Rui Hachimura and his parents Makiko Hachimura and Zakari Jabil during the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019.Photo:Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE/Getty
Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE/Getty
Rui Hachimura, born to parents Makiko Hachimura and Zakari Jabil, made history in 2019 asthe first Japanese playerto be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft and only the second Japanese-born player to be drafted into the league.
At the time, Rui acknowledged how important the achievement was for them. “You know, it means a lot for me and my family,” he said,per NBA.com.
However, being selected to play for the Washington Wizards in 2019 was the culmination of a long journey for the player, who was, he told Japanese newspaperThe Mainichiin 2019, determined to “become an athlete who can compete on the global stage and lead Japanese sport.”
Still, his path was not without bumps. When Rui — who since 2023 has played for the Los Angeles Lakers as a small forward — first came to the United States to attend Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, he didn’t speak English.
“Communication. Language. That was very hard,” he shared in a 2019 interview withAndscape. “It’s different. Here and Japan are, like, the opposite things. Maybe I was thinking about going home a little bit, but I couldn’t quit. I had a bigger goal.”
Rui Hachimura dribbles during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets on January 30, 2023.Sarah Stier/Getty
Sarah Stier/Getty
Rui continued playing for the Gongoza Bulldogs, and ended his college career as the West Coast Conference player of the year,according toThe Japan Times. Two years later, in 2021, he carried the flag for host country Japan at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“I inherited a privileged body from my father and the diligence to keep making efforts from my mother," he explained in 2019.
From assigning him a unique name to watching videos of his games, here’s everything to know about Rui Hachimura’s parents, Makiko Hachimura and Zakari Jabil.
They have a multicultural home
Matthias Hangst/Getty
“They looked at me like I was different,” he toldAndscapein 2019. “I got used to it. It is what it is because they don’t have but so many Black people in Japan. … They were really nice to me in junior high school or high school.”
It’s a struggle that Zakari also faced as a Black man in Japan.
“I think it was hard for him, but he’s a real friendly guy and can communicate with the people,” Rui toldThe Athleticin 2019. “He didn’t … feel sorry for himself.’’
Despite the challenges, Rui doesn’t miss an opportunity to honor his heritage.
“I am really proud about being half-African and half-Japanese,” he added. “It’s rare. I’m glad to be like this."
They gave their son a unique name
Rui Hachimura #8 of the Washington Wizards smiles against the Detroit Pistons on March 25, 2022.Chris Schwegler/NBAE/Getty
Chris Schwegler/NBAE/Getty
Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan, and the country has produced legends like Ichiro Suzuki, Hideo Nomo, Hideki Matsui and, more recently,Shohei Ohtani. So it’s no surprise that Rui’s name holds a nod to the game — with the Japanese symbol for Rui, “塁” meaning “base."
Meanwhile, while speaking to Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet in 2023, Rui explained, perSports Illustrated, that he wears the number eight jersey both in honor of the lateKobe Bryantand because of his last name, which he takes from his mom.
“It was because of Kobe, and also, my name, ‘Hachimura,’ means ‘No. 8’ in Japanese. So that’s why I wore the No. 8,” he told Trudell according, to the outlet.
They have three children
Rui Hachimura at the NEC headquarters in 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty
Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty
Besides Rui, Makiko and Zakari are parents to daughter Amina and son Aren.
Amina accompanied her mother and a family friend to see her brother play in Spokane for the first time in December 2018 and Rui drew motivation from her presence, tellingThe Spokesman Reviewat the time that it meant he would have “to play good.”
“I really wanted them to come, especially my sister because she’s never been here before,” he added to the outlet.
They go to great lengths to support their son
Rui Hachimura during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 25, 2023.Adam Pantozzi/NBAE/Getty
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE/Getty
Rui’s hometown of Toyama, Japan, is over 5,000 miles from Spokane, Washington, where he attended college at Gonzaga University.
There is also a 16 hour time difference, which made it difficult to keep up with their Rui’s games in real time but he toldAndscapein a 2019 interview that his parents and grandmother found a creative option to show support for him back in Japan, thanks to the university staff.
“They have the internet and they watch somehow,” Rui explained to the outlet. “The video coordinator sends them videos after the game. They watch every single game. They’ve been watching me play basketball since I started playing. They are happy about it for sure.”
source: people.com
