"Better to Try and Fail Than to Fail by Not Trying"—A Keio Student Pursuing Two Dreams: The School of Medicine and the Athletic Association

First, please tell us what triggered your interest in baseball.

Ever since I was little, whenever we turned on the TV at home, we were always watching Giants games because my parents were fans. That was the trigger that made me think baseball was interesting. I first joined a baseball team when I was in the second year of kindergarten, and I've continued ever since through elementary, junior high, and high school.

I imagine aiming for the School of Medicine while continuing baseball was not an easy decision. What made you decide to aim for the School of Medicine?

I was at Toin Gakuen, but at the point I decided to take entrance exams for other schools from junior high, I was in a situation where I couldn't return to the internal advancement track even if I failed. I properly realized that I "wanted to go to the School of Medicine to fulfill my dream of becoming a doctor" around November in the fall of my third year of junior high.

When I was in the fifth grade of elementary school, I had an anaphylactic shock due to an allergy and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The doctor calmly controlled my emotions when I was panicking. That was the origin of my aspiration to become a doctor.

What was the driving force that made you think you could continue both studying and baseball?

I grew up being told by my parents, "Better to try and fail than to fail by not trying," so I thought I'd just give it a try first. My mindset was not "choosing one or the other" but "doing both."

What was the decisive reason for joining the Athletic Association Baseball Club? Was there a time when you hesitated?

Just in case, I also went to see the baseball club that mainly consists of School of Medicine students. However, I had a stronger feeling from before that I "wanted to play baseball in the Athletic Association." The deciding factor was my desire to play Big6 baseball at Jingu Stadium.

What is your daily schedule like?

On days without classes, I go and practice before the general assembly at 8:30, then after lunch, I do indoor batting and weights before heading home. I usually finish around 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM. On days with classes, I schedule practice for either the morning or afternoon and attend classes during the other time.

How do you secure time during exam periods? Please also tell us about balancing it with practical training.

I spend all my commuting time studying. Naturally, I attend all mandatory classes and practical training, and then I devote as much of the remaining time as possible to practice, only taking a complete break on the day of the exam. Since I don't want to miss practice as much as possible, I feel like I want to manage my studying during the other hours.

First-year students are at the Hiyoshi Campus and are almost the same as other faculties, but from the second year, we move to Shinanomachi, and practical training started during the spring break between the first and second years. The timing of exams and summer breaks shifts slightly from other faculties, and sometimes overlaps with the league season.

When was the most difficult time? Also, have you ever felt like giving up?

It was the spring break between my first and second year when the practical training period overlapped with the team's practice period. All weekdays were taken up by practical training, and at the timing of making a dash for the season, I was the only one who couldn't attend practice at all. That was the toughest. Of course, there are moments when I think it's hard, but my goal of playing in the league is clear. Since I'm in the School of Medicine, I knew from the start that there would be periods when I couldn't attend practice. Rather than my spirit breaking, it feels like it's within the scope of what I prepared for.

Do you feel any changes in yourself between before joining the club and now?

It's that I've started to think for myself. Until high school, I just listened to what the instructors said. Since entering university, although there are managers and coaches, the time I spend independently structuring my practice, such as recording and reviewing batting videos, has increased significantly.

When is the moment you feel most glad you joined the baseball club?

The moment the Big6 Baseball League championship was decided during the Waseda-Keio rivalry game in this spring's league season, I was very happy even from a supporting position, and at the same time, I strongly thought, "I want to stand there too."

What are the things you could only have learned in the baseball club?

I think it's the importance of connections with people. The existence of my nearly 50 peers in the same year is especially significant, and through interacting with people with various personalities, I receive perspectives and stimulation that I don't have.

What does the phrase "Bunbu Ryodo" mean to you?

In general, I think "Bunbu Ryodo" refers to a state where "while mastering either study or exercise, one is also able to do the other to an extent that they won't have trouble in society."

However, as someone active in the baseball club while enrolled in the School of Medicine, I feel that way of thinking is insufficient. Since I aim to be a doctor, my studies are never something I can compromise on, and regarding baseball, I believe it's important to face it with more effort than others rather than with a half-hearted attitude.

In aiming for Bunbu Ryodo, what do you think are the similarities and differences between sports and studying?

The similarity is that daily accumulation is the most important thing. If there's a short gap, you forget what you learned in studying, and in sports, your sense of play can become dull, so I think the importance of consistency is a common point.

On the other hand, the difference is that there are more situations in sports where you have to think for yourself. Studying has a large aspect of solving things where the answer is determined to some extent, but there is no absolute correct answer in sports. For example, even with a batting form, the optimal shape differs from person to person. Precisely because there is no fixed answer, you need to find what suits you through trial and error, and I feel there are that many more opportunities to think for yourself.

Finally, please give a message to examinees aiming to balance studies and club activities.

If there's a sport you seriously want to continue and you have the will to commit to that competition, even if you think it's tough, I think you'll find you can manage it once you give it a try. If you have a strong desire to get results, you should be able to balance them sufficiently.