No, it's really not what it sounds like. It is another example of amusing example of English in Japan, but this time with a high-profile and the potential to make the BJ-League the laughing stock of English speaking basketball leagues the world over, even before it gets a crack at establishing itself.
The BJ-League is Japan's new professional basketball league. The announcement of the league comes after Tabuse's debut in the NBA, so Yuta-san has a pretty good fallback plan if he ever stops playing in the States.
The use of strange mutant English used in Japanese media and goods has been widely documented. For things such as Asse chocolate and cream-filled Collon cookies, it is amusing and part of the joy of living in Japan is spotting mistake-riddled English loaded with unintentional political incorrectness, double entendres, and faux paxs. After having taught English for 2 years, I can tell you that English education is in rough shape in Japan, due to the common fear of speaking and practicing conversation. Interestingly, Japanese students are relatively pretty good at reading and writing English. Let's analyze the name BJ-League, keeping this in mind.
I am speculating that they chopped off the "assketball" from the "B" and grafted it on to "J-League", AKA the professional Japanese soccer league. Sounds good in theory abbreviating "Basketball" and "Japan" to "BJ" and attaching "League", but what they got was a good name for an X-rated video. For such a high profile venture as a professional sports league, why not run the proposed name by a panel of English speakers, or even just one dude who knows English, to check for errors and such? Now they're stuck with it, and I can never take the league seriously. Ah, BJ-League... Those crazy, crazy Japanese.
Take a look at the teams on the BJ-League homepage, featuring the Sendai 89ers, the Niigata Albirex (here's the cheerleader's site), the Saitama Broncos, The Tokyo Apache, the Osaka Deinonychus, and the Oita Heat Devils. The Heat Devils' logo really reminds me of Hot Wheels. How exciting can a national league with only 6 teams be? I guess only time will tell.
Comments (6)
The formula for creating a good porn star or XX Movie title is to take your pet's name and your street name....try it and see!
Posted by: yomama | December 2, 2004 10:44 AM
Posted on: December 2, 2004 10:44
Hi, I would like to know where the Saitama Broncos play their games at? Is it at Saitama Super Arena?
Posted by: Sean Polite | December 11, 2004 6:50 PM
Posted on: December 11, 2004 18:50
If you look on the Bronco's page it lists the venue (which changes from game to game at home) on the game schedule (shiai schedule- the fourth grey bar from the left). All of the home games are in Saitama, but some are in gymnasiums, public park gymnasiums, and sports centers. Apparently, the league is not well established enough to afford the teams their own permanent home court. Hope that helps.
Adam
Posted by: Adam | December 12, 2004 9:49 PM
Posted on: December 12, 2004 21:49
The Broncos do have there own stadium in Tokorazawa as do all the teams in the BJ league.
Posted by: keneese | November 22, 2005 10:07 AM
Posted on: November 22, 2005 10:07
Ah, thanks for the clarification.
Posted by: Adam | November 22, 2005 2:56 PM
Posted on: November 22, 2005 14:56
I have a true opportunity to play in the league, but I would have to move to Japan from the USA and basically quit my 65K a year job. Is it worth taking the chance? I have a wife and 2 kids. I am a very good player and a coach with a superb win-loss record.
Posted by: Riggs | March 28, 2006 10:51 PM
Posted on: March 28, 2006 22:51