The "Ability to Think for Oneself" Opens the Door to the World: The Challenge of Chasing "Two Rabbits"—Sepak Takraw and Business

I played soccer from childhood through high school. I wanted to try a new sport in university, and when I saw the demonstration by seniors from the sepak takraw club during the orientation period, I thought, "This is it!" Sepak takraw is a ball game originating in Southeast Asia, often called "kick volleyball." Two teams of two (doubles), three (regu), or four (quad) players face off across a net, using their feet, heads, and chests—but not their hands or arms—to return the ball to the opponent's court. I felt I could use my soccer skills, and it looked acrobatic and genuinely fun.

Once I actually started, I found the required techniques were very different from soccer, and there were almost no established teaching methods or textbooks. That's exactly why there was a joy in improving while thinking for myself based on the guidance of my seniors. The "Keio Sepak Takraw Club" I belonged to competed in university and domestic tournaments. Since we didn't have many members, we sometimes held joint practices with students from the University of Tokyo and Tokyo Institute of Technology (now Institute of Science Tokyo).

At that time, YouTube and social media were just starting to become widespread, and videos of players from powerhouse countries like Thailand and Malaysia were excellent study materials. I repeatedly studied how high they raised their non-dominant leg and the timing of their body twists. However, simply imitating them didn't work. I needed to create "my own form" tailored to my physique and flexibility. The process of trial and error itself was enjoyable.

My position is tosser, and I have always made a conscious effort to think about "how to lead to a point" and "how to catch the opponent off guard." Generally, the theory is to provide a high, easy-to-hit toss, but sometimes a slightly lower, faster ball has a higher probability of scoring. Stability in tossing is absolutely necessary, but in addition to that, I pursued creative ways to win that only I could do. I felt a sense of fulfillment in creating situations where my teammates could perform at their best during a match.

I believe my experience as a tosser, which requires a wide field of vision, was also useful in my studies. I studied in the Faculty of Economics, but I also took classes in the Faculty of Law out of curiosity. At the time, it was for the simple reason that it "seemed interesting," but now that I am in the workforce and involved in sales and legal affairs, there are many situations where that learning proves useful. I feel that being exposed to fields outside my specialty broadened my perspective.

I was science-oriented until high school, but I chose the Faculty of Economics considering my career path after graduation. In my seminar, I studied international finance, and after graduation, I was thinking about working for a foreign consulting firm or a mega-venture. This was because I wanted to challenge myself in an environment where I would be evaluated based on my abilities, just like in sports.

However, the turning point came in the summer of my junior year when I accompanied the Japan national team to the King's Cup World Championship in Thailand as a student development player. Until then, I had intended to finish serious competition in university and get a job, but the desire to "compete more on the world stage" began to grow.

It would have to be failing to make the selection for the Asian Games once. For me, it was the biggest setback of my life.

Actually, I had even changed jobs to a company where I could work as an athlete-employee to create an environment where I could focus on the sport for that tournament, and I had been preparing extensively, but in the end, I wasn't selected for the national team. My father told me, "Things have been going smoothly until now, but this is your first real setback," and I felt the bitterness, thinking, "That might indeed be true."

It took time to recover. Even so, the association asked me to serve as a practice partner as a support member for the national team until just before the tournament. To be honest, I had conflicting feelings about supporting a tournament I couldn't compete in, but I accepted because it was for my teammates who I had fought alongside for a long time, and I believed it would definitely be a plus for me. During this period, by looking at the national team from the outside, I was able to objectively reassess what I was lacking, and my desire to make it "next time" grew even stronger.

Afterward, in the aftermath of the global spread of COVID-19, the tournament was postponed for a year, and surprisingly, the Japan national team selection was to be held again. Even before the postponement was decided, I had made up my mind to "continue aiming for the national team and keep playing sepak takraw." Just because I failed to make the team once didn't mean I started hating the sport itself. A year later, I challenged the selection again and made the Japan national team. Thanks to the support of those around me and some luck, I was selected, and we also won a bronze medal in the quad event at the tournament, which made me feel glad that I had kept going until then.

Yes, Japan is now fully regarded as one of the powerhouse nations. This September, the Asian Games, an important international tournament, will be held in Nagoya, and I want to give it my all to aim for the top of the world.

Above all, the biggest factor is the company's understanding. There are times when I have to leave work for overseas tours or national team training camps, but there is a workplace environment that sends me off saying, "Good luck." Of course, I have to produce results at work to that extent, and I make sure not to forget the feeling that I would be letting down those who support me if I don't also achieve results in the sport.

Because of such a blessed environment, I want to avoid saying things like "I can't compete because of work" or "I can't work because of the sport," and instead face both with sincerity. I believe that by committing seriously to both, I can meet the expectations of the people who support me.

On weekdays, after finishing work, I head straight to the gym to practice. I have practice four or five days a week, and it's not uncommon for weekends to be filled with national team camps or tournaments. It's certainly not easy physically, but strangely, it doesn't feel like a burden. I think I just love sepak takraw that much.

And because I've experienced setbacks, I realize that being able to compete and being able to continue working are not things to be taken for granted. So now, I want to value and build up each day's practice and each individual task at work. I believe that such accumulation will lead to results in the next international tournament and the goals beyond that.

Of course, as long as I continue to compete, building my body is essential, and I try to manage my condition through various means. While diet is certainly important, I don't do anything special. As an athlete, I am conscious of taking in a lot of protein, but I've actually disliked vegetables since I was a child. That's not good, is it? (laughs). So, if I only cook for myself, I tend to lack vegetables, which is why I also use nutritionally balanced frozen meal delivery services. I try to avoid fast food restaurants as much as possible, but sometimes I end up going anyway (laughs).

I've had more opportunities to visit Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia for international tournaments. At first, I was confused by the food abroad, but after many tours, I've grown accustomed to the local cuisine. I think being able to experience different cultures, including food, is one of the attractions of being active as a Japan representative.

Precisely because teaching methods are not established, there is a joy in researching and being creative ourselves. On the other hand, when you are in a position to teach, certain indicators are also necessary. I am still going through trial and error on how to balance individualized coaching with basic forms.

I feel it very strongly. Through my company duties, I repeatedly go through the process of interpreting based on data and making final decisions. Having acquired those skills has changed my perspective on data analysis in the sport. Instead of simply following the data shown, being able to think proactively about "what we should judge from this trend and how we should specifically move" is a major synergy. Also, while I think and act as a single member in my company work, in sepak takraw, I play the role of game captain, taking a bird's-eye view of the entire team. Because I experience both positions, