Episode 21: Groundbreakers - Yuta Watanabe and Daisuke Sugiura

Yuta Watanabe has been a breakout contributor for the Nets this season after a journey that began with a Connecticut prep school and the first Division I college basketball scholarship ever earned by a Japanese player. His career has been chronicled by journalist Daisuke Sugiura, who came to the U.S. 20 years ago to chase a career dream. Chris checks in with two pioneers who have blazed new paths.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hey, what's going on. It's Chris Corrino. This is the
voice of the NETS podcast. Thanks for listening. Thanks to
subscribing wherever you get your podcast. We appreciate it. Two
guests for you today, both with a common theme. Both
were young men when they courageously left their native country
of Japan to come to the United States to pursue

(00:32):
their dreams. One dreamt of being an NBA player, and
the other dreamt of covering the NBA as a sports journalist.
The player is Utah Watanabe. Utah has become a fan
favorite with the NETS this year. He came to the
United States after graduating high school in Japan. Both his

(00:55):
parents were basketball players, so he had the love of
the game instilled in him there, but he came to
the United States to play prep school basketball in Connecticut.
It earned him a scholarship to George Washington. He was
the first ever Japanese player to get an n c
A Division One men's basketball scholarship. He played four years
at George Washington was the eight ten defensive player of

(01:18):
the year. His first taste of the NBA was playing
in the next Summer League in Las Vegas, where Jacques
Vaughan got a chance to coach him. It followed with
a couple of stints, a couple of years in Memphis
and then Toronto two way deals you know, Exhibit ten
deals and now having a chance to solidify a rotation

(01:40):
spot with the Nets. Prior to this recent injury that
he had, he missed ten games with hamstring injury. He
was leading the NBA in three point percentage of fifty.
After the ten days off, he returned to take on
the Indiana Pacers in a game the other night where
the Nets were playing without a of their top players,

(02:01):
including their biggest stars, and Utah was a little rusty
early on but made a few big plays down the
stretch and helped the Nets come up with I thought
was the best win of the season, playing without their
their star players out eight guys and came away with
a win on the road against Indiana. We talked to
Utah just before that, so we don't we don't get
into that game, but we get into everything else with

(02:25):
Utah Watanabe. We'll talk to him first, and then it's
dice Gate. Sagura, who was a young man himself just
out of college when he left Japan to pursue his
dream of being a sports journalist in the United States.
Courageous young men going by themselves halfway around the world

(02:47):
to try and pursue their dreams. And now Dice has
been covering the NBA for NBA dot Com, Japan, Yahoo,
Japan Sports, Nipon. He has interviewed everybody from David Stern
to Kobe Bryant. And he's had a career that spanned
over two decades. So we'll talk with him just a
little bit. But first it's a Utah watsonabe. We talked

(03:08):
to him right before he got back to action, got
that big win against Indiana. He had missed ten games,
was out, but he's back. The Nets played Toronto recently
and I got a chance to talk to a lot
of the broadcasters and people around the team. And Utah
spent the last two years in Toronto, and all anybody
want to talk about was Utah, how is he doing?
We hated giving him up. We wish you was still here. Uh,

(03:30):
he's got an infectious energy about him. You'll see we
get into the Jimmy v stuff as well. You know,
asked him about what makes him laugh, cry and think,
and you're gonna get to know just a terrific young man.
And Utah Watsonabe, who's twenty seven right now. I mean
he's an adult, he's married, he living in Brooklyn. We'll
get into all of that stuff and dice k but

(03:50):
first up first, it is Utah Watson Abe here on
the Voice of the Nets. Well you, Tah, you took
the Next World by storm. Do you understand the how
how you shook all the fans and how well you've
played earlier year? Uh? Yeah, I guess like like when

(04:11):
I signed the Next I guess like people didn't really
expect me to play this much, even like I wasn't
expecting because you know, I came in this training camp
with a non guarantee. Uh so my goal was to
make a team. So um yeah, I guess I know
I expected right. Well, when I spoke to people up
in Toronto, they immediately brought you up, like they wanted

(04:34):
to know how is Utah doing? How we knew he
was going to do this. They they really liked you
up in Toronto, and I think they were they're happy
to see you now, but they wish you were doing
it with the Raptors. Yeah, I mean that's good to
know that, and uh, you know, I love Toronto to
uh you know, I spent two years. Uh my first

(04:54):
year I was in the Tampa because of the COVID,
but last year I was in I love the city.
I love the team, you know, teammates, organization, everything, So
you know, I enjoyed the time in Toronto. I would
imagine Toronto. You know, Toronto is a very um it's
got a different field and you know, it's it's similar
to the United States cities, but it's got a little

(05:15):
more of a of an international field. Did you did
you kind of feel at home a little bit more
in Toronto than maybe your other stock because you previously
I think you're you said Tampa and Memphis. Toronto is
much different. Yeah, yeah, I differently, and I was I
was really surprised, like there were so many Japanese in Toronto,

(05:37):
and like I like, there are so many like Japanese
restaurants that were really good. So yeah, I definitely if
it's like a home there. I talked to dice K,
you know dice K and the reporter from Japan, and
he was saying, how in New York he can't really
find anything that is the same in restaurants as home.
Uh in Toronto? Did you find the food and did

(06:00):
you find places that you could go where they were authentic? Yeah? Yeah, Yeah,
I definitely found the something good Japanese restaurant uh that
I always go. Uh you know, did that make you
feel a little more at home? Yeah? The people worked
there well, like I would say, like nine what Japanese?
So you know, they asked me like what to get

(06:21):
in Japanese and you know we you know, we were
talking in Japanese and the food was really good. So yeah,
I definitely feel like that was in Japan. Those people
must have been very proud to see you because I
would imagine they knew who you were and what you represent. Yeah.
So like the first few times I went to a restaurant, like,

(06:43):
you know, Japanese people are like a little bit much
shy then American, so like we didn't really talk like
they like they don't. They told me like they were
a little bit of a scared with me because but
they're like when they studied talking to them, like you know,
like we became friends and you know, like we talked

(07:04):
a lot of stuff. So that was good. I'm going
to get to your time in Brooklyn and and your
professional career. Let's let's now use an opportunity to go
back to the beginning for you growing up in Yokohama, Japan.
What was it like that the area. Yeah, Yokohama is
actually where I was born, okay, and I moved to

(07:25):
uh it's called the place Kogawa when I was two
or three years old, and that's where I actually grew up.
What kind of places that is it? Is it a
city environment? Is it a rural environment? What was it like? Yeah?
I mean so the Yokohama where I was born, that's
a that's a big city. Uh, it's in Tokyo, a

