Last Updated on October 9, 2026 by Pedro Salcas
Rui Hachimura is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. Born on February 8, 1998, in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, he is known for his athleticism, scoring ability and versatility as a forward. Hachimura made history in 2019 when the Washington Wizards selected him with the ninth overall pick in the NBA Draft, making him the first Japanese-born player selected in the first round.
Beyond his basketball achievements, Rui Hachimura comes from a multicultural family with Japanese and West African roots. His parents are Makiko Hachimura and Zakari Jabil, while his three younger siblings are Allen Hachimura, Amina Hachimura and Mari Hachimura. His younger brother is also a professional basketball player. Although his family background is well documented, Hachimura has maintained considerable privacy regarding his romantic relationships and whether he has children.
Rui Hachimura’s Girlfriend: Is He Dating Briana Delgado?
Rui Hachimura has been romantically linked to Briana Delgado, an American fitness influencer, model and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles.
Reports about a possible relationship between Hachimura and Delgado began circulating in 2021. Several entertainment and sports publications subsequently identified Delgado as his rumored girlfriend.
Briana Delgado is known for producing fitness and lifestyle content on social media. She has also been associated with the fitness brand Bootyfull Queens, which focuses on exercise, wellness and fitness-related products.
According to reports published by The Times of India in November 2024, Hachimura and Delgado had reportedly been dating since 2021 while keeping their relationship largely private.
However, neither Hachimura nor Delgado has consistently shared public information confirming the details of their relationship.
In January 2026, Hachimura attracted attention when social media rumors suggested that he was romantically involved with American rapper and singer Doja Cat.
The speculation originated from an online post that suggested the two celebrities were dating. Hachimura personally responded to the claim on Instagram, making it clear that the rumored relationship was not true.
According to Complex and Us Weekly, Hachimura’s response quickly circulated online, attracting considerable attention from basketball and entertainment fans.
Those reports also mentioned his previous romantic links to Briana Delgado but acknowledged that their relationship status could not be independently confirmed.
As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation that Rui Hachimura and Briana Delgado are still together. While she remains the woman most frequently associated with his dating history, his current relationship status is private.
Rui Hachimura’s Children: Does He Have Any Kids?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Rui Hachimura has children. The Japanese NBA player has not announced becoming a father, and reliable biographical sources do not identify any sons or daughters.
Since beginning his professional basketball career in 2019, Hachimura has generally focused his public appearances and interviews on basketball, his cultural background and his family in Japan.
Although he occasionally shares personal photographs and spends time with relatives, he has not publicly discussed raising children of his own.
There have also been no widely verified announcements confirming that he is married.
Consequently, it is not possible to establish whether he has children privately. Based on publicly available information, Hachimura has no confirmed children.
Rui Hachimura’s Parents
Rui Hachimura was born to Zakari Jabil and Makiko Hachimura. His father is originally from Benin, a country in West Africa, while his mother is Japanese.
His multicultural upbringing played an important role in shaping his identity, personality and experiences growing up in Japan.
Hachimura has publicly expressed pride in his African and Japanese heritage, acknowledging that both sides of his family have influenced his development.
His parents supported his interest in sports from a young age and encouraged him as he transitioned from playing baseball to basketball.
Rui Hachimura’s Father: Zakari Jabil
Zakari Jabil is Rui Hachimura’s father. He was born in Benin, a French-speaking country in West Africa, before moving to Japan, where he established his family with Makiko Hachimura.
Zakari’s African heritage is an important part of Rui’s identity. Growing up with a Beninese father and a Japanese mother introduced Rui and his siblings to different cultural backgrounds.
According to a 2024 profile published by People, Rui has spoken about the challenges his father experienced as a Black man living in Japan.
In a 2019 interview with The Athletic, Hachimura described his father as a friendly and sociable person who was able to communicate with others despite cultural differences.
