Yasuharu Uryu: Until Finding Fulfillment in New Sports Business

2024/06/20

I changed jobs to Asahi Broadcasting Television Corporation in July 2022 and serve as the producer for "Bukapi! Full Support for Club Activity People!" From starting rugby at age four until retiring at 31, I thought about how I could contribute to the sports I had devoted my passion to every day. The world of sports management was where I felt I could still find excitement even after I was no longer an active player.

At the time, there weren't many players operating with that mindset, and I spent my days searching for what I could do to connect to my future. However, by listening to people from various fields, I was able to reaffirm that sports hold many possibilities. My conviction that the world of sports management was the next place I could dedicate my passion led me to dive in, which eventually led to my career change to Asahi Broadcasting Television.

"Virtual High School Baseball," which was the catalyst for my career change, live-streamed every single game last year, from the first round of the summer Koshien regional qualifiers to the national championship final, capturing the dreams of young ballplayers across the country. I believe it is my mission to expand this system of supporting children who will lead the future beyond the world of baseball to other sports as well. Through the program "Bukapi!", I face the hard work of high school students every day.

Twenty-five years have passed since the year we won the All-Japan University Rugby Championship during the 100th anniversary of the Athletic Association Rugby Football Club. The passion and feelings I had for sports back then have now shifted toward the development of the next generation. This has led me to a state where I daily consider the growth of children and the role of sports in society through the discovery of "diamonds in the rough" in various sports, not just rugby.

In a society where forms of communication are changing significantly, I believe that the need for sports as a venue for real-life communication will become even more indispensable. My days spent exploring new ways for sports business to exist are truly stimulating. I am also grateful for the corporate culture of Asahi Broadcasting Television, which allows me to challenge myself in the unrelated field of sports business despite being in the media industry. To provide support similar to Virtual High School Baseball for all amateur sports, not just baseball, I intend to further study sports business and keep my antennae up.