(07:47):
lot of stuff going on. But the Kagawa, um, that's
like countryside, a lot of mountains, rivas near the ocean.
So I grew up in like a lot of nature.
So you know, because a lot of times kids start
playing basketball in urban environments, in big cities, um where

(08:09):
there's there's a lot of cement and there's a lot
of playgrounds. How did you come to start playing basketball? So,
like my boss Patents used to play basketball in Japan,
So I mean that's why I like I started playing.
But it was in your it was in your blood already. Yeah. Basketball,
Like I started playing at a very young age. I

(08:29):
think that was that when I was six years older,
I think, and I didn't even think about to play
any other schools. I just you know straight too. Basketball
was it? Uh? Was it like? Did you play for
your your school and things like that? Did they have
I don't know the system there. I know here in
the United States, like kids start playing in their schools
or in the rec league. Did you start playing in
leagues when you were young at that age? Uh? Yeah,

(08:52):
I mean UM, not for US school, but the area
that we stayed had little basketball team, had a basketball team,
and my mom was a coach there. Actually, So when
I was even younger, like when I was four or
five years old, I often go to UM go to
see the practice with my mom. And then like when

(09:14):
I became six, I started playing. Your mom coumi, she
she was she was on the national team, correct, right? Right?
And did your dad your dad was a professional as well?
Right now? Let me ask you, so, were you always
taller than a lot of the kids in your age group?

(09:36):
Not really, especially when I was in like elementary school, uh,
junior high school. I was a little bit tare an average,
but you know, I wasn't that high. So like my parents,
my parents were like really told as a Japanese and
but like I wasn't like really like getting told us,

(09:59):
so like they were like the like they all woted
about it. You might have to try another sport. Did
you play any other sports growing up? No? No, only basketball.
Only basketball, because I know baseball and soccer very popular. Um,
because sometimes guys that get taller later, they the guys

(10:23):
that are in the NBA that were really tall forever,
they become those just overpowering get the ball down, low score.
When you're not that big early on or you hit
a late grossberg, sometimes you develop more of those guards skills,
you know that the dribbling and the shooting. Is that
when went on with you when you were younger. Yeah, yeah,
so I was aboudly playing guard because I wasn't that tall.

(10:47):
So yeah, I think that definitely helped. You know, like
I'm a six and nine now, but you know I
see yeah, um did we good little bit against shoot pass?
So uh yeah, that definitely helped. Uh. Siblings do you
have brothers and sisters? Yeah, I have a I have
a older the sister and she is to play the
league in Japan. Two. So this is a family affair.

(11:09):
Everybody's been playing basketball. Uh, we're because of your parents.
Were there are those connections to the US. Is that
how you ended up coming to the United States? Yeah? Um,
so my my dad friend what's a good friend of
uh college queen? Who? Who? Jerry Quinn at St. Thomas

(11:29):
Moore prapt in Connecticut, which is where you came, and
Jerry has been there for four decades. I guess right,
It's a legend. Yeah. So I mean that's how I
got connected to a Saint Demas More Okay, and I
played there for one yeah, and then I got equally
by Josie Washington and played for four years with the
decision to come. So you finished high school in Japan. Um,

(11:53):
were you excited about that? Where you're nervous about that? What?
What was your your first thoughts on comedy United States
to Uh? Yeah, I was. I was really excited. But
one thing I was really wonting about was like English definitely,
because like I couldn't speak any English at that time. Really. Yeah,
so you learned when you came to the United States. Well,

(12:16):
we had in school, we had English classes, so we
we losed some wards, some grandmas, but we never liked
talk in English, so like I didn't really know about
the English. So yeah, that was that was That was
That was a hard Were you with anyone when you came? No,
I was by myself, by yourself? Right, So how old

(12:37):
are you now? You're you're you're I guess yeah, I
think I was an eighteen Wow, just by yourself? Come
to Connecticut? Um, were there any other uh known players
on that team at same time? It's more Yeah, where
he went on to play a college NBA? Yeah, I
played with Pascal Okay, Yeah, he's from my area in

(13:00):
Westchester and and I do know he ended up going
he started Fordham, which I know that's where I went
to school. So I did you think about going to Fordham? Yeah?
I got, I got recordly just left for them too.
So my last suit was either full dom on g
W Tom Pacora. Was he the coach there that time?

(13:22):
Come on? How come you didn't come to the Bronx? Yeah,
I mean, you know, obviously full down, amazing school. You know,
I like the coach, but uh, you know, it was
it was a tough decision though, I hear yeah, I
hear you. And they weren't very good in the in
the in the in the Atlantic and the Atlantic ten.
They're getting better now by the way, as we're taking

(13:42):
this one this year. Yeah, so they're doing well. But
Eric Pascoal ended up transferred to villain Ovan won national championships,
so that was pretty cool. Uh so so he's still uh,
I guess he's a he was a teammate of yours.
Uh What was it attracted you to go to George Washington? Uh? Well,
I like the d C when I visited there, and um,

(14:07):
at that time, they had like four or five international players,
So I feel it's really comfortable, you know, going there
as a as an international guy, um like, so like
they know how to take care international guys stuff like that.
So I feel that really comfortable going there. And then
that in in Washington, d C obviously is very international

(14:31):
and there's a lot of different people. They're represented. I know,
even the cherry blossoms are only there because of the
Japanese who as a gift from your country. So how
long did it did you were your homesick when you
first came away. I guess I wasn't like really trying

(14:52):
not to think about it, because like when I like
I knew, like when I started thinking about it, then
like I knew, I became I'm gonna go homestick because
you know, I definitely miss my parents, miss my friends.
It's definite food stuff like that. So I wasn't. I
was just trying not to think about it, and just
like I tried to live in the moment. Yeah, that's

(15:13):
very good, very good advice for anybody, and that's how
you get through tough times living that moment. And um,
obviously it worked out for you very well. Um your
time at George Washington, and you probably developed, I know
physically you developed even reading some of the things from
your time there. Defense is what stood out. You were
eight Defensive Player of the Year one year. Where did

(15:36):
that develop in your mind? Did you know defense is
going to be your path to the NBA? Yeah, I
mean so like when I was in Japan, like I wasn't.
I wasn't like a very good defender actually because I
mean I guess I was, because like I was just
in high school, like I was just told out on everybody,
So I was lacking shouts and stuff. But when I