Rather than allowing negative experiences to define him, Zakari demonstrated resilience and confidence, qualities that his son later carried into his basketball career.
Rui has also acknowledged inheriting his physical attributes from his father.
Speaking to the Japanese newspaper The Mainichi in 2019, Hachimura explained that he believed his natural physique came from his father, while his determination and dedication were influenced by his mother.
Zakari was present during one of the most important moments of his son’s professional career: the 2019 NBA Draft.
On June 20, 2019, he attended the event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, alongside Makiko to support Rui as he awaited his selection.
When the Washington Wizards selected Rui with the ninth overall pick, the occasion represented a significant achievement for the entire family.
Although Zakari generally maintains a private lifestyle, his influence on Rui’s cultural identity, confidence and personal development has been widely acknowledged.
Rui Hachimura’s Mother: Makiko Hachimura
Makiko Hachimura is Rui Hachimura’s mother. She is Japanese and played an important role in raising Rui and his three younger siblings.
Makiko provided the family with a strong connection to Japanese traditions, education and cultural values.
Rui has frequently credited his mother with teaching him discipline, patience and the importance of working consistently toward his goals.
In a 2019 interview with The Mainichi, Hachimura explained that his mother’s determination and willingness to work hard had influenced his approach to basketball.
Her support became particularly important when Rui decided to move to the United States to attend Gonzaga University in 2016.
At the time, he spoke limited English and had to adjust to a completely different educational, social and sporting environment.
Although Rui was thousands of miles away from his family, Makiko continued following his basketball career closely.
According to People, Gonzaga University’s video staff helped Rui’s family watch recordings of his college basketball games.
His parents and grandmother regularly followed his performances from Japan despite the time difference between the two countries.
Makiko also traveled to the United States to attend important games.
In December 2018, she visited Spokane, Washington, accompanied by Rui’s younger sister Amina and a family friend.
Rui expressed his excitement about having his mother and sister in attendance, explaining that their presence provided additional motivation.
Makiko later attended the 2019 NBA Draft alongside Zakari, celebrating as her son achieved his dream of entering the world’s most prominent professional basketball league.
Her continued encouragement has remained an important part of Rui’s professional journey.
Why Does Rui Hachimura Have His Mother’s Last Name?
One interesting aspect of Rui Hachimura’s family background is that he uses his Japanese mother’s surname rather than his father’s surname, Jabil.
His surname, Hachimura, comes from his mother’s Japanese family register.
According to reports about his family, the name reflects the family’s connection to Makiko’s Japanese ancestry.
In Japanese, the character “hachi” means eight, which also has a connection to Rui’s basketball identity.
He has explained that wearing the number eight jersey reflects both his surname and his admiration for the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
His given name, Rui, is written using the Japanese character meaning “base,” a reference to baseball.
The name was reportedly chosen by his grandfather, who was enthusiastic about the sport.
These details reflect the importance of family traditions and Japanese culture in Hachimura’s personal identity.
Rui Hachimura’s Siblings
Rui Hachimura has three younger siblings: one brother named Allen Hachimura and two sisters named Amina Hachimura and Mari Hachimura.
Rui is the eldest of four children in the Hachimura family.
His younger brother followed him into professional basketball, while his sisters have also been connected to sports and family activities.
The siblings grew up in Japan and experienced a multicultural upbringing through their Japanese mother and Beninese father.
Rui Hachimura’s Brother: Allen Hachimura
Allen Hachimura, also known as Aren Hachimura, is Rui Hachimura’s younger brother and a Japanese professional basketball player.
He was born on December 20, 1999, in Toyama Prefecture, Japan.
Like Rui, Allen developed a strong interest in basketball during his childhood and pursued competitive opportunities in Japan.
He attended Meisei High School, where he established himself as a talented basketball prospect.
Allen later enrolled at Tokai University, one of Japan’s prominent university basketball programs.
During his development, he won national championships at both the high school and university levels.
