Ryota Ito: Unleash Your Exceptionality.

2023/08/29

In July 2022, I retired as a professional basketball player. The path I chose for my next challenge was a company called "Heralbony."

My vision is to "create a society where children can walk fairly and easily." In February 2018, I read an article about children who cannot pursue what they love due to their local environment or family circumstances. It felt like an electric current running through my body—the moment I was driven by a sense of mission.

The following year, to realize this vision, I changed careers from a major insurance company to become a professional athlete. Of course, I had anxieties. However, what came to mind then were the faces of the children I saw in the article. I asked myself, "If I could have become a professional athlete but chose not to, wouldn't I regret it at the moment of my death?" This self-reflection was the deciding factor.

My days as a professional athlete were fulfilling. In addition to expressing myself through the sport I love, I engaged in activities such as clinics for children and career talks at schools. I felt that I was moving toward my vision, step by step.

However, mid-season, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and play was suspended. Various activities came to a halt, providing an opportunity to reflect on the value of being a professional athlete. Why did I switch to being a professional player? That was when I encountered Heralbony.

During the pandemic, I wanted to wear a cool mask, and while browsing social media, I spotted a "wonderful art mask." I immediately visited the corporate website and was struck by powerful words: "Unleash Your Exceptionality." This is Heralbony's mission. This became a catalyst for me to join Heralbony after my retirement. Some asked, "Why now, when you can still play?" or "Just when you're in your prime as a player?" but I had no hesitation. I believed that beyond the realization of the "Unleash Your Exceptionality" mission lay a path to achieving my own vision. Over the past year, there have been many heart-stirring moments. Above all, I have felt that I am making progress toward my vision.

This July, I chose a new challenge: returning to professional sports. I am now pursuing a dual career with Heralbony and as a professional player. Although there is anxiety, I am in an environment where I can choose the sport I love. If there are children who cannot even choose what they love, I want to continue taking action for them. It starts with me. Unleash your exceptionality.