(15:58):
came in at the States, I A, I was like, okay,
like I'm not the tallest guy anymore, so I gotta
I gotta do a better job. And I like studying
stuff like that. So I mean definitely I was really
walking hot even you know, in Japan. But then like
I when I came at US, I asked to do
like abahada, How how much did you follow the NBA

(16:21):
game when you were in Japan when you were a
kid growing up? Were you exposed to it a lot,
whether whether it was your team you like, or was
there whether people that you know inspired you to maybe
come to the NBA. Just thinking of like when that
NBA dream kind of started for you, I think that
was when I was uh seven or eight years old? Uh,

(16:42):
like I knew like my dad, I was older, was
watching the basketball game when I was a kid, and
at one time, like you know, I sat down with
him and I asked him, like that, what are you watching?
And he said, oh, this is the NBA, the best
league in the ward. And I think that was I
forgot that that was a Lakers game. I guess somebody

(17:03):
who who was that? But then like I was Kobe
Bryant and I was like wow, like I want to
be like this guy. I want to be player like him.
So that that's the first time and you know I
started dreaming a wow, So like seven eight years old, Yeah,
you start thinking about that. And I guess because your family,
your your parents had played, it was something that you know,

(17:24):
basketball is a big part of it. And uh, it
was probably hard to follow the NBA, right because those
games were on late, very late at night, right, Yeah,
so obviously that we couldn't have watch it live. Yeah,
but you would be able to see it the next
day or something. Okay, So Kobe was Kobe a big
was playing at that time? Yep, yep, big influence were

(17:45):
shocking that team in or was he? Yeah? He was,
he was. He was to stay on the team. So
would you go to emulate you know, go out to
the to the gym and try and do the things
that Kobe would do where you Yeah, I did a
lot of uh like fade that ways and stuff. I tried,
but you know, he didn't walk out for me, but
I didn't. Did you ever have a chance to meet

(18:05):
him before he passed? Nah? So you're at George, You're
at George Washington, and you go through you're the first
Japanese born player to earn a Division one scholarship, even
before Ruey. Actually, Maura, did you did you know Ruey? Yeah? Japan.
I met him when he was still in the high school.

(18:25):
I was sokomore in college, I think, m hm, So yeah,
I know I know him since you know, he was kids,
he was like high school. Did he see guidance from
you coming you know he's younger, did he did he
often reach out to you? And did you have a
relationship when he came to the United States? Yeah? I mean, um,

(18:46):
so like when I met him first time, he told
me he already decided to go to a college in
the US, So yeah, I gave him some other vices,
um and something like, you know, like he should while
he's in Japan and stuff like that. And he chose
to go to Gonzaga, which is all the way out
in the Pacific Northwest, but obviously closer to home for him.

(19:10):
I'm sure that made it a little easier for him. Um,
your your breakout game this year, I thought, I mean,
you played well, but that game in Washington and Uy
played in that game. H had you had you gone
against him in your previous stops in Memphis and Toronto.
Had you had you gotten a chance to to both

(19:31):
be playing and going against one another. Yeah, yeah, that
wasn't the first time we actually played against each other,
but I would say that was the first time. Um,
you know, I was an obsolute rotation guy. I mean
he's been he's been playing a lot of minutes. So
it was it was always me. Uh like when I

(19:55):
was a name fhis like, I played for like full
or five minutes. But I guess that was because you know.
But in but in that game in Washington earlier this season,
there were there were many times you guys were matched
up with one another and like you said, uh, you're
you're in the rotation. He was in the rotation, I

(20:16):
know the last time they played here and why and
when they came to Brooklyn, he was hurt and he
didn't play. Um but that must have been cool though,
to be going against him and knowing that you're playing
a role and the Nets were winning that game. Pretty Yeah, yeah,
that was that was really fun. I didn't enjoy it. Um,
I did enjoyed that game. Uh you're you're your time

(20:39):
now in Brooklyn. You mentioned that you were just hoping
to make the team, and now suddenly you're you're involved there.
I know there was that that two games stretch. There
was the game in Washington and then the very next
night against Charlotte. Uh, it was right after the coaching change. Uh,
you guys are starting to kind of you know, Kyrie
was out, so you guys were trying to you know,

(21:01):
it was Kevin Durant, and Kevin was very energized. And
I remember that game against Charlotte. You're playing with the
closing lineup. You're there. At the end of the game,
Kevin hit you with a couple of passes in the corner.
Your your corner three, which is I think you're like
sixteen twenty one this year from the corner, which is amazing,
Which is unbelievable. Uh. And after the game, Jacques Baughn said, Utah,

(21:23):
have you met Kevin? You know, like you guys He
implying that you guys didn't even really know each other.
I guess though, and I thought that was odd. But
at the same time, I guess you probably hadn't had
a lot of time to interact right at that point.
I mean, you knew each other, but yeah, you didn't
spend a lot of time together. Yeah, like I thought,

(21:44):
I thought he meant like he meant obviously, like have
that met Cave before this season? Yeah, and obviously like
I have played against him, but like we never heready
sat down you know it talk and like talking to
each other. So like you know, I said, know, but yeah, uh,

(22:06):
if he didn't good that, Um, you can't trust me
on the court, so it's good. Yeah, you have to
earn that trust with him. Um, what are some things
that he's he's he seems to be very vocal with you.
What are some of the things that he has shared
with you to try and help you. Well, he just
keeps hiding me to shoot with the confident and like

(22:27):
someone someone like he d tell me to shoot. Damn,
I gotta shoot. So I mean he's he's just giving
me some great other vices. And he's such a great pastor.
People don't think about that with him, but he always
seems to make the right basketball Yeah, and you're to
be in the right spot. Yeah, I mean that's what

(22:47):
he's Uh, one of the best players in the history.
So when you take the floor and when you first
jumped into rotation here and you weren't a rotation player
when they gave you an opportunity to play. Um, what
are the things in your mind where you is that
I have to make a three? Or putting pressure on yourself? There?
Is it? Just defend? What are kind of the things
that are going through your mind when you're first getting

(23:09):
on the floor and thinking, all right, I want to
stay here? Uh I guess uh I gotta I gotta
start with the defense, you know, Um, because I don't
play defense over to see, I don't get a minute.
So uh start with the defense, play with play with energy.
Uh just work hard, be smart and in a suitting

(23:30):
sometimes like it's not gonna fall every time. So but um,
like Katie or tell me just too with the confidence
when I'm when I'm open. So that's that's a few
things that I was in mind in my mind. How
about adjusting to the way the nets play defensively and
that the scheme? Was that an adjustion for you? Did
you take to that right away? What do you feel

