World Lacrosse is highlighting its All-World athletes from past world championships to celebrate their outstanding performances.
Shinya Tateishi was named to the All-World Team as an attacker at the 2023 Men’s Championship in San Diego, becoming the first player from Japan to be named to an All-World Team at a World Lacrosse championship. He helped Japan finish in fifth place, tying its best ever finish in the event.
Tateishi finished with 32 points, the third most in the championship, with 21 goals and 11 assists in seven games.
The Japan attacker also stood out at The World Games in 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, where he helped Japan claim a bronze medal, its first-ever medal in a senior championship. In Birmingham, Tateishi tallied 19 goals and four assists in five games.
Below is a short Q and A with Tateishi and World Lacrosse:
When and why did you start playing lacrosse?
I started playing lacrosse in high school. I had been playing baseball since I was little, aiming to become a professional baseball player, but a friend of mine invited me to a club trial, and I was so attracted to the sport from the state I completely switched over.
Who has been your most influential coach or teammate, and why?
I was very influenced by the head coach of the national team, Naofumi Suzuki, or known as Udo. I met him when I was in high school, and he always held me to the standards of the latest developments in international lacrosse and motivated me to always aspire to be better.
What is your favorite lacrosse moment throughout your career?
My favorite lacrosse moment throughout my career is the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championships, where I felt very honored to be selected to the All World Team, but at the same time truly disappointed to lose to Haudenosaunee.
Tell us about your experience at the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.
We came a step short of accomplishing our goal to finish within 4th place. But winning the placement game for fifth place brought us confidence that Japanese lacrosse was gaining attention from around the world.
As an individual, though I may have become the first Japanese to be selected for the All World Team, I still feel I am behind in many areas compared to the players from the top three nations. So I would like to further improve my abilities for the next competition.