He eventually progressed to professional basketball in Japan’s B.League.
According to the Kobe Storks’ official website, Allen began his professional career with the Sunrockers Shibuya during the 2020–21 season under a special designated player arrangement.
He subsequently joined the Gunma Crane Thunders, initially under a similar arrangement before becoming a regular professional player.
Allen spent several seasons with Gunma before signing with the Kobe Storks in May 2025 for the 2025–26 B.League season.
The club officially announced his arrival on May 28, 2025, identifying him as a small forward who previously attended Tokai University.
Standing approximately 198 centimeters tall, Allen shares some of Rui’s physical characteristics and versatility on the basketball court.
Although Rui has achieved international recognition through the NBA, Allen has worked to establish his own identity in Japanese professional basketball.
The brothers have also supported each other outside sports.
In May 2021, Allen publicly revealed that he and Rui had received racist messages through social media.
According to The Japan Times and Kyodo News, Allen shared one of the messages to raise awareness about racial discrimination in Japan.
Rui responded by acknowledging that he had received similar messages himself.
The incident highlighted the challenges the brothers had experienced as athletes of mixed Japanese and African heritage.
Despite these difficulties, both have continued representing their family and cultural background through basketball.
Rui Hachimura’s Sister: Amina Hachimura
Amina Hachimura is Rui Hachimura’s younger sister and another member of the family’s sporting background.
Her name is also written as Amina Hachimura in English-language publications and 安美菜 in Japanese.
Like her older brothers, Amina developed an interest in basketball during her school years.
She attended Meisei Gakuen High School in Japan, where she participated in the school’s girls’ basketball program.
Although Amina has not achieved the same international recognition as Rui, her involvement in competitive basketball illustrates the family’s shared enthusiasm for the sport.
Amina has also supported her older brother during important stages of his career.
In December 2018, she traveled with their mother, Makiko, to Spokane, Washington, to watch Rui compete for Gonzaga University.
According to The Spokesman-Review, Rui was particularly excited because it was his sister’s first opportunity to visit him in the United States.
Her presence at the game was meaningful to Rui, who had spent several years living away from his family while pursuing his basketball ambitions.
Amina has generally maintained a relatively private life, and detailed information about her current professional activities is limited.
Rui Hachimura’s Youngest Sister: Mari Hachimura
Mari Hachimura is Rui Hachimura’s youngest sister and the youngest member of the four Hachimura siblings.
Her name is sometimes omitted from English-language biographies, but Japanese sports reporting has identified her as Mari.
One of the most memorable public moments involving Mari occurred on September 17, 2018, during a FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifying match between Japan and Iran.
Rui produced an excellent performance as Japan defeated Iran 70–56.
After the match, he surprised spectators by revealing that it was his younger sister’s birthday.
According to the Japanese newspaper Nikkan Sports, Rui asked the crowd to sing “Happy Birthday” for Mari, who was celebrating her special day.
The spectators joined in singing, creating a memorable family moment during an important international basketball game.
Japanese sports publication Basketball King also reported the incident, noting that Rui’s birthday message came after his impressive performance against Iran.
The occasion demonstrated Rui’s affection for his younger sister and his willingness to celebrate family milestones publicly.
Unlike Rui and Allen, Mari has largely remained outside the sporting and entertainment spotlight.
Her exact birth year, educational background and current personal activities have not been reliably established in public sources.
How Rui Hachimura’s Family Influenced His Basketball Career
Rui Hachimura’s basketball career was shaped by his family, cultural experiences and willingness to overcome challenges.
Growing up in Toyama Prefecture, Rui initially developed a strong interest in baseball rather than basketball.
His grandfather was an enthusiastic baseball supporter, and Rui played the sport during his childhood, particularly as a catcher and pitcher.
However, his impressive height and physical development eventually encouraged him to explore basketball.
He began taking the sport seriously during his early teenage years and quickly demonstrated natural athletic ability.