(23:52):
is that? Is it makes it a your your strengths
seem to play into that scheme. Yeah, I think, uh
you know one of my studay this is uh two
that I can go out multiple positions and um, you
know we've been we've been switching. We've been using switching
a lot, lady. So I guess that's definitely, um, um,

(24:13):
help me because like I can't, I can't play well,
like I can, I can't play for sometimes I was playing,
I've been playing five So um yeah, so that that
that defensive scheme helping me right now? Right now? Your
your time in Brooklyn off the court, have you had
much time to explore? Have you spent a lot of

(24:34):
time in New York City and in in Brooklyn? Not
a lot? But I mean, you know, I don't besides
coming to uh practice facility arena, I don't already go outside,
you know. I'm I'm a guy who just yeah like

(24:55):
to say yeah yeah now, I just like it to
in my room. So yeah yeah now, uh you you
got married though back in May. Akiko Yea, who I
met at the Barkley Center tenth anniversary event. Um, she

(25:16):
was a television presenter in Japan. Is she still looking
to do that stuff? No? Not not not even retiring? Okay?
Uh did know she? When did she come to United State?
Where did you meet her? Well? I met her when
she was still doing doing her job, and she interviewed

(25:38):
to me like buck being like this was a nineteen
or something. Okay, so she was here, she was living
in the United States. Now, yes, yeah, she's in US now.
Oh at the time, was she? That was? I was
you know, I went back to Japan in the summertime
and she was in Japan and she she she's never

(26:00):
tim the US um toe like dismay or something. So wow, yeah, wow,
So that's it. So she now obviously when you're on
the road you're playing, I mean she's home. Does she
have support, does she have people in that she knows
here in Brooklyn and New York City? Well, see, she
knows a few people. But she just always you know,

(26:25):
going like my Hutton or like just explore, explore more
so than you like to get home. She likes to
get out. Yes, that's good. Yeah, she loved during the
time in the Brooklyn That's right. It always takes balance, right,
everybody in a husband and wife, you have to it's
gotta be a little balance. Yeah. Do you get home

(26:47):
a lot during the off season? Are you able to
go home to Japan? Yeah? I go home for like
maybe like a couple of weeks. How has it changed
now when you go back for you and the way
people see you and approach. Yeah, so I can't. I
can't um go outside, you know because a lot of

(27:11):
people recognize me. But you know, it's it's good. It's
great though. Um. You know whenout working, when I walk
in the street, people always come to say hi, like
asking a picture of autograph stuff like that, So I, um,
you know, I appreciate support. And meanwhile, in the United
States and New York, you could probably walk around and
people you're anonymous. I mean people really don't know, right,

(27:32):
I mean you may get recognized now a little bit
in Brooklyn. Um, but it was it was it Uh,
it was it shocking for you when you went back
to see how did it? Did it give you a
sense of how important you're playing in the NBA? Maybe
it was to two people in Japan? Yeah, yeah, definitely. Um.

(27:54):
You know, also like just because I'm like super told
at Japanese, you stand out a little bit. Yeah, Like
people in Japan like people look at me like like
what is it like, like people who don't know me,
like even like like what you doing? So does that

(28:18):
make it easier for you to be in the United
States where you kind of don't stand out as much. Yeah, yeah,
there's other tall people right, and people people don't well,
you realize people, especially in New York, they're they're not
really that celebrities or anybody there. People in New York
are kind of like whatever, they don't care about me.

(28:41):
So it's good, Well they care, but they don't show it.
Um do you get how do you get a sense though?
Is it important for in Japan? Like you're one of
only three guys that have ever played in the NBA
from the country. Um, it must be a very gratified
and feeling for you and and a sense of pride

(29:03):
for you. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I'm earlier proud of what
I've been doing right now. Um really because you know,
when I was growing up, like I said, there was
only one um Japanese played in the league. So it
was almost like people think like it's impossible for Japanese

(29:24):
to make it the league. But now I think a
lot of the kids in Japan, what's your men really
playing the league? So I just want I just want
them too, you know, I feel like it's it's possible
to make it the league. I know you went to
visit a high school in Brooklyn for Japanese students and
you played some basketball with them. You walked in and

(29:46):
I remember you said something like you didn't know if
they were gonna even know who you were. Yeah, they
went crazy when they saw you. So that muster when
you saw that, that must have really kind of put
it in perspective for you a little bit. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
and you know, um yeah, they were like really crazy,
uh like when they when they see me. Yeah. So
that was that was and that was I had. I

(30:08):
had an amazing time. You know, I just playing basketball.
You were taking some of those kids to the whole.
I saw you weren't being shy, you weren't being shocked.
You know you talked about a Japanese people being shy
and kind of reserved. Um, you're you. You show your
emotion on the court. You know, you're pumping your fists,

(30:28):
you're you're you're flexing a little bit, you do the
the three to the dome like Carmelo a little bit. Um.
Is that were you always like that? Is that something
that playing in the United States maybe brought that out
of you? Are you an emotional type person? Um? I yes,
I was, even like when I was in Japember. But definitely, uh,

(30:49):
you know, I'm doing definitely more. Uh. When I was
in Japan, though used to get did your teammates used
to try and in college they used to tell you
you needed to to do a little more. Yeah. Yeah.
One of my teammates when I was a christman, um,
one of my teammates told me that, like you makes

(31:11):
up like you gotta you gotta feel more like voice
like because you know, I'm I'm a quiet guy, you know,
especially off court. Um, I don't need any like like
like I think I'm a shay guy. But um, but
on the court, like you know, uh, I can't be shy.
So and but it's got to be natural. I mean

(31:33):
you're not. I I see you get excited after you
make a three. That's something that's in you and it's
good to have that outlet. Right. I always feel like
I'm I'm the same way. I'm very Uh, I'm very
soft spoken when I'm around people sometimes and everything, but
when I'm on doing a game, I'm excited and I'm
yelling and I'm you know, from three, it's god, you
know what I'm going craze. It's like that's my chance

(31:55):
to kind of let it out. You feel like that
on the court is your chance to kind uh let
that emotion out for you a little bit. Yeah. Yeah,
And I mean I don't even think about it, you know,
yeah exactly, you know, let them let my body or
let my emotion go. So uh yeah, it's it's it's
been good. And I saw you, uh, coming out of

(32:15):
the building one day, you know, you you didn't even
have a car. You wrote up in the elevator for
the cars with your wife and just and you just
walked out and there are all these kids that were
standing around and they had they had Wattonabe jerseys that
they wanted you to sign, and you stopped and you
signed for them. Um, that must have been a nice
moment for you. Yeah to see that. Yeah, I mean

