Click here for the special feature “Noshiro Technical High School’s 9 titles” – the melancholy of an undefeated record

25 years ago, the enthusiasm brought about by the Noshiro Technical High School basketball team led by Yuta Tabuse

When I passed through the ticket gates at JR Sendagaya Station, the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium stood before me. Normally, I could arrive there in less than five minutes, even if I waited for the traffic light at the crosswalk, but with each passing day, my stride to the entrance became shorter and shorter. In fact, I even found myself walking at such a fast pace that I had to stop.

End of 1998.

The attention of those who came to watch the National High School Selection Championship, known as the “Winter Cup” (now the National High School Basketball Championship), was focused almost entirely on one thing.

Akita Prefectural Noshiro Technical High School.

The leader of the high school basketball world, boasting 49 national championships, was about to achieve an unprecedented feat. From 1996 to 1997, Noshiro Tech had won all three major tournaments: the Inter-High (National High School Athletic Meet), the National Athletic Meet, and the Winter Cup, and had already won two titles in 1998. In other words, if they won this tournament, which was the culmination of their efforts, they would achieve a “triple crown for three consecutive years.”

The team is led by captain and ace Yuta Tabuse, three-point shooter Yuki Kikuchi, and defensive mainstay Toru Wakatsuki. Among these three players who have been on the court as mainstays since their first year, Tabuse was the one who particularly attracted attention.

Yuta Tabuse during his time at Noshiro Technical High School (Photo by Kyodo News)

View all images

Tabuse is 173cm tall and is classified as small in basketball, but his play has such a magnetic force that you can’t help but be enthralled once you see it. His handling is so good that it feels as if the ball is sticking to the palm of your hand. His dribbling is as fast as a flash, leaving opponents behind at top speed. His no-look passes seem to mock opponents, and his shots have such a delicate touch that they can toy with even larger players…

All of his plays were performed smoothly and gracefully, and above all, they were magnificent. His plays made people sigh in admiration and captivate them. He was a player that people wanted to watch regardless of whether they were friend or foe. That was Tabuse.