Office for Sports Promotion

【profile】
Kae Kurahashi Born September 1990, 9 Belongs to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
2017: 2017 Tri Nations Wheelchair Rugby Invitational Winner
2017: 2017nd place at the 2 Japan Para Wheelchair Rugby Tournament
2017: World Championship Asia/Oceania Regional Qualifier 2nd place

As a member of the Japanese national team, I would like to work hard to improve my skills as a pioneer among female athletes.

~A shocking encounter with wheelchair rugby~

Wheelchair rugby is a mixed-gender ball game designed as a team sport for people with relatively severe disabilities, such as quadriplegics.Depending on the degree of disability, points are set from XNUMX to XNUMX points.The lighter the disability, the higher the score; the more severe the disability, the lower the score.Players must be organized so that the total of the four players on the court can score no more than XNUMX points, but if a female player is included, an additional XNUMX point is allowed for each player, making the total over XNUMX points. That is allowed.For this reason, it is a sport where the presence of female athletes is strategically important.
 Kai Kurahashi was an active gymnast from her first year of elementary school to her third year of high school.She then turned to trampolining in college, where she attended college.In the spring of her third year at university, during official practice for the All Japan Championships, an accident occurred that left her with a cervical spinal cord injury that left her with quadriplegia.When she was first admitted to the hospital, unable to move her body at all, her first thought was ``I want to move her body.''
 ``Right after I was hospitalized, I was injured and couldn't move my arms and was bedridden, but I couldn't help but want to get some exercise.My friends who came to visit me and I always asked each other, ``What kind of sports could I do?'' We were talking.”
 After completing acute treatment, he entered the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter referred to as the Center).She actively tries out sports such as swimming, table tennis, and track and field, which even a quadriplegic can do.Later, she also took part in wheelchair rugby club activities at the center as part of her independence training.
 ``There are very few sports that people with quadriplegia can play.I tried a few sports as part of my rehabilitation, but by chance there weren't many people, so I was asked to come and watch wheelchair rugby.'' I was surprised to find out that there is a sport where you don't get yelled at even if you bump into someone.
 Instead of being scared of the intense collisions, he found it ``fun'' and started going to practice.

~By joining the team, I am determined to “aim for the top”~

One day, as I was about to leave the center, I was participating in wheelchair rugby practice as usual, when a player from the wheelchair rugby team ``BLITZ'' who played at the center asked me, ``Why don't you join our team and practice with me?'' ``Can I really join the team, even though I have little experience and don't know anything about it?'' I was worried and couldn't say ``I want to join.''Still, my desire to become a member of the team and play wheelchair rugby in earnest grew stronger day by day, and when a year had passed since I left the center, I finally realized that I wanted to join BLITZ. I was able to convey this to the members.

``Even after I left the center, the BLITZ players approached me several times, so I participated in their practice several times.After all, unless you join the team, you won't have any chance to play wheelchair rugby.When I took the plunge and signed up for the team, I was finally able to play wheelchair rugby!I still remember how happy I was.
 Day after day, I become a member of "BLITZ" and work hard at practicing.After joining the team, he decided to ``face the competition seriously and aim for the top.''He took his first steps as a wheelchair rugby player.

- Selected as the first female candidate to represent Japan, and aims to participate in the Tokyo Paralympics! ~

In January of last year, while active as a BLITZ player, she became the first female player to be selected as a designated player for the Japanese national team.
 ``When I was approached as a designated player for the Japan national team, I thought, ``Why don't I, who don't have much experience?'' ``It was strange, because I never thought that such an opportunity would come to me.However, I went to the selection camp with the intention of taking it seriously if I was going to participate.''
 As a member of the Japanese national team, he has participated in numerous international tournaments and won the Tri Nations Wheelchair Rugby Invitational held in the United States in May XNUMX.In addition, at the Asia/Oceania regional qualifying round for the World Championship in September of the same year, he not only qualified for the World Championship in August of this year, but was also selected as the "Best XNUMX" player with a score of "XNUMX". . ``The more I experienced international competitions, the more I was able to do movements that I couldn't do, and the more I noticed.Then, I started thinking, ``I want to move more like this,'' ``I want to win more,'' and ``I want to do more.'' My desire to compete has become stronger, and I am practicing every day to catch up with the male players as quickly as possible."
 However, with my current status, I think it will be difficult for me to participate in the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

 “Currently, my chair skills, speed, and power for operating a wheelchair are all inferior to other athletes.I want to acquire the skills and power to compete with male athletes who are XNUMX years old. The selection of athletes to participate in the Tokyo Paralympics continues.I definitely want to participate in the Tokyo Paralympics as a member of Japan's national team, both for my parents and friends who have been supporting me, and for them to learn more about the sport. To that end, I want to continue working hard every day and improve my skills.”
 As a pioneer in raising the level of female athletes, Kurahashi has high expectations from those around her.As the first female player on the Japanese national team, I am looking forward to her future successes.

