Naoto Tsuji Launches YouTube Channel — A Gift to All Basketball Fans! Announcement of Personal Channel 'Naoto Tsuji 158 Channel'

Naoto Tsuji, a professional basketball player under management contract with Yoshimoto Sports (a Yoshimoto Group company) and currently playing for the Gunma Crane Thunders, has launched his personal YouTube channel titled 'Naoto Tsuji 158 Channel'.

Known as the 'festival man of basketball' for his vibrant entertainment flair, Tsuji aims to transcend boundaries between players, teams, and leagues by delivering the excitement of basketball through a wide range of creative projects. This basketball variety channel is dedicated to making the sport more enjoyable for fans.

Only Tsuji can bring such unique guests, stories, and challenges to life — from solving issues in the basketball world to serious discussions, all centered around the theme 'Let’s make basketball even more fun!' — and he will seriously and joyfully work to enrich fans’ basketball lives.

The first commemorative video is a follow-up to the phrase 'Takeuchi brothers, get along already — even if just a little!' that Tsuji coined during his performance as 'Tsuji-Masashi' at the 'Risona Group B.LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME WEEKEND 2026 IN NAGASAKI' held in January 2026. The video features a surprise invitation to golf for both Tsunenori and Junchi Takeuchi, testing whether playing golf together can improve their relationship.

The channel name 'Naoto Tsuji 158 Channel' references the number '158', derived from Tsuji’s longtime motivational cheer 'Igoya~!', which he used during his student days to energize and inspire others. He chose it with the hope of giving viewers a motivational push through his channel. However, Tsuji himself admits he doesn’t fully resonate with the current name, so a change may occur in the near future.

Video Release Schedule

First Project

Title: [First Upload] Surprise Invite the Takeuchi Brothers to Golf — Can They Get Closer?

Release Date: July 15 (Wed) at 8:00 PM (Part 1)

Guests: Tsunenori Takeuchi, Junchi Takeuchi, Tatsunori Ono

Cooperation: Seibuen Golf Course

※ Planned to be released in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2

Second Project

Title: [Choco-Pla’s Shun Matsuo Appears!] Pickup Game in Yoyogi!

Release Date: Late July (planned)

Guests: Kenny Asano (Gunma Crane Thunders), Shun Matsuo (Chocolate Planet), Yoshida Basketball & Dunk Haku (Twintower)

Account Details

Channel Name: Naoto Tsuji 158 Channel

Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/@tsujinaoto158

Official X: Naoto Tsuji 158 Channel [Official]

Official X URL: https://x.com/tsujinaoto158ch

Starring: Naoto Tsuji

Update Schedule: Irregular

Account Management: Yoshimoto Sports Inc. / Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd.

※ Video release updates and more will be shared on the official X account.

Personal Channel Launch Campaign

To celebrate the launch of his personal channel, Naoto Tsuji will run a special giveaway campaign when the YouTube subscriber count reaches 10,000, 50,000, and 80,000 — numbers inspired by the '158' in the channel name.

10,000 Subscribers: Signed basketball giveaway (3 winners)

50,000 Subscribers: Signed basketball shoes giveaway (3 winners)

80,000 Subscribers: [I’ll lend myself out!] Realize your 'dream project' on 158ch! (1 winner)

※ Detailed participation instructions will be announced on the channel’s official X account once subscriber milestones are reached.

Comment from Naoto Tsuji

I’ve finally launched my long-awaited personal YouTube channel!

I hope to bring more smiles into viewers’ daily lives and focus on doing what only basketball player Naoto Tsuji can do.

Something I’ve always dreamed of is now real — I can’t stop feeling excited and nervous! Sometimes I get so anxious I can’t sleep!

Please look forward to watching me gradually get more comfortable in the world of YouTube!

Everyone, thank you so much — I really appreciate your support!