Who is the Japanese actress seen on the broadcast screen during the Korea-Japan match? NBA giant Rui Hachimura also 'smirked'... The meeting stirs up a frenzy among fans.

*This content was translated by AI.

During the 2026 men's basketball national team evaluation match between Korea and Japan, the sight of Japanese national team player Rui Hachimura and actress Suzu Hirose sitting side by side drew attention from fans.

Japan's "The Digest" reported on the 16th that "the stadium buzzed with the lovely appearance of a famous actress seated behind the Japanese national team bench."

The media stated, "This match attracted significant attention as Rui Hachimura of the LA Clippers and Yuki Kawamura, who returned to the national team for the first time in two years since the 2024 Paris Olympics, were included in the lineup." It further added, "Although Hachimura was absent from the game today, he conversed with Hirose behind the bench during the match."

It continued, "Hirose attended as a broadcast guest for TV Asahi's 'Basketball Special Booster' and reported on the Japanese team's situation before the game. She actively enjoyed the match by clapping every time Japan scored."

According to the media, Hachimura made a live appearance in the special broadcast seat early in the first quarter. Looking up at Hachimura, who stands 203cm tall, Hirose exclaimed, "He's really huge when seen up close," expressing admiration for his extraordinary physique, while Hachimura responded with a faint smile.

Recalling that she had watched the previous day's game in person, Hirose mentioned Hachimura's three-point shot and said, "I found myself shouting without realizing it." When Hirose offered encouragement by saying, "Many fans, including yourself, and all of Japan are supporting the basketball team, so please do your best," Hachimura replied with gratitude.

As the two were captured in a two-shot on the broadcast screen, Japanese viewers reacted enthusiastically. On social media (SNS), comments poured in such as "Suzu is beautiful again today," "Hachimura's expression softens when sitting next to Hirose," and "I can't take my eyes off their cuteness."

Meanwhile, the Korean men's national basketball team suffered a heavy 66-95 defeat against Japan in the second evaluation match held at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Having lost the first game of the day by 68-88, Korea recorded its largest-ever margin of defeat (29 points) in a Korea-Japan matchup despite Hachimura's absence. Including two losses to Yeo Ja (CEO) team earlier, Korea finished all four away matches against Japan this season with four consecutive defeats.

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*This content was translated by AI.