Tokyo Athlete Certified Player Interview Yuta Kawashima (Higashiyamato City) Goalball (2018/10/24)
【profile】
Yuta Kawashima Born September 1994, 9.Belongs to ASICS Japan Co., Ltd.
Disability: Visual impairment
2013 World Youth Championships Gold
2013 Asia Pacific Championship Silver
2014 Incheon Asian Para Games Bronze
2016 Japan Goalball Championship Winner
2017 Asia Pacific Championship Bronze
We spoke to Yuta Kawashima, who has participated in numerous international competitions and is currently expected to be a representative athlete at the Paralympic Games.
Achieving results at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics,
I want to give back to everyone!
~Please tell us how you started playing goalball*. ~
I discovered goalball in physical education class in the first year of junior high school.I developed an illness when I was in the fourth grade of elementary school and began attending Hachioji School for the Blind in junior high school, where I first learned about goalball.
After losing in the Japan Championship qualifying round when I was in the third year of junior high school, I wanted to participate in the Japan Championship first!That feeling grew, and I started to get serious about competing.
*A team sport in which three members of a team throw a ball at each other and aim for a goal.Regardless of your visual acuity, you will wear an eyeshade and play completely blind.A competition that relies on the sound of a ball with a bell rolling, the players calling out to each other, the sounds made by their opponents, and the feel of the threaded line.
~You were a member of your school's baseball club when you were in elementary school. How has the experience you gained in youth baseball helped you in goalball? ~
The experience I gained during my youth baseball days has helped me a lot in being able to predict the trajectory of the ball and play defense.I also feel that my experience playing baseball at the time has helped me learn about my role on the team, how to judge situations, and how to be considerate to my teammates, which I learned as a team sport.
~After you started competing, was there a moment that marked a turning point in your career as an athlete? ~
Participating in the "World Youth" tournament was an opportunity for me to aim to become an active player on the world stage.When I was in my second year of high school, I participated in the World Youth Tournament, but with just one more win I would have qualified for the final tournament, but I lost.The winner at this time was not a Western team with large players nearly 2 meters tall, but an Asian team from South Korea. I saw a small player of about 1 cm defeating a Western player with a good physique, and I wanted to be active on the world stage myself!I thought.
Also, two years later, at the World Youth Games, I was able to win a gold medal, which was my dream, and it was for the first time that I became aware of the Paralympic Games.At this point, the Paralympics became my next dream.
~What do you think is your strength as a competitor? ~
My strength is that I hate losing and don't compromise on anything.He compensates for his small stature with practice, and strengthens his core through weight training and other methods to take advantage of his positioning and instantaneous decision-making and speed.In addition, on a daily basis, I am honing my competitive skills by always taking the toughest route to practice.
~Please tell us how you approach mental training. ~
During training camp, we use ``mental concentration'' as part of our training menu. This is a training where you empty your mind for one minute.If you get distracted during training, bring your mind back to nothing over and over again.This gives them the ability to return to the game when the game is stopped due to trouble, or when they become concerned about the voices of the audience.
~How do you analyze players from overseas teams? ~
In order to analyze the players of overseas teams, I sometimes watch videos of their matches, and sometimes I actually go to the countries of the opposing players and have them practice with the teams there.
I exchanged contact information with overseas players at games and other events, and I stayed in touch with them, and last year I went to China and Lithuania to practice.I am planning to go to Brazil in October this year.
~Are there any things you are careful about when communicating within your team? ~
We strive to understand each other, regardless of whether we are senior or junior.Our team is made up of people with different values in life and in competition, so I think it's very important to talk about various things and understand each other.
In addition, in order for the entire team to be able to perform to their full potential, we are always careful not to disrupt the team, such as by not being late for the meeting time.
~Is there anything the team is keeping in mind during matches? ~
During the game, the three of us are constantly communicating, and as a center player, I try to create a game where I can calmly make decisions and give instructions.
~ What is the appeal of goalball and do you have a message for people watching the competition for the first time? ~
One is communication between players and players whose vision is blocked by eyeshades, such as between players and players on the bench.The other thing is the precious sounds during competitions.Please pay attention to these two.
I would like people to see how athletes who have lost one function interact with those around them and compete, and how athletes rely on sound to help each other compete. think.You can even see players listening to the sound of the ball and even the breathing of their opponents, and formulating strategies as a team.Also, if you watch the game with your eyes closed, I think you will discover something different.And please try it out.
~ Has your mindset changed in any way since being certified as a “Tokyo Athlete Certified Athlete”? ~
As an athlete, I felt a strong need to achieve good results.Having been selected as a certified athlete, I am truly grateful for the support of the people around me at work and elsewhere.As an athlete, I want to work hard on my results and work hard to give back to everyone.
~ You used Asnavi* to find a job. What were the good things about using this system? ~
The best thing about using Asnavi was that I was able to secure a practice environment.I think it was great that we were able to clearly communicate the company's ideas and my own ideas and conditions in advance, and weigh up the mutual benefits.
*Asnavi: A free job introduction project run by the Japanese Olympic Committee.
Japanese Olympic Committee - Asnavi
~ How do you spend your holidays? Do you have a favorite place in your life or practice environment? ~
Even on my days off, I train at home or at the gym.My hobby is walking, and my favorite place is the embankment of Lake Tama.Across the embankment, you can see the lake on the left and the cityscape where you live on the right, allowing you to relax and reset your mind at the same time.
~Finally, please tell us about your challenges and goals for the 2020 Paralympic Games. ~
The challenge is that as an individual I still have a lot of inexperience, so I would like to acquire the speed skills that will allow me to be active in the world.Also, my goal is to win a medal as a team and give back to everyone.I want to enter 2020 in the best condition by aiming for higher things without being satisfied with the present.
A story from Ikeda, Executive Director of the Japan Goalball Association (General Incorporated Association)
Kawashima was a baseball player until he developed retinitis pigmentosa in the fourth grade of elementary school, so I suggested goalball to him because I wanted to give him a place to focus on his passion for sports.Although Kawashima has the disadvantage of being small compared to other athletes around the world and having to practice while working, I have high hopes that he has the sense and explosive power to overcome this.
At the Paralympic Games, we want to show off to the world the detailed techniques, strategies, and teamwork typical of the Japanese team, and aim for a medal.
During the interview, Kawashima told me, ``Please try sitting behind the goal and closing your eyes.'' When I tried it, I realized that the movements of the players, the sound of the ball approaching, etc., were much faster than what I saw. I was surprised.I would like to see the bravery of athletes who sharpen their senses and react instantly.