~Towards the spread of wheel chair rugby~

As the first female candidate for the Japan national team, Kurahashi has received increased media exposure.However, she says that at first she was frustrated that attention was drawn to her because she was a woman, even though her skills were not up to her level.
 ``After I was selected as a designated player for the Japan national team, the number of interviews increased all at once, and I was confused at first.However, more and more people, both men and women, approached me, and my friends started coming to watch the games. I've come to think that this is a good opportunity to spread the word about chair rugby.I personally hope that the number of women playing the game will increase.I hope that by appearing in the media and being active, I will be able to spread the word about chair rugby. I hope this will be the first step in getting people to know more about the sport.”
 Kurahashi also wanted to become a teacher, so he obtained licenses as a middle school and high school physical education teacher at university.For this reason, he has many friends who are teachers, and he energetically responds to requests to give lectures at elementary schools. ``I think it's important to get the generation that will lead the future to take an interest in sports for people with disabilities.The elementary school children I gave the talk to all listened to me with serious eyes, and I hope they had fun. They will give people a chance to try out competitive wheelchairs.As a wheelchair rugby player, I would like to continue doing educational activities such as giving lectures so that they can get even a little bit interested."

～Highlights of wheelchair rugby～

Wheelchair rugby is nicknamed ``murderball'' and is the only sport in which wheelchairs are allowed to collide.The highlight of wheelchair rugby is, of course, the intense collisions.When you actually go to watch a game, the impact of the wheelchairs colliding with each other can be felt in the audience seats along with a tremendous sound.

Also, when it comes to wheelchair rugby, the way you feel, the area you can see, and the sounds you hear will be different between watching the game on video and actually watching it.
``In the video, you often see people with the ball, but in reality it's the low-pointers on the other side who are playing defense for their teammates and are creating the path to the goal. Even if the player is heading toward the goal, the moment that player passes him, he switches from offense to defense, and you can only understand this kind of movement when you actually come to watch the game."
 Violent collisions and calculated movements.The Japan Para Wheelchair Rugby Tournament is scheduled to be held at Chiba Port Arena from May XNUMXth to XNUMXth of this year.Please come and watch the match and experience it for yourself.

~ Pre-game routine work and Kurahashi's competitive meal ~

Kurahashi always tries to be natural before a match. ``If I think too deeply, anxiety and worries will cross my mind, so I try to stay calm and tell myself, ``It's okay, it's okay,'' and ``I just have to do what I can,'' so that I can show my current abilities to the best of my ability. ” Before the game, the team all stands in a circle and chants out loud.
 ``Right before the game, the team forms a circle, so we speak out loud to keep ourselves alert and ready to play.''

Also, what is your favorite food?When asked, Kurahashi immediately answered, "Mozuku" without hesitation.When he goes to a convenience store and selects something, he chooses shellfish and crab sticks rather than candy or sweets, which is surprising.
``I don't have a particular thing to eat before a game, but I eat anything without being picky.People often say I'm picky, but I like snack foods, so even at a convenience store I end up picking up snacks like shellfish.Alcohol. People often ask me if I should eat it with them, but I just eat it like a snack (lol).

~How Kurahashi spends his days off~

Kurahashi is busy balancing wheelchair rugby practice with work.On his precious days off, one of the things he enjoys is going out with his friends. ``Sometimes we have the same day off, so I often meet up with my wheelchair rugby players on holidays.Recently, my female players, my manager, and I have been going to Miraikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, and visiting animals at Mother Farm. I felt refreshed by seeing and touching things and having fun with them. Also, when I returned home, I went to the zoo, and before I knew it, I was interacting with animals on my days off (lol)," she said, showing a glimpse of her cute side.
Holidays spent with like-minded friends heal the fatigue of competitions and give them the energy to move on.