After progressing through junior high school, he moved to Sendai to attend Meisei High School, where he became one of Japan’s most promising young basketball players.
He helped the school win consecutive national high school championships and attracted international attention for his performances.
His success eventually created an opportunity to play college basketball in the United States.
In 2016, Hachimura joined Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
The transition was difficult because he initially spoke limited English and had little experience living outside Japan.
However, the support of his parents, siblings, grandmother, coaches and teammates helped him adjust to his new environment.
During his three seasons at Gonzaga, Rui gradually developed into one of the country’s top college basketball players.
In the 2018–19 season, he averaged 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while helping Gonzaga reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
He received the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award and was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year.
In April 2019, Hachimura announced that he would enter the NBA Draft, describing the decision as an important step for himself and his family.
Two months later, the Washington Wizards selected him with the ninth overall pick.
He spent the early part of his NBA career in Washington before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in January 2023.
During his time with the Lakers, Hachimura became an important rotation player and earned recognition for his shooting and contributions in the NBA playoffs.
In July 2026, he signed a two-year contract worth a reported $28 million with the Los Angeles Clippers, moving to another NBA franchise in the same city.
Throughout his career, Hachimura has continued to express pride in representing Japan and honoring both his Japanese and Beninese heritage.
His family’s commitment to supporting his ambitions remains a central part of his journey from Japanese high school basketball to the NBA.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rui Hachimura’s Family
Who is Rui Hachimura’s girlfriend?
Rui Hachimura has been romantically linked to American fitness influencer Briana Delgado since 2021. However, neither has publicly confirmed their current relationship status, and it remains unclear whether they are still dating.
Is Rui Hachimura married?
There are no reliable public reports confirming that Rui Hachimura is married.
Does Rui Hachimura have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Rui Hachimura has any children.
Who are Rui Hachimura’s parents?
Rui Hachimura’s parents are Zakari Jabil, who is from Benin in West Africa, and Makiko Hachimura, who is Japanese.
Is Rui Hachimura’s father African?
Yes. Rui Hachimura’s father, Zakari Jabil, is originally from Benin, a country located in West Africa.
Who is Rui Hachimura’s mother?
Rui Hachimura’s mother is Makiko Hachimura, a Japanese woman who helped raise Rui and his three younger siblings.
How many siblings does Rui Hachimura have?
Rui Hachimura has three younger siblings: one brother named Allen Hachimura and two sisters named Amina Hachimura and Mari Hachimura.
Who is Rui Hachimura’s brother?
His younger brother is Allen Hachimura, also known as Aren Hachimura. He is a professional basketball player in Japan who signed with the Kobe Storks in May 2025.
Who are Rui Hachimura’s sisters?
Rui Hachimura’s sisters are Amina Hachimura and Mari Hachimura. Amina has participated in competitive basketball, while Mari is known publicly for a birthday celebration involving Rui and Japanese basketball supporters in September 2018.
Why does Rui Hachimura use his mother’s surname?
Rui Hachimura uses the surname Hachimura through his Japanese mother’s family register. His father’s name is Zakari Jabil.
How old is Rui Hachimura?
Rui Hachimura was born on February 8, 1998, making him 28 years old as of October 2026.
Where is Rui Hachimura from?
Rui Hachimura was born in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. He later attended Meisei High School in Sendai before moving to the United States to study and play basketball at Gonzaga University.
What is Rui Hachimura’s nationality?
Rui Hachimura is Japanese. He has Japanese ancestry through his mother and Beninese ancestry through his father.
Pedro Salcas is a dedicated sports journalist and NBA specialist focused on team strategy, player performance, and league news. Tracking action across the Eastern and Western Conferences, he breaks down complex game tape, roster moves, and statistics into clear, engaging analysis. From preseason storylines to deep playoff runs, Pedro brings a sharp analytical perspective and passion for basketball to keep readers informed on everything happening in the NBA.
