Last additions - Saitama Super Arena + Basketball さいたまスーパーアリーナ |
Seat categories.Jan 29, 2020
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Saitama Super Arena's press room.Jan 29, 2020
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We also visited courtside.Jan 29, 2020
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Asami YoshidaJan 29, 2020
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Mikoto OnumaJan 29, 2020
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Saori MiyazakiJan 29, 2020
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Kadysha Juna Umezawa, from Canada.Jan 29, 2020
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Saori MiyazakiJan 29, 2020
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Saori MiyazakiJan 29, 2020
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Eneos Sunflowers (yellow) vs. Toyota Antelopes. Asami YoshidaJan 29, 2020
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Eneos Sunflowers Jan 29, 2020
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Introducing the Toyota Antelopes.Jan 29, 2020
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Introducing the players.Jan 29, 2020
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The next semi-fonal women's basketball game for the Empress's Cup was Eneos Sunflowers vs. Toyota Antelopes.Jan 29, 2020
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Another concourse.Jan 29, 2020
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稲井 桃子 / Momoko InaiJan 29, 2020
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赤穂 ひまわり / Himawari AkahoJan 29, 2020
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This semi-final game was Denso Iris (white) vs. Mitsubishi Electric Koalas.Jan 29, 2020
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Saitama Super Arena concourse had a few souvenir stands.Jan 29, 2020
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We saw two women's semi-final basketball games for the 86th Empress's Cup at Saitama Super Arena.Jan 29, 2020
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Entering Saitama Super Arena, not so crowded for women's basketball games.Jan 29, 2020
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My second visit to Saitama Super Arena was on Jan. 11, 2020. It was for the Empress's Cup national baskteball tournament.Jan 29, 2020
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Olympic/Paralympic venues in Saitama Prefecture.Jan 29, 2020
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Countdown to Tokyo 2020 as of Jan. 11, 2020. Saitama Shin-toshin Station.Jan 29, 2020
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Outside the srena.Jan 29, 2020
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Seat categories.Jan 29, 2020
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Arena layout.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Japan easily beat Chinese Taipei.Jan 29, 2020
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Yuki MiyazawaJan 29, 2020
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Nako MotohashiJan 29, 2020
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Kadysha Juna Umezawa, from Canada.Jan 29, 2020
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Kadysha Juna Umezawa, from Canada.Jan 29, 2020
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Cheerleaders shoot a prize to the crowd.Jan 29, 2020
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Tip off.Jan 29, 2020
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Chinese Taipei practicing.Jan 29, 2020
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Japan women's national team in red.Jan 29, 2020
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Large block of empty seats. It seems the TV cameras needed a clear view and the red seats were for sponsors left unused. Hope we don't see this at the Olympics.Jan 29, 2020
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Next was the women's national team playing against Chinese Taipei. The arena became pretty empty for women's basketball. Aug. 25, 2019.Women's basketball is nowhere near as popular as men's basketball in Japan. This was my first time to see a women's basketball game in Japan.Jan 29, 2020
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Saitama Super Arena snack bar.Jan 29, 2020
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Speech by Rui Hachimura.Jan 29, 2020
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Remarks by Rui Hachimura, the main reason for Japan's renewed interest in the NBA.Jan 29, 2020
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After the game, team members lined up on the court for a thank you speech by Rui Hachimura (in black on the left).It seems men's basketball has finally become a lot more popular with Rui being drafted to the NBA's Washington Wizards and a member of Japan's national team. Rui has a Japanese mother and Beninese father. Born and raised in Toyama, Japan and fluent in Japanese. He's likely to appear in Tokyo 2020.Jan 29, 2020
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Post-game comments by Yuta Watanabe.Jan 29, 2020
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Yuta Watanabe expresses his disappointment with the loss.Jan 29, 2020
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Final score.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Cheerleaders in a corner.Jan 29, 2020
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Today's attendance.Jan 29, 2020
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Courtside TV cameramen.Jan 29, 2020
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CourtsideJan 29, 2020
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Makoto Hiejima. Japan trailed Tunisia most of the time, but it finally caught up and tied the score during last few minutes. But a basket by Tunisia during the final seconds beat Japan. Good game.Jan 29, 2020