(32:39):
I always really appreciate, you know, funs showing to support.
So you know, every time I see, uh, I see
my jersey, you know, I gotta sign them. And if
they're waiting outside for with those jerseys, man, yeah right,
you're gonna You're gonna do it. And it's uh and
it's great that that that they're so welcoming to you

(33:00):
and uh and we hope it goes on now. I
I just had one thing I want to end this with. UM.
I like to end all all the people on the
show here uh to get a little insight into them personally.
I refer to this speech that was made many years
ago by a college coach named Jim Balvano. I don't

(33:21):
know if you know. Jim Balvano was a coach at
NC State and they won a championship, famous buzzer beater
shot and he ran around the court like crazy looking
for somebody to hug. And um. He ended up getting
cancer and he and he he was at the SPS
and they now have the Jimmy v Fund, which raises
money for cancer research. But he gave this very famous

(33:42):
speech at the SPS about never give up. You may
have seen it at some point, um, and he said,
to live a full life, everyone should do three things
every day. One is laugh, one is is cry, whether
happy or sad, moved emotion emotionally. And the others think,

(34:05):
spend some time in deep thought. He said, if you
could do those three things, you can you can live
a great life every day. So I I like to
ask my subjects, so utah watana baby, what what or who?
Or something. What makes you laugh? What's the kind of
thing that makes you laugh? Uh, comedy, I think you

(34:27):
have a favorite you have a favorite comedy movie? Um,
well movie, I don't know, but I mean I I
or what's uh Japanese comedy shows. So it's uh, some
of those Japanese I've seen some of the Japanese talk
shows that are like the the primetime talk shows. They're crazy, right,

(34:52):
A lot of lot of stuff going on, and I
or is stuff? Yeah, I love it? Yeah, I like that,
like the Jimmy Kimmel of of Japan. Like they just
do outrage. There's like seventy people on stage, there's a
million things going on. They get very I've seen American
actors go on there and they're asking all kinds of

(35:12):
crazy questions. Right, it's it's wild. Um. The other part emotionally,
I don't know. If you're a crier, I don't know.
I know I could watch a commercial on TV and
I can get a little worked up. Um, is there
something that moves you to tears where they're happy or
sad or maybe recently that you've seen, um cry, Maybe

(35:40):
you're not a crier. It's okay, yeah, Um, let me
think when you went back home, when you see your
parents things like that. Did that did that make your emotional?
Or when you leave because I know you end up
leaving for a long time. Yeah, I mean I don't
I don't cry, but definitely, well not as much. Yeah,

(36:05):
it's just like when I when I leave, my dad
really is showing his emotion. But like my mom is
always I know, like she's already uh but the smile
on her face, but I can tell inside like she's
gonna she's gonna miss me and stuff like that. So yeah,
like when that, when that? When I leave? Yeah? Had

(36:25):
they did? They come to the United States and she
played not recently though because of the UM COVID, but
they say as they already a booked the flight uh
for the UM February, So awesome. Yeah, I'm gonna see
them in like three months, two months, that's great. Uh.
The think part of this, you know, there's that video

(36:47):
board outside the arena, the oculus, they call it the
circular video board, and everyone is coming through the subway,
coming up or coming into the arena. Thousands of people
get to see what's on that board. If you could
put a mess hige there for people to make them
something they want to think about, something you'd like to
express to as many people as you possibly could. You

(37:09):
tawat to not be what do you think that might be? Okay?
So can you so? Like, Uh, it's something that you
would like people to think about. Maybe it's a phrase,
maybe something that stayed with you in your journey to
the n b A that you would want other people
to know and to think about. Um, what was something

(37:30):
you would you would put up on that message board? Um, yes,
I'm gonna I'm gonna just like ask them like are
you happy? Because you know, I mean, I mean it's
like a lot of toughsitions. I mean, so like a
lot of a lot of stuff. But you know, I'm
always a happy guy and just be happy makes me happy.

(37:55):
So yeah, and if you're not, why not make those changes?
Life's too short, right, you're happy, you're you're not happy?
Find happiness. We've got a lot of people have answered
this question, and I don't think anything is just more
poignant or better than that. Utah, I really appreciate you
doing this. Best of luck to you getting back out

(38:17):
on the floor, and uh, I'm happy you did this,
and I thank you so much. Thank you the rest
of the way. Thank you. I really enjoyed that. Thanks
so much to Utah Watanabe. And uh, now we'll pivot
to a man who's around the nets all the time
because Utah is is in Brooklyn and he's covering him

(38:41):
for NBA dot Com Japan and Yahoo Japan. Dice case Yagura,
who has been around the NBA for decades now. Another
guy who left Japan as a young man just out
of college to come pursue his dreams in the United States.
Here's the conversation with dice gag here on the Voice
of the Nets. Pronounce your name the way you say it,

(39:05):
Icek ice K. Yeah, you're like one name, like Pelee,
or you just go through two names. Oh, Dice is
my fossil name, and that I don't have a middle name,
so you just go by dice Gate ice G. Yeah.
The most of the big celebrities go by one name.
You know that, right, Well I'm not. Yeah, you guys

(39:29):
are rolling right on this to make sure. Yeah, we
might we might start that way, Okay, ice G. Have've
seen you around for so many years. UM, normally if
we have a Japanese player, we'll see you a lot more. Um,
let's I want to start where we are right now,
and then we're gonna work backwards to your The Nets

(39:53):
obviously have Utah Wattona Bank been a sensation so far
the early part of the season. Is he's been around
the league for this is his fifth season right now,
it's always kind of been a tryout though for him. Um,
the way he's performed in this early part of the
season for the Nets, is this part of the growth

(40:16):
that you've seen. Did you expect this was a surprise?
How do you see this early part of the season. Well, Uh, yeah,
I know him for a long long time, you know,
like all his courage days, and I know I knew
that he's capable of a book brain, like you know,
he's a legit prayer. I know that last even last
year in Toronto, he actually preys so well. He had

(40:37):
a you know, some very important unfortunately injuries, but besides that,
he mostly played it well and that I thought the
fit is very good in broken Nets. You know, like
you guys have three superstars, but you know you need
a defender and that you need a good shooter. And
I saw to Utah is exactly like that. That being said,

(41:01):
he's he's shooting like that. You know his three point
percentage right now, he's like fifty seven percent. Okay, yeah,
you say he exceeded my expectation too. You know when
he was a great defensive player at in college at
at George Washington was Atlantic ten Defensive Player of the Year.

