I like monotones, including my own clothes. I don’t often try other colors, but I thought black would suit me. It’s easy (laughs). That’s why I always choose black when I play golf.”

“On the golf course, I often see golfers wearing flashy colors like Tiger Woods, such as red or bright orange, but I hesitate (laughs). In that sense, white, which can be matched with monotone, seems to be an accent.”

While maintaining your favorite visuals, we also emphasize the wearing comfort as sportswear.

“I don’t pay attention to functions such as elasticity and breathability until I check the tag, but they are essential. Of course, I sweat, and I don’t want my clothes to be stressful when I swing. I have sensitive skin, so I put a lot of emphasis on the texture.”

“Out-of-the-ordinary” play that embodies “win and attract”

Brilliant assists for three-point shots and talented Togashi. As a basketball player, his height of 167 cm, which belongs to the small stature, tends to be talked about.

When he was in high school, he went to the United States alone, and after returning to Japan, he became a professional player. He returned to the United States again, played in the NBA’s lower organization, the D League, and became a point guard for the Japanese national team. , The person himself is aloof.

“When I am being interviewed, there are many moments when I feel like I am being asked to say something very passionate like an athlete.

It may be that this natural posture has supported him.

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