Makiko Harada originally discovered Wheelchair Basketball by chance. Harada was playing stand-up basketball while also attending university in Japan when one of her teammates introduced her to a co-worker who was playing Wheelchair Basketball.
“I was in university at the time, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do career-wise, and Wheelchair Basketball just caught my attention,” said Harada. “It interested me very much, so I started to volunteer with the team at tournaments.”
Harada was in university majoring in Japanese studies to become a Japanese language teacher for foreigners and non-Japanese speaking people; however, Harada admits she quickly lost interest.
While volunteering at various wheelchair sports events, Harada also helped organize Wheelchair Basketball camps in Japan. In 2001 Canadian coach Mike Frogley was invited to run the camp. Harada met Frogley and was immediately impressed.
“I really liked how he approached the players,” Harada said. “Since then, I wanted to be involved with coaching or working with adaptive sports.”
Harada quickly realized her teaching background would be helpful in her pursuit of coaching opportunities.
“I was always interested in teaching, and that kind of translates into coaching,” she said. “Then I met Mike, and I wanted to be like him. You can impact many people’s lives, open their world and show them how much potential they have. Mike makes people enjoy Wheelchair Basketball.”
Harada’s love for Wheelchair Basketball and adaptive sports led her to take a job at the University of Illinois, where she served as an assistant coach and team manager.
After three years at the University of Illinois, Harada was looking for a new opportunity which led her to her favourite city.
While in university, Harada spent a year in Vancouver on a working holiday visa to study English.
“I fell in love with Vancouver, and I always wanted to come back,” she said, “but I just thought it was a dream that wouldn’t come through.”
During her job search, through some friends in Vancouver, Harada found an opportunity with the BC Wheelchair Basketball Society – in 2008, Harada moved back to her favourite city.
“Vancouver was a great opportunity for me,” she explained. “It’s hard to get a job in Wheelchair Basketball, and I was looking for a job in any wheelchair sport or adaptive sports. Basketball is my passion, so just being able to work for BC Wheelchair Basketball Society in my favourite city, I couldn’t resist.”
During her time with BCWBS, Harada has served as a coach of the B.C. women’s provincial program, and she served as the lead organizer of the Greater Vancouver women’s club team.
Additionally, Harada is involved with the GO Time! women’s only program and organized for a group of Japanese women to join the B.C. program virtually.
“I’ve always maintained my connection with Japanese wheelchair sports and the Wheelchair Basketball community,” said Harada, who currently works as an administrator at BCWBS. “Last spring, something triggered in my mind, and I wanted to do more for the Japanese community, give back to them.
“I just wanted to make more connections, and that’s when I suggested the GO Time! program that we have a session together. So I invited a few Japanese girls and a few coaches from Japan to be on the Zoom session.”
When recruiting new players, Harada’s message is simple: “I just tell them it’s fun. Anybody can play, and you can connect with others. You get to know a diverse group of people. The Wheelchair Basketball community is so friendly. You get to learn a lot both on and off the court. I guarantee you will enjoy it.”