(41:24):
I would imagine that that was the way he knew
he was going to make it in the n b A.
Like if he can defend and shoot the three, he
might find a place. Why yeah, in world of who
YouTube play in the n b A, you have to
do something outstanding, and uh, you know, defense was his
coding card at first. Yeah, I saw him was a

(41:45):
first time in eight years ago. He was just so
skinny and he was very tall, and he was he
could do out those things. He could do a little
bit of everything, but he was so skinny and physically
he wasn't strong. But that every yeah, you know, he
got better, He got the stronger and between I think
uh Shuma and the junior, his defense got so much

(42:08):
better and he became one of the best defender in
the Atlantic tenk components And as you said, that the
human outut at that time. I started to think this
guy might be making the n B a some day,
and here he is and he's excelled. Um the popularity
of the NBA in Japan, how would you compare it

(42:32):
to something here for American fans, Well, the NAB is
one of the four major sports here like um M,
r B, n B, NFL, and NHL. In Japan, well,
I don't say it's quite the same. You know, baseball
obviously is baseball, and the soccer it's obviously is the

(42:53):
top spots, and basketball is a little bit o. You know,
the NBA those specifically, So there's a there's a Japanese
professional league. Is it is that more popular than the
NBA or is the NBA more popular? Well, it's very
hard to say, uh yeah, because I compare it to

(43:14):
I would think it's almost like, um, you know, soccer
is very popular in the United States and but maybe
perhaps the MLS is not as popular with some as
as the premier league. So it's a big deal when
a Christian policy just playing with you know, Chelsea, which
is one of the premier organizations in the world, in

(43:36):
the premier league of the world, and I was just
curious if you know, Utah Watanabe playing in the n
B A is that is that viewed similarly to like
a soccer player in the United States playing over in
England or is it even a higher level? Do you think? Yeah?
I think it's a similar kind of similar to the
you know, obviously I said Major Baseball Prayer US, you know,

(44:00):
coming from Japan and the praying here. Wow. But the
difference is we have only so only three Japanese NBA prayers,
you know, one that Uta Taboo and the Uta then
Luisaura you know, on these slee prayers and that because
you know, it's great, you know we have like three

(44:22):
NBA prayers, but because we have only three many sports
fans in Japan and not the early family with the
NBA just yet. That's my opening. But I would imagine
you being here. That's one of the things you're that
you try and do, and you're the companies that you
write for, you know, your freelance writer. You you're you
You're trying to grow, you know, by covering Utah and

(44:44):
the Japanese players, grow the popularity of the NBA over
Japan exactly. And you probably only see me, you know,
so far doing this for like fifteen years. Usually I'm
the only one here, you know, they too, and other
people two other people in a way, you know, but

(45:04):
this year, in the last few years, because we have
a Japanese play, yes, you probably see you know, a
few more Japanese media. Yeah, you know, so we are
trying very hard to you know about you. How did
how did you um come to uh, the United States?
I know you were you came over just after college?
What were the what was the seed of why you

(45:27):
wanted to come here? Well, yes, I graduated in university
in Japan, it was and I always wanted to become
a sports writer, like a sporty jannitist. And my goal was,
like you know, not just regular sports writer. I wanted
to become international supports right, Okay, somebody you wanted to

(45:48):
get out of Japan and yeah, but I was very young.
It's kind of city to think, exactly because I haven't
really accomplished an I just graduated, but I already wanted
to become a like international sports writer. To me, like
you know, like it's been wire? Was it because you
were more interested in the sports outside of the Japanese

(46:09):
professional leagues? Right? Exactly? I really like the MB right
now I come as three sports Mr B, m BA,
and boxing, you know, and uh yeah, I always liked
American you know, American baseball, basketball and you know boxing.
So you were you different from your friends and the
kids that you grew up with in in liking those

(46:31):
sports American sports probably you know. Yeah, you know when
I was uh, when I was a younger, we didn't
have any you know Major DA Japanese Major DA. No,
he didn't. No more is a pioneer, I think, and
after that Major League became became more familiar for us.
But when I was younger, when I was like you

(46:53):
know kids, yeah, you know, like yeah, playing in the
United States and you know, how about them? As I
supposed writer? No, had you ever been to this country
before you came after college? Uh? Oh, I mean, I
mean had you visited? Behold that? Yeah? Six, I came here,

(47:13):
you know, just stay here for ten days and you
know for some reason, I fair talk, Okay, this is
a price I should come here. So you knew, yeah,
I knew that. What was it about the NBA when
you were when you were younger? Was there something in
the NBA that you follow that that you know, ignited

(47:35):
your passion uh yeah, this song side is kind of
bowling but floating. Michael Jordan, that's Cago Booze. Yeah, Jordan
and the Buds was yes, very popular in Japan, you
know at that time, and we actually became a popular apple,
like you know for five years. I think mostly because

(47:55):
with Michael Jordan. What about the Dream Team in ninety two?
Did that have a bigger act in Japan? And because
I know it inspired its inspired generations of European athletes.
I mean even uh you know a lot of Eastern
European athletes. I mean when those players and that team
played in Barcelona, it just you can see all that.
You could see it now, you know, you see that

(48:16):
the players in the league now we're guys that were
little kids that were inspired by that team. Yes, it's
more ful I think eutropian people. But yeah, in Japan also,
I'm sure that some people, some some kids probably lunchtime,
you know, all the big games. I wouldn't be its huge,
you know, people are crazy about out big games. Yeah,

(48:36):
some of them probably watched that team, you know Michael
Jordan much Johnson really but oh my god, that's a
good team. Yeah. No, and you and you so you.
You came here, and I would imagine it was a
courageous decision on your part to move away from your
family and your friends all the way across the world. Um,

(48:57):
did it feel courageous to that time? Did it feel
like of thing you just had to do? Like you
said you were? You were, you had dreams. Did you
think you would still you would have been here this
long or did you think it was going to be
for a short period of time when you came? Oh? Yeah,
I was very young and I didn't know much about anything,
and I don't know why I felt this is a praise.