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This is Yuta Watanabe, one of the star players and an NBA player for the Memphis Grizzlies.The national team's other NBA player, Rui Hachimura, didn't play this day and was on the sidelines.Jan 29, 2020
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Naoto TsujiJan 29, 2020
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Naoto TsujiJan 29, 2020
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Naoto TsujiJan 29, 2020
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The national basketball team also has cheerleaders named "Akatsuki Venus." Like the players, most cheerleaders come from cheerleading squads from various pro basketball teams in Japan.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Daiki TanakaJan 29, 2020
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Daiki TanakaJan 29, 2020
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Yuta Watanabe, one of the star players and an NBA player for the Memphis Grizzlies.Jan 29, 2020
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Daiki Tanaka. Tunisia in white.Jan 29, 2020
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Roster for Japan and Tunisia. Rui Hachimura didn't play this day and was on the courtside. Too bad! He had played the day before against Germany and the crowd went wild whenever he scored. The crowd was still very excited on this day too.Jan 29, 2020
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"Akatsuki Five" is the nickname for Japan's national basketball team (for both men and women). "Akatsuki" means "red dawn."Jan 29, 2020
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Spectators were given red-colored file folders to create this red blanket. It seems red is Saitama's sports cheering color.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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"Japan as One"Jan 29, 2020
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The crowd was excited to see their national team.Jan 29, 2020
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Introducing the players.Jan 29, 2020
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Introducing the players.Jan 29, 2020
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Introducing the players.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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For smaller crowds, Saitama Super Arena can be adjusted to have only two tiers of seats.Jan 29, 2020
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For smaller crowds, Saitama Super Arena can be adjusted to have only two tiers of seats.Jan 29, 2020
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For smaller crowds, Saitama Super Arena can be adjusted to have only two tiers of seats. The ceiling is lowered to hide the third tier on the top.Jan 29, 2020
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When full, Saitama Super Arena has three tiers of seats.Jan 29, 2020
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When full, Saitama Super Arena has three tiers of seats.Jan 29, 2020
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The men's basketball game was held first, with Japan vs. Tunisia. The stadium was packed with over 18,000.Jan 29, 2020
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When full, Saitama Super Arena has three tiers of seats.Jan 29, 2020
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Corridor in Saitama Super Arena. Jan 29, 2020
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Posing with player cutouts.Jan 29, 2020
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Long line to buy basketball merchandise outside the stadium.Jan 29, 2020
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Hallway after showing your ticket. Long line to pose with player cutouts.Jan 29, 2020
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Entering Saitama Super Arena.Jan 29, 2020
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International Basketball Games was held first, with Japan vs. Tunisia on Aug. 25, 2019.Jan 29, 2020
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Long line to buy basketball merchandise outside the stadium. Can well imagine what it will be like during the Olympics...Jan 29, 2020
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Front side of Saitama Super Arena. Enter toward the left side. Looks like a complicated structure from the outside.I was here to see men's and women's basketball games were held on Aug. 25, 2019 as part of the five-day International Basketball Games event for men and the Mitsui Fudosan Cup for women. It was also an Olympic test event.Jan 29, 2020
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Countdown to Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics as of Aug. 25, 2019.Jan 29, 2020
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JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station exterior view.Jan 29, 2020
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JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station outside the turnstile. Go left.Jan 29, 2020
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JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station heading out the turnstile.Jan 29, 2020
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Saitama Super Arena is right near JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station, about 40 min. from Tokyo Station on the JR Takasaki Line (30 min. via Ueno-Tokyo Line) and Keihin-Tohoku Line (42 min.).Very convenient because this train line runs between Saitama and Yokohama and passes through central Tokyo including major train stations. Jan 29, 2020
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