Team Japan quells shame

– The head of Japan’s Asian Games delegation said yesterday a scandal involving basketball players caught paying for prostitutes had no negative impact on the country’s overall performance in Jakarta.

“It was unprofessional and unpalatable behaviour,” Yasuhiro Yamashita told a news conference after Japan finished second behind China with 75 gold, 56 silver and 74 bronze medals.

“Their conduct betrays public confidence in the athletes and sport as a whole,” he added.

“It was a huge shock to us and was a setback, but I don’t think it had any negative impact overall. The rest of the players stepped up and fought with great pride and gave everything for the shirt.”

The four Japanese basketball players – Yuya Nagayoshi, Takuya Hashimoto, Takuma Sato and Keita Imamura – were sent home in disgrace after being spotted in a notorious red light district of Jakarta, and subsequently banned for a year.

Dressed in black suits at a press conference after their return home, Nagayoshi said he “could not imagine” playing basketball again after bringing the sport into disrepute.

The incident was a major embarrassment for Japan, which is preparing to host the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. –