Wat Kept Playing

Meet Asian American basketball hero Wataru Misaka. His story will inspire young readers to challenge barriers, dream big, and keep playing.

As the child of Japanese immigrants, Wataru “Wat” Misaka often felt like he didn’t fully belong in either Japanese or American culture. He was sometimes excluded, treated differently, and bullied, even though he was born in the United States.

As he grew up, however, Wat discovered he had a very special talent for playing basketball. Even at just five foot seven, he was unstoppable.

Wat was a key player on his basketball teams, leading both his high school and college teams to victory in state and national championships.

But could he finally achieve his dream of playing basketball professionally? Would people finally recognize Wat for who he truly was—a person who was both Japanese and American and an amazing basketball player?