Photo/Illutration Geoffrey Katsuhisa, an assistant coach of Japan’s national basketball team, watches a player practicing in Okinawa on Sept. 1, the day before the team's game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. (Tetsuro Takehana)

As an assistant coach and interpreter for the Japanese men's national basketball team, Geoffrey Katsuhisa proved his worth as the team's "sixth man" at the recent FIBA Basketball World Cup in Okinawa.

Katsuhisa took the passionate words and instruction of head coach Tom Hovasse and relayed them in Japanese to the players.  

Japan secured a series of historic victories at the World Cup, qualifying on its own merit for the 2024 Paris Olympics for the first time in 48 years.

Japan competed in the Tokyo Games in 2021 on an automatic berth as the host nation.

During the action, Katsuhisa, 42, listened carefully to what Hovasse said so he could provide an accurate interpretation to the players.

He deftly conveyed the head coach’s “passion” to team members when they huddled around the bench during timeouts. Katsuhisa also relayed Hovasse’s instructions issued from courtside during play.

Born in Indonesia to a Japanese father and an American mother due to his father’s business, Katsuhisa resided in Italy, the United States and Japan.

He became hooked on basketball as soon as he started playing the sport at the age of 10.

Katsuhisa dedicated himself to playing basketball through high school, but he was unable to make any significant impact on the court. 

He moved onto Santa Clara University in California. Katsuhisa learned French and anthropology there.

With graduation approaching, Katsuhisa began considering his post-education path.

“I craved a job that would allow me to help others via something I love,” recalled Katsuhisa.

He decided to build a career as a basketball coach.

Katsuhisa contacted his former coach at high school and heard that the academy’s affiliated junior high was looking for an assistant coach. He spent three years or so at the school.

As Katsuhisa then “missed Japan very much” given that he had left his homeland at age 16, he sent his resume to a rash of companies in the country. However, none offered him an interview.

Living with a friend upon returning to Japan in 2007, Katsuhisa worked part time at an English conversation school to earn his keep.

He ended up finding a sports-related job. But he was given no chance to work in basketball circles at his new workplace.

Around that time, Katsuhisa heard about a team seeking a manager-interpreter in Tokyo. He took the job.

Katsuhisa was afterward invited to join another team as an interpreter. He asked to “be interviewed as a coaching candidate if possible.”

His eagerness finally paid off, allowing Katsuhisa to enter the professional coaching ranks after he had turned 30.

Katsuhisa has since showed off his coaching skills for a spate of teams, including one for which he took over as head coach. Among these teams is the Kawasaki Brave Thunders in the Japanese professional B.League, where he currently serves as an assistance coach.

He was tapped to join the men's national basketball team as an assistant coach for the Tokyo Olympics, which were held in 2021.

Katsuhisa took a sentimental look back on his history in the sport.

“Basketball has lately been gaining more and more traction in Japan unlike in the past,” he said. “It is fortuitous for me to be able to work in my favorite sport in a way I can raise my family, including two children.”

The path Katsuhisa has walked offers valuable insights for enriching lives: pursue your true desires earnestly and make concrete and active efforts to accomplish your goals.

Another important thing is never place a ceiling on one's own possibilities, even if lacking the experience or the accomplishments.

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