For 30 years, between 1985 and 2015, Japan failed to qualify for the IHF Men's Junior World Championship. Now, the Asian side is at their third edition in the last eight years and is really making a strong impression, despite failing to progress to the main round.

The main reason for conceding two losses in their first three games was the quality and the experience of their opponents – Spain and the Faroe Islands – two teams in the elite of European handball.

But Japan, the current Asian champions, have duly delivered a masterstroke of a comeback in the last game of the preliminary round in the GETEC Arena in Magdeburg, eventually sealing their first win at the 2023 IHF Men's Junior World Championship, 33:32, against Angola.

At this stage of the players' development, it is not always about getting good results but refining the style and teaching the players how to excel under pressure and be ready for the senior team. At first glance, Japan are really doing this and excelling at it.

It also helps that they have one of the breakthrough players of the competition so far, centre back Naoki Fujisaka, the true embodiment of a modern player in current handball – fast, skilled, with a large handball IQ and a strong shot, who delivered excellent performances over the three games played by Japan in the preliminary round.

"We are just happy to be here, to play at the World Championship, and if we can take good results, it is even better. The first two games were tough, but the win against Angola really helped boost our morale; we are feeling better and better," says Fujisaka.

Whether it is about a feel-good vibe or just delivering good performances, Fujisaka has really shined at Germany/Greece 2023 so far. He is the joint top scorer of the competition, with 26 goals, tied with Faroe Islands' centre back, Elias Ellefsen Á Skipagotu.

Fujisaka has an 8.67 goals-per-game average, a 62% shooting efficiency and only one of his goals came through a converted penalty, with half of his goals, 13, coming from shots from 9 metres.

The 20-year-old centre back has also dished seven assists, having a direct hand in 33 of Japan's 95 goals, or roughly 34% of the Asian champions' goals at Germany/Greece 2023, an excellent performance for a player who was virtually unknown on the big stage so far.

"I have started playing handball as a seven-year-old because my bigger brothers have also played it. They never got to represent Japan, but I am honoured to be here and wear the flag on my shirt; it is an amazing feeling."

"I immediately fell in love with the sport, and I truly love what I am doing now," adds Fujisaka, who is plying his trade at club level for the Nippon Sport Science University team in Japan.

In fact, Fujisaka, who was named the hummel Player of the Match in the loss against Spain (28:43), and all of his teammates feature in Japan. This country had gotten better and better at handball, with the men's team also getting a boost when the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were held in the country.

But the centre back has been getting more and more experience and even shined at the 2022 AHF Asian Men's Junior Handball Championship when he was instrumental in Japan's win.

It was the first time Japan secured the trophy in this age category in the continental competition. The Asian side sealed it with a 24:20 win in the final against Bahrain, with Fujisaka being the top scorer of the game, with eight goals.

At Germany/Greece 2023, the centre back has been Japan's top contributor in all of the games so far, being a firm candidate now for the top goal scorer title, provided he extends his excellent run of form, especially as he plays most of the time in attack, switching with another of his teammates for the defensive part of the game.

But where does Fujisaka find his inspiration?

"I watch a lot of handball, that is true. My favourite player is Luka Cindric, from Croatia and Barcelona. He is a very, very good player," says Fujisaka, whose idol, Cindric, is also a centre back.

Sure, the comparison between Fujisaka and Cindric might be farfetched. Still, with a bit of help, the Japan centre back might get there, especially as Japanese players have been making a mark more and more in Europe right now, both in men's and women's handball.