Although it does not hold the title of national sport, basketball is the game that reigns supreme in the Philippines. The frenzied craze for the sport trick­les down from the professional to the grassroots level, with free spaces often turned into basket­ball courts. Yet if you listen past the buzzer beater shots, a quieter revolution is taking place. Filipino athletes are making names for themselves in other sports and leagues as well. One thing they have in common? Their ties to Japan.

Collaboration between the two nations has long been ap­parent across multiple fields and industries. In the realm of sports, the synergy between Japan and the Philippines has both trans­formed individual athletes and sports as a whole. Now house­hold names, athletes like Yuka Saso and Carlos Yulo have been sources of national pride due to international recognition.

Yuka Saso: A champion of two nations

While Carlos Yulo’s journey highlights the transformative impact of Japanese mentorship and discipline on individual athletic performance, he is not the only Filipino athlete whose career has been shaped by this dynamic relationship. Another shining example of this synergy is Yuka Saso, a golfer whose dual heritage and achieve­ments embody the two nations coming together.

The proud Filipino-Japanese athlete is a two-time US Women’s Open champion. Previously repre­senting the Philippines, Saso was a gold medalist in the 2018 Asian Games for both the women’s individual and team events. However, due to laws requiring dual citizens to choose one nationality before turning twenty-two, Saso opted for Japanese citizenship, citing the convenience it brings as she travels the world to compete profes­sionally.

Now representing Japan, Saso won her second US Women’s Open title after her first win in 2021 for the Philippines. Regardless of her citizenship choice, Saso has continued to emphasize that this is just a formality and that she wishes she could represent both countries. As a Filipino-Japanese athlete, her success is testament to the harmonious fusion of cultures. Her discipline, technique, and grit have made her a name to watch out for.

Carlos Yulo: From Tokyo to triumph

Carlos Yulo’s ascent to becoming one of the world’s top gymnasts is a tale of determination and strategic support––from his humble beginnings as a curious child mimicking gymnasts at a local gym to standing on the Olympic podium. Central to his success are two instrumental figures: Cynthia Lagdameo Carrion, who first recognized his ability, and Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, whose training refined Yulo’s abilities into world-class excellence. Together, they shaped not just an athlete but a legacy that highlights the quintessential union between the Philippines and Japan in nurturing talent.

Cynthia Lagdameo Carrion, Pres­ident of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) and Board Member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), among many other designations on international gymnas­tics boards, was the influential, almost fairy godmother-like figure in Yulo’s life who believed in him from day one.

She describes how neighborhood kids would often play at the Rizal Me­morial Gymnastics Gym: “From among the many little boys, there was a young, almost frail boy who would copy the movements of national athletes training. He would jump, roll, and playfully run around. This boy caught my attention, and I asked him to do some basic move­ments which had tremendously made me sure a champion in the making was right in front of me.”

“This boy I laid an eye on was the seven-year-old boy, named Carlos. And I knew I was witnessing the birth of greatness! And that I have a winner in my hands,” she recalls.

Initially without a coach, Yulo was already making waves and securing medals. As fate would have it one day, Carrion was introduced to the legendary Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya. Carrion knew that the Japanese style of coaching and discipline would help Yulo reach even greater heights, so she asked Kugimiya if he could mentor the young athlete and worked relentlessly to secure sponsorships for the move.

Yulo was already making waves and securing medals. As fate would have it one day, Carrion was introduced to the legendary Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya. Carrion knew that the Japanese style of coaching and discipline would help Yulo reach even greater heights.

Kugimiya trained and oversaw Yulo’s life and schooling when he moved to Japan at only 16-years-old, and the latter won several medals under his wing. After almost a decade, Yulo decided to part ways with his longtime coach to train around the world and in the Philippines with Coach Allen Aldrin Castañeda.

Albeit his decision to split with Kugimiya before the 2024 Paris Olympics where he bagged his historic double gold medals, Yulo continues to attribute much of his success to his years spent in Japan and to Kugimiya’s mentorship. Yulo says, “I owe to my coach Munehiro Kugimiya what I have become. I love the intensi­ty of my training and his attention to detail. Our training programs were often characterized by rigorous mental and physical challenges, instilling the kind of discipline and work ethic I needed to excel in my sport.”

Yulo’s preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics was years in the making, pos­sible because of this solid foundation. “A face-off with equally outstanding Olym­pians was an unimaginable challenge. However, I managed to handle all these challenges very well because I was in a place that values and practices discipline, focus, and resilience. The meticulous focus on the smallest details trained my mind to consistency and precision in my movement and performance. All these enabled me to perform under pressure,” he recalls.

In October 2024, Yulo returned to Japan where he attended a celebratory dinner and received a citation from Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Endo Kazuya. The citation honored his contributions in strengthening Philip­pine-Japan relations and his impact on the world of sports.

Yulo’s story clearly illustrates how his connection to Japan and his training under Kugimiya have played a pivotal role in his achievements. Japan’s deep investment in nurturing Filipino talent— from coaching expertise to educational opportunities—demonstrates the coun­try’s willingness to share its resources and knowledge across borders.

On pinpointing what exactly it was about the Japanese culture that has been essential in his character building, Yulo adds, “It instilled in me a sense of discipline, humility, diligence, and per­severance in all my endeavors, pushing me to surpass my personal boundaries. It is that holistic approach to my devel­opment as a gymnast while in Japan that contributed to that level of success I have achieved both on and off the field.”

Japan’s investment in Filipino excellence

Japan is consistent with its support for Philippine sports, using it as an avenue for cultural exchange. Recent ev­idence of this is the partnership between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Iloilo Province in the Philippines. With Iloilo’s goal of becom­ing a center for sports excellence and community development, the collab­oration aims to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries by improving sports facilities and nurtur­ing homegrown talent through training programs.

In 2023, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) received PHP 7 million worth of gymnastics equipment from the Japanese government through their Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project. This initiative will undoubtedly assist aspiring gymnasts hoping to achieve what Carlos Yulo has in their own time. In fact, Carrion says that Coach Munehiro is now sharing his expertise with the next generation of Yulo gymnasts, siblings Eldrew and Ysa. Commenting on the generously donated gymnastics equipment, she affirms, “This invaluable support will surely empower young Filipino athletes to continue the legacy of Philippine gymnastics.”

Yulo himself calls on the stake­holders who have the power to effect change, to invest in potential: “Standing toe-to-toe with gymnastics powerhous­es like Japan requires great investment and top-level policy decisions between the government and the private sector. Without this, we cannot sustain what I have achieved. Since we proved Filipinos can compete with world-class gym­nasts, we must continue.”

To make this effort sustainable, Yulo emphasizes that they must start today. “I implore our government to assist in maintaining our achievements; we require long-term government support, starting at the grassroots level and encouraging our young children and youth to pursue gymnastics until we produce world-class gymnasts.” He hopes that his Olympic records inspire the country to move in unison to contribute to the exponential growth of Philippine gymnastics. Once there is a glimmer of potential, he believes that this must be honed until the highest level is achieved––especially with the support of Japan.

Japan remains committed to helping Filipino athletes from the grassroots level in other fields.

However, the support doesn’t end with gymnastics—Japan remains committed to helping Filipino athletes from the grassroots level in other fields. Japanese coach Tetsuya Tsuchida, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF)’s head of youth football development, hopes to continue popularizing football in the Philippines and train more Filipino coaches. Tsuchida envisions creating a unique style of football that is specific to Filipino players.

Additionally, the Japan Football Association (JFA), together with the Japan Embassy, provided football gear and jerseys after multiple success stories with the Filipinas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup debut and Under-17 Girls’ Asian Cup qualification. This sets the stage for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, where the women’s futsal team aims to compete.

Stepping stones for success

When talent meets opportunity, a foundation for success is built. This is a common thread that runs through the stories of today’s athletes––explaining why local athletes may look beyond Philippine shores for more chances at success. Take Japan’s B.League, for example, which has quickly grown into a professional league harnessing interna­tional talent.

The B.League has an “Asian quota” for imports, affording each team a slot for an Asian import from the region. Majority of these imports end up being Filipino: stars like Kiefer Ravena, Dwight Ramos, and Ray Parks Jr., to name a few. Each has brought their skills to the league, enhancing the reputation of Fili­pino basketball talent abroad, in return.

Paolo Trillo, General Manager of the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) Meralco Bolts, has experienced many victories throughout his profes­sional career, including the team’s recent triumph in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Championship. Regarding the imports in the B.League, Trillo says, “Majority taken in being Filipino is testament to the talent, skill, and exciting style of Filipino players and the high level of Philippine basketball. The Filipino players that come and go gain experience and carry it with them when they come back to the PBA or play for the National Team.”

The B.League offers more than just a paycheck. Players are exposed to advanced training facilities, disciplined coaching staff, and a chance to up their game as they compete against high-cali­ber players from around the world.

This exposure hones skills, fos­ters growth, and opens doors to larger leagues elsewhere. Japan has become a launchpad for Filipino athletes to thrive in their respective careers and garner international favor. Both countries are emerging basketball nations regionally and internationally. Trillo says, “We certainly can learn from each other in terms of development and over-all programs. For instance, Japan has taken an aggressive approach in marketing and promoting the B.League opening up to more foreign players which have gen­erated increased interest in the league and a higher level of play. Likewise the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) opened their doors to foreign guest team Hong Kong (China) Eastern for the 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup.”

The partnership is indeed mutually beneficial, with both nations standing to learn and earn. And while basketball may be the undisputed king of Philippine sports, there is a wealth of potential across others when support is readily given. Collaboration doesn’t always mean competition. Shared expertise, opportunities, and resources benefit both nations—ultimately, both can win.

A lasting legacy

The Philippines has already proven that its athletes can compete in inter­national arenas, but the next step is to create a sustainable ecosystem for sports development. With support from coun­tries like Japan, there are more avenues for greatness for athletes in gymnastics, golf, football, and other sports typically relegated to the sidelines. The stories of these athletes high­light an undeniable truth: alliances between nations can unlock the full potential of athletes. Filipino athletes bring grit, passion, and natural talent, while Japanese sports programs are built on precision and discipline, using state-of-the-art resources. When cou­pled together, the result is powerful, award-winning synergy.