3x3 Basketball - Team Japan

General
Japan reached the quarterfinals on 3x3 basketball's debut at the Asian Games in 2018, when U23 teams took part. They scored at least 21 points in all four of their pool matches against Nepal, Jordan, Qatar, and the Syrian Arab Republic to progress to the knockout stage. Their quarterfinal against Thailand was closely contested until a seven-point run pulled the game in the Thais' favour, and Japan were beaten 21-13.

The Japanese team reached the quarterfinals at the 2022 U23 World Cup in Romania, where a 20-17 loss to eventual runners-up Serbia meant they finished sixth. Their only previous appearance at the U23 World Cup in 2018 saw the team place 15th after they won only one of four pool phase games.

At senior level, Japan have competed at all six editions of the Asia Cup, with their best finish third place in 2018. They made it to the quarterfinals in both 2019 and 2022 but did not progress from the pool stage at the 2023 Asia Cup after losing both their matches to Australia and New Zealand.

In five appearances at the senior World Cup between 2014 and 2022, Japan's highest finish was 11th at the 2016 edition. They lost all four of their group stage games at the 2022 World Cup in Belgium, including a defeat to continental rivals the People's Republic of China.

As hosts of the inaugural Olympic men's 3x3 tournament at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, the Japanese team picked up two wins in the pool stage against Belgium and the People's Republic of China and advanced to the knockout stage. Their run was ended in the quarterfinals by Latvia, who went on to win gold.