Burke Toews Takes Charge as Aisin Wings Coach in Japan

Burke Toews, a prominent figure in Japanese basketball, has stepped into a coaching role for the Aisin Wings in the Women’s Japan Basketball League. After a decade-long tenure with the Fujitsu Red Wave, where he guided the team to three championships, Toews is embracing a new challenge that allows him to utilize his native English.

Toews, originally from Winnipeg, has spent over 30 years immersed in basketball in Japan. He has always coached in Japanese, relying solely on his language skills without an interpreter. “When you think of a head coach, a lot of what he or she does is about how they communicate,” Toews explained. “No matter how fluent I get, I’ll never have the same language ability to communicate as I would if I was using English.”

After leaving the Red Wave at the end of the last season, Toews initially planned to take a year off. However, the Aisin Wings reached out with an opportunity that led him back into coaching. The team, struggling with a 1–10 record under a young head coach, asked him to take over. “I really didn’t want to,” Toews admitted, but ultimately decided to step in, motivated by a desire to help the struggling team.

The Wings needed a mobile power forward to complement star centre Ramu Tokashiki, a former WNBA player and multiple league MVP. Toews identified Niyah Becker, a fellow Winnipeg native, as the ideal candidate. Becker, who had recently finished playing in the Euro Cup with Latvian team TTT Riga, was available and eager to join the team.

“There isn’t one thing that stands out about Niyah; it’s just her overall ability to play basketball,” Toews noted. “She was a really good fit.” Their connection is deepened by shared roots, with Becker’s father being a respected figure in Manitoba basketball. “Two Winnipeggers in Japan is very uncommon,” Becker reflected. “It shows that basketball is worldwide; it can take you anywhere.”

Since Toews and Becker joined forces, the Wings have rebounded from their rocky start, now standing at 7-15, with notable victories against top-ranked teams. Becker has praised Toews’s coaching style, highlighting his dedication to developing players and fostering confidence. “He’s been pushing for me to shoot the three a lot more,” Becker said, acknowledging the growth she has experienced under his guidance.

Toews’s commitment to the team has not gone unnoticed. He has been offered an extended contract but is taking time to consider his future. His unexpected return to coaching has been a rewarding experience, particularly with Becker’s presence facilitating his transition to coaching in English.

Reflecting on his journey, Toews recalled his initial reluctance to return to Japan after his playing career. “I couldn’t read anything. I couldn’t talk to anybody. I was just like, ‘I’m done with this,’” he said. Despite his reservations, he returned with a mission to learn Japanese, immersing himself in the culture and language through informal interactions.

His path led him to coach at an international school, where he later transitioned to professional coaching. “If you’ve got hours to listen, with 30 years of being in Japan, you can imagine there were a lot of ups and downs,” Toews shared. He has since seen both of his sons pursue basketball, with one currently playing professionally in Japan and the other competing at Boston College.

As Toews continues to navigate this chapter of his career, he remains open to new opportunities, including the possibility of writing a book about his experiences. His journey illustrates the profound impact of basketball in connecting people across the globe, particularly in a unique setting like Japan.