<figure id="attachment_478240" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-478240" style="width: 2985px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f9eae44c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/08/ce91498e6c7260997969ea39f07c22de.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-478240" class="wp-caption-text">On August 16, Suzu Hirose made an appearance at the Japan vs. South Korea game, part of the “Men’s Basketball World Cup Final Qualifying International Matches.”</figcaption></figure>
<h2><span class="strongInContent"> Rui Hachimura was sitting next to her… Hirose looked utterly surprised</span></h2>
<p> Sitting in the courtside booster seats, even in the simple gesture of having a staff member remove her earbuds, Suzu Hirose (28) radiated an aura of stardom.</p>
<p> On August 16, the Japan vs. South Korea match—part of the “Men’s Basketball World Cup Final Qualifying Pre-Tournament International Matches”—was held at Ariake Arena in Tokyo’s Koto Ward and broadcast live on TV Asahi.Just before tip-off, when TV Asahi announcer Yohei Ohnishi (41) and Hirose stepped onto the court next to a life-size cutout of player Yuki Kawamura (25) placed on the court, the arena erupted in loud cheers and gasps of surprise. Holding a microphone as a broadcast reporter, Hirose said,</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> “Yuki Kawamura has returned to the Japanese national team for the first time in two years. Please keep an eye on Japan’s playmaker, who has grown even further after gaining experience on the world’s biggest stage—the NBA. The game is about to begin,”</span></p>
<p> She spoke these words into the television camera before stepping off the court and taking her seat in the booster section set up directly behind the Japanese team’s bench.</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> “Mr. Hirose was a member of his middle school’s basketball team until his third year and is known today as a huge basketball fan. He even traveled to Okinawa to watch the World Cup in the summer of ’23 and plans to attend the Paris Olympics in the summer of ’24 in person.Last year, he was appointed as the ‘TV Asahi Basketball Special Booster’ for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, and he appeared as a guest commentator for this event as well,” said a sports newspaper reporter.</span></p>
<p> Once the game began, Hirose focused all her attention on the action. Whenever a big play occurred, she clapped her hands above her head; at times, she even stood up from her seat and could be seen explaining the play to announcer Onishi with animated gestures.</p>
<p> Perhaps feeling the urge to move her body herself, she left the booster section during halftime and made gestures as if stretching. And then came the moment when Hirose’s face lit up the most that day.</p>
<p> To everyone’s surprise, Rui Hachimura (28) of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers came over to the booster seats and sat down right next to Hirose.</p>
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<p> Hachimura hadn’t played in the game that day as he was adjusting his physical condition. Perhaps Hirose hadn’t been told about it, because when Hachimura appeared next to her, she looked up at him with an expression of utter astonishment unlike anything she had shown before. Still, she quickly returned to her usual self and exchanged greetings with a smile.Once the second half began, both focused on the game. At one point, they were seen exchanging a few words. <span class="strongInContent">This scene sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with comments such as, “The size difference between Hachimura and Suzu Hirose is insane when they’re side by side,” and “It really highlights how small Hirose’s face is.”</span></p>
<p> Japan won the game in a landslide, 95–66. After finishing her duties as a booster, she flashed a satisfied smile as a staff member removed her earbuds, just as described at the beginning.</p>
<p> With Hirose’s support behind them, the Japanese national team is sure to keep pushing forward toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Every move Suzu Hirose made at the basketball arena"></div>
<figure id="attachment_478241" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-478241" style="width: 2662px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e4ad67c8"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/08/aafe1867bd9b673c993c3069ff40aeea.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-478241" class="wp-caption-text">Just before the match, Hirose reports from the court with a microphone in hand</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_478242" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-478242" style="width: 3663px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="acdb82ba"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/08/4cc5057b1bead620dbacbc83b80d833f.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-478242" class="wp-caption-text"> Hirose makes his way to the booster section. The spectators looked surprised to see him right in front of them</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_478243" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-478243" style="width: 3663px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="56468fae"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/08/91181af286fe9f99cd28792d06d47d89.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-478243" class="wp-caption-text"> At halftime, Hirose moves her body to the music playing</figcaption></figure>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" A photo of Suzu Hirose and Rui Hachimura together"></div>
<figure id="attachment_478244" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-478244" style="width: 2436px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="90013237"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/08/91c2d71728441870a6229d390db566bb.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-478244" class="wp-caption-text">Hirose looked utterly stunned when he saw Rui Hachimura suddenly appear in the booster seats.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_478245" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-478245" style="width: 2686px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b6a8136a"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/08/1046b0986c57ade3cc9486115962b252.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-478245" class="wp-caption-text"> As the third quarter began, the two immediately focused on the game</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_478246" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-478246" style="width: 2686px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="0801d0b9"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/08/2201747c16440c33baea158a903b9deb.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-478246" class="wp-caption-text"> Hirose explains the play with dramatic gestures.</figcaption></figure>


 Keitaro Nakagawa

 On August 16, the Japan vs. South Korea match—an international friendly held just before the Men’s Basketball World Cup Final Qualifiers—took place at Ariake Arena, with Suzu Hirose appearing as a reporter. In the booster seats, Rui Hachimura sat right next to her, leaving her looking surprised. Here’s a look at her every move.

Suzu Hirose Watches a Basketball Game—She’s Surprised by Rui Hachimura’s “Extremely Close Proximity”! Delighted by Japan’s Landslide Victory, She’s Captivated by “Every Move He Makes”

Suzu Hirose Watches a Basketball Game—She’s Surprised by Rui Hachimura’s “Extremely Close Proximity”! Delighted by Japan’s Landslide Victory, She’s Captivated by “Every Move He Makes”

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