(49:20):
I'm supposed to be. I was supposed to be. So
I was in New York. You came to yah. Yeah,
you know, since like eighteen one nineteen, I always say, Okay,
I'm gonna move to New York and they're gonna become
a you know, professional international You didn't you did it
that dream? Yeah? But sometimes from Japan people asked me that,

(49:43):
how how do you become? How do you how can
I become? Supposed? Right? So I tell them that I
don't recommend what I did for everybody, and I was
I was probably did you do you know a lot
of others who maybe have tried, well, probably a few people,
but it's not really realistic. You know, it's what is

(50:05):
the key for you to to to get to New York,
to adjust and to get to where you are right now?
I would imagine culturally obviously it's a huge difference. Um
what did what did it take for you to do it? Yeah? Uh,
Usually people focus on language. You know, speaking English is

(50:27):
very important, and that's true. Where did you learn? Where
did you have when? How old were you when you
started speaking English? Uh? We we actually study English in
high school and university, so I did, and the junior
high school too, but I wasn't you know. Yeah, it's
it's not easy to you know, study So the language

(50:47):
is one thing. What else? What do you think? Uh? Like, yeah,
I think you have to be out of going, you
have to be friendly and you know, yeah, like communication
skill it's very important. It's I think communication skills maybe
more import as a language. You know, if you have
a communication skill, if you know English is a little

(51:09):
you know, you don't speak English better, you can still
communicate if you have a communication skill. That's my theory. Actually, culturally,
what was the biggest adjustment when you came when you're
you're from a big city in Tokyo. So what was
the big adjustment? You know? How how how I guess
I could say how similar to New York to say, okay,
and how different is it? I think it's very similar,
the big all the big cities to me, you know,

(51:31):
Tokyo and you know, Nike is very similar. Again, the
language different and the food is probably a little different.
You know, we have a bunch of good food, nice
food in Japan and that, you know, I need some
adjustment for that. But besides that, I've been I've been
comfortable in New York. And you know I got married

(51:51):
five years or six years and then my wife actually
adjusted a very quickly. You know. So which she from Japan?
You met her here? Oh we met met in Japan? Yeah, okay.
Well that helps too that you similarly going you have
somebody to share that experience with. And you mentioned that
you want to be an international sports writer, which you're

(52:14):
covering Japanese players. But um, do you feel that there's
more for you to do? Do you? What's your what
are your sort of your career goals beyond what you're
doing right now? Why? I don't know my career goal.
That's actually a good question actually being international sportswriter, this

(52:37):
is already dream came through. My next thing you got.
There's a there's a movie in the United States called
Broadcast News. I don't know if you have known that
movie William Hurt. There's a great line when uh, he
says to him, he says to the one guy, what
do you do when your reality exceeds your dreams? And

(52:57):
the other guy says to him, you keep it to
yours helf. In other words, Uh, that doesn't happen to
a lot of people. That's a very exciting thing that
you feel like you've accomplished what you want to accomplish. Yeah,
right now I'm doing what the ideally wanted. And uh,
you know, right now I'm invited to your podcast. You

(53:17):
made it. Now you've made it. So I'm like that
like a fast Japanese guest. You are okay, yea, even
we're doing this before we even speak to Utah. Okay,
so you are you are the first Okay, yeah, because

(53:38):
I think it's an American thing sometimes where you, uh,
you're never satisfied with your position in life. Is that
similar in Japan? Or is that different. Yeah, I think
it's similar. That's a decent actually, that that bunch of
basity to come from Japang. You know, like for example,
like a show Halo tany he was already superslide in

(53:59):
Japang and that he wasn't satisfied, so he came here
and they want them bab And also I think it's
the same thing. You know, they look for accidents. You know,
she always wants to get better. Yeah, I mean, you
make too high level, but you always want more. And
I always think about that, even as as high as
you get, you always wanted more. And other sports interest

(54:21):
you I love. I know you cover boxing, Yeah, that's that.
That is a a pretty international field boxing, right, there
isn't just kind of one league in one country that
stands out. It's really an international sport. Yes, and the
boxing is actually my favorite sports to cover because you know,

(54:42):
it's very nice to It's very fun to talk to boxers.
They sometimes say crazy things, you know, they want to
talk to us. You know they usually fight only twice
in a year and that they want to talk to us,
and the interview is usually very fun and the like, Yeah,
I know, I've always enjoyed talking to guys like Danny Jacobs,

(55:03):
who is from Brooklyn. Right, great guy, great story. Um
so yeah, they are prone to say some crazy things.
Part of it is how they promote their fights though. Yeah,
they've got to They've got to really uh say some
outrageous things to get you to to want to buy
that fight. Um what about the whole ocean? Uh Otani? Um?

(55:27):
You mentioned him before? Japanese baseball is very popular. That
the league, the Japanese League, correct, and a lot of
American players over the years go over to play in Japan.
Is baseball the most popular sport? I say so on
the Scape right now as we tape this. The World
Cup is Japan was very good coming off stuffy. Yeah, goodness,

(55:51):
they're they're they are they are making making a splash
now here on the World Cup. Um is I need
the most famous or most popular athlete in Japan right now?
Why not? I ought to say so show Hall, Tony
and uh and the guy named hone you he's a

(56:13):
skating superstar. He was also very popular, but I think
he retired from the competition. So as of right now,
I think show Hal is the biggest guy. You know,
we saw Utah Watson not be go play at a
high school recently in New York, a Japanese high school,
and he was he was self deprecating and joking that
he hoped that they would have recognized him when he

(56:33):
walked in and who he was. So is Utah popular
in a way that if he walked into downtown Tokyo
right now, would he get recognized by a lot of people?
Oh yeah, because he's so tall at all, it's easy.
It's obvious to see that he's a basketball bya well, yeah,
but which one thing to be identified as you must

(56:54):
be You must be a basketball player as opposed to
there's Utah Watsonabe. Yes, one of the big crazines. He
played for the national team last year for the Tokyo
Olympics and as I said, the Olympics game. Japanese people
are crazy about the Olympics game. And you know, he
was one of the best player of the national team.

(57:16):
So people recognize him, you know, and uh yeah, obviously
an that easy is he's been in the NBA top
league in the WARLD. He's been here for five years
and there are two people recognize him. Is Ruey Hatching
more going to play and with Utah and on the
national team. That's a good base like the actional team,

(57:36):
two good players. Unfortunately, when the Wizards weren't town recently,
we didn't get to see that matchup because Ruey was
was injured, but we did see it the first game
this year, like and Utah played really well in that
game too. I'm sure, what do you think there was
a little extra when he was going up against Ruey?
Uh yeah, he would say no, but he usually plays

(57:58):
extremely hard every single game, seeing the positions, but yeah,
probably you know something to do it. Modesty is is
a trait of Japanese people, right, so I would imagine,
uh yeah, he's not gonna do so much trash talking,
right I think boxes. I don't think so. But he
does show emotion. Huh yeah, he's a better a Mona

(58:19):
on the cult. You know. I know in college that
used to make fun of his. His teammates made fun
a little bit because they thought it was a little
too simple his celebration, which just he would punch the air.
They would try and make him do a little more,
and we saw some two arm flexing from him when
he's making threes here. Uh you know, I want a
couple of things about just to finish up here with
you in your career? Um, do you see more Japanese players?

(58:45):
Is Utah inspiring another generation? Do you see some more
people down the pipeline? And do you think we'll see
uh an increase in NBA players from Japan in the
coming years? Do if anythoding? I actually think those two guys,
Louis and the Utah they might be exception that I

(59:07):
might think like that. That being said, you know, our
top kids, younger generation wants to become like them, and
in future I think, yeah, it's possible that you know,
we have we're gonna have a more job in his prayer,
it's entirely possible. Stipid. Are there any guys like that
are college players now or maybe on the national team

(59:29):
that you see in the next couple of years. Yeah,
there are a few guys. One guy named the Case
Domina he played for Nebraska, you know, and the Fred
Hoibag and that he's a he's a very good shooter.
Utah told me that the Case might be one of
the best shooter. He was saying, and you know, but yeah,
I think he has a shot. And there are few guys, Yes,

(59:49):
all right, And now, from a personal standpoint, what's your
favorite thing about being in the United States. Wow, that's
a good question. You know, I love this job, and
uh you know I cover I cover the Yankees, I
cover the Mets and the Brooklyn Nets and Neo Connects
and uh you know I also attend that some in

(01:00:10):
a big boxing fight. Wow, you know. Being able to
watch the sports, major sports regularly, that's actually that's my favorite.
Think in New York City? What do you miss most
about home? Ah? My family. I've been here for almost
like twenty twenty two years, and actually I feel this

(01:00:34):
is my fault. I was just about to say that
when I say what do you miss about home? You
kind of probably probably consider this home? Like would you
miss more about Japan? And maybe from a cultural standpoint, Uh, food,
Japanese food amazing. I've never been. Uh yeah, you have
missing out bunch of nice food. You know, what, is

(01:00:57):
there some place in New York that you would recommend
if someone wants food that is authentic, authentic? It reminds
you of of Japan. It's not easy to find the
authentic Japanese food. My wife is very cut cook on
that she usually very authentic Japanese food, and that's my

(01:01:20):
favorite one. What is considered authentic Japanese food? Wow, you
know that when you think about yeah, you you probably
think California ladies there sp I never seeing when I
was in Japan. I've never seen California at gets there. Yeah,

(01:01:42):
I got yeah, I got you. Yeah. So it's like
you don't really get chicken farmer gan in Italy either, Okay,
I don't know that. Well, you know the same way
it is here, it's a little different. So it's not
a bit easy to find authentic Japanese food in New
York City. All Right, I end all with all of
my subjects on the podcast, and I wouldn't want to

(01:02:03):
deny you this opportunity. Test Um, I bring up the
old Remember Jim Balvano, the coach of North Carolina State,
when he had that speech at the SPS that year.
We talked about never It's always been really important to
me in my life, and he said in that speech
that there are three things that someone needs to do
every day to live a full life. He said they

(01:02:25):
need to laugh, to cry, moved to tears, moved your
emotions to tears, and uh think spending times and thoughts.
So what makes you laugh? What or who makes you laugh?
I have a five yard old daughter. You know, she
makes me smile at every single to day. You know

(01:02:46):
that my favorite time over the day is picking up
my daughter from the school. She's still five, so she
she still talks to me, you know, she me and
every time she sees me, she smiles when I she's
a happist guard in the lord. That's a that's a moment.
That's my favorite by the time over the day. That

(01:03:07):
is that is great? What about what makes it? Could
be the same answer, But what makes you cry? Do
you cry? I can cry it at a good commercial.
I don't mean, you know, it doesn't mean I'm wailing
where I need a tissue, but you know, maybe it
just monsters me a little bit that I feel something
anything to do that for you. I don't cry very often.

(01:03:27):
I don't remember the last time I cried. That's well
that's telling as well. Yeah, it's better difficult to remember.
I don't. I don't want to movie a bit if
animal and uh you know, ah, I'm sorry, I can
remember what us time I cry? A right, maybe that's
a good thing um outside the arena to think part

(01:03:48):
of it. Outside the arena, we have the oculus, you know,
the digital board that's around everybody can see it when
they enter, when they come out of the subway. If
you had a message you could put up there, or
image or something that you wanted people to think about,
what would it be, well, uh, I'm to say so,
in other words, to think part of this is if

(01:04:09):
you could put any kind of message on that digital
sign outside Barkley Center, so that when everyone enters the
arena or they're coming off the subway and they're gonna
see it, whether it be uh, a phrase or an
image or just some idea that you'd like people to
think about. What do you think that would be? Uh?
Do what you want? You know, because that I was

(01:04:32):
very short, you know, yeah, I yell yell long, So
you have to do what you do want it that
kind of thing. Nice Kate, outstanding performance on your on
your debut on the Voice of the Nets podcast. We
really appreciate your joining us, and it's one of the
great things about having Utah here is that we get

(01:04:53):
to see you here every day. So thank you for
coming on. Thank you very much. This is Alana, Thank you.
I really enjoyed speaking with both Utah and dice K.
I hope you enjoyed again. Thank you for for listening
and subscribing. I will leave you with something to watch

(01:05:15):
and listen to that relate to our show here today.
You know I like to do that at the end.
Um first to watch. I was turned onto this a
few years ago by a friend of mine. It's a
show called Geary Haji. It is Geary slash Hajji and
it is Japanese for duty shame. It's a detective show

(01:05:40):
about a detective who um from Japan whose brother gets
wrapped up in the Yakusa, which is the like Japanese
mafia in London, and he goes to London to try
and find him. And it takes place both in London
and Japan. And its a terrific show. If you go.

(01:06:01):
Rotten Tomatoes gave it. It's on Netflix. Gary Haji gets
a little artsy, but I loved it, loved it. It's
just it's a fantastic show. One season, eight episodes. I
wouldn't steer your own and uh and you heard Utah
and asked him about what do you would love to

(01:06:21):
put on the the oculus right frick everybody think and
he said, are you happy? What a great message from
Mutah watson Abe who always has a smile on his face,
always so thinking about how many songs about happiness? There's
so many obvious ones. I'll go a little indie rock
one for you. Go do yourself a favorite. Check out

(01:06:42):
a band called Ballpark Music and a song called It's
Nice to be Alive. Don't stress, that's dumb. I'm here
and it's nice to be alive. Thanks for producer Tom Dowd,
engineer Isaac Lee. I'm Chris Scarino. Talk to you next
time on the Voice of the Nets.