Tabuse has enjoyed popularity in Japan since his high school playing days, when he led his school to three straight national championships, and has been referred to as "the Michael Jordan of Japan" for his celebrity status.\n', '

Michael Cooper, former NBA player and Tabuse\'s coach with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, said of him, "He automatically changes the game because of his quickness and distributing the ball. He\'s the best fundamental player I\'ve seen around in a long time", and Suns assistant coach Marc Iavaroni said, "I liked his energy, I liked his courage."\n', '

Tabuse, who was born in Yokohama and grew up in what he calls "a sports family", began playing basketball at the age of nine, because he was not good at baseball and not interested in soccer. He attended Noshiro Technical High School in Akita Prefecture, where he led his team to national championships all three years he was there and lost only a single game.\n', '

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