Est. June 2024  ·  Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo International
Ballers

An international basketball community bringing people together through sport & cultural exchange in Tokyo.

TIB community playing basketball
About TIB

Who We Are

Tokyo International Ballers (TIB) is an international basketball community based in Tokyo, Japan, established in June 2024.

We bring together people from all over the world — students, locals, and everyone in between — to connect through the universal language of basketball.

210+
Participants
20+
Nationalities
2024
Founded
Our Mission

"Cultural Exchange Through Basketball"

The management members who all have experienced sports communication outside of Japan provide you with a great opportunity to make friends and exchange cultures through basketball in Tokyo.

Why TIB?

What Makes Us Unique

Three things that set our community apart.

Japanese and international students playing together

Welcome to Both Japanese & International Students

We welcome not just international students from all over the world, but also Japanese students who want to improve their English or simply want to have fun.

Players of all skill levels

Open to Everyone of All Abilities & Genders

We offer sessions for beginners and advanced players of all genders. Whether it's your first time touching a basketball — you're welcome here.

No membership fee

No Membership Fee

We do not charge a membership fee. We only charge a court fee for each session, and the price depends on the location and number of participants.

Team Data

Our Community by the Numbers

210

Total participants (including repeat attendees) from June 2024 to April 2026

Hometown
Japan (overseas exp.)31%
Western30%
East Asia15%
Japan (domestic)12%
Others12%
University
Keio (other faculties)27%
Others27%
Keio (PEARL)23%
Waseda13%
Tokyo Univ. of Science7%
Tokyo University3%
Basketball Experience
Never played40%
1–3 years37%
3–5 years16%
Over 5 years7%
Community Voices

Players Interview

Hear directly from our players about their TIB experience.

Interview #1

#Half-Japanese #Half-American #University-of-Tokyo

Interview #2

#Exchange-Student #Studying-at-Keio #New-Community

Interview #3

#Japanese #Working-in-Tokyo #Non-English-Speaker

Interview #4

#Keio-University #PEARL-Student #Local-Global-Bridge

Interview #5

#From-Germany #Nippon-Sports-Science #Inclusive-Community

Featured Article

Read Our Story

note logo
note
【バスケで国際交流の場を】学生団体TIBの設立と運営の記録
by Taishin Shibuya  ·  note.com
Contact

Get in Touch

Have questions? Reach out on Instagram or email — we'd love to hear from you.

Instagram
Instagram
@tib_basketball
Email
Email
tibtokyointernationalballers@gmail.com
Sessions

Schedule & Sign Up

Stay updated on our upcoming sessions. Follow us on Instagram for the latest announcements.

Upcoming

Upcoming Sessions

Sessions are updated regularly. Check back or follow @tib_basketball on Instagram.

June 4th (Thu) · 19:00–21:00
Regular Session
📍 Meguro High School (東京都立目黒高等学校)
Advance ticket: ¥500 · Day-of cash: ¥1,000
Spots limited to 20 — book early!
🏀 All levels All genders Open
🎟️ Get Ticket on Luma
📣

New sessions are announced on Instagram.
Follow us to get notified instantly.

@tib_basketball
History

Previous Sessions

A record of all our sessions since founding in June 2024.

Registration

How to Sign Up & Pay

Choose one of the following two ways to join a session:

1

Sign Up via Luma

We post an event link on Luma for each session. Visit our official Luma page to see upcoming events, reserve your spot, and complete payment.

View on Luma
2

DM us on Instagram

Prefer a direct approach? Send us a message on Instagram at @tib_basketball and we'll get you into the next session.

Message on Instagram
The Team

Meet the Organizers

TIB is run by three individuals who share a love for basketball and a belief in the power of sport to connect people across cultures.

Taishin Shibuya
Co-Founder
Taishin Shibuya
Keio University, Faculty of Business and Commerce
@taishin_shibuya
2003–2011Tokyo, Japan
2011–2012Shanghai, China
2012–2017Tokyo, Japan
2017–2018Berlin, Germany
2018–2024Tokyo, Japan
2024–2025Manchester, the UK
2025–PresentTokyo, Japan

Based on his experience of getting along with international friends through sports during his time in Germany, Taishin founded TIB with his friends at Keio University. He studied abroad at the University of Manchester during the 2024–2025 season, played for the Division 3 basketball team, and was awarded Season MVP.

Hajimu Tsuchiya
Co-Founder
Hajimu Tsuchiya
Keio University, Faculty of Economics
(PEARL)
@hajimu_t14
2003–2018Tokyo, Japan
2018–2022Düsseldorf, Germany
2022–PresentTokyo, Japan

A passionate basketball player since age 13, Hajimu moved to Germany at 15. He joined his school's varsity team and represented them in the Northwest European Council of International Schools (NECIS) across Europe, enjoying the experience of playing with diverse people from all over the world.

Teru Sanami
Co-Founder
Teru Sanami
Keio University, Faculty of Economics
(PEARL)
@teru_ru_ru_ru
2004–2022California, USA
2022–PresentKanagawa, Japan

Serving as a RA for his international dormitory, Teru has been working on enhancing international students' life in Japan by connecting them to Japanese culture and students. He played basketball during middle school, and his number one priority is Arsenal FC.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? We've got answers. If you can't find what you're looking for, reach out on Instagram.

How many players are in each session? ▾
Depends on the session, but roughly 10–20 players typically join each game.
How often are the sessions? ▾
Session info & updates will be posted on Instagram and on this website. Follow @tib_basketball to stay in the loop.
Where are the players from? ▾
Everywhere! Our community includes players from Japan, Korea, the US, various European countries, and beyond. That diversity is what makes TIB special.
What do I need to bring for sessions? ▾
Bring sports wear, your own drinks, and indoor shoes. No need to bring your own basketball — we've got that covered!
Is there a membership fee? ▾
No membership fee! We only charge a court fee per session, which varies depending on the location and number of participants.
I've never played basketball before. Can I still join? ▾
Absolutely! In fact, 40% of our participants have never played basketball before. TIB is a welcoming, inclusive space for all skill levels. Everyone starts somewhere!
Can Japanese students join even though the sessions are in English? ▾
Of course! We warmly welcome Japanese students who want to practice their English, meet international friends, or simply enjoy basketball in a fun, multicultural environment.
How do I sign up for a session? ▾
You can sign up via the Luma link posted on our Instagram, or send us a DM at @tib_basketball. Head to the Schedule & Sign Up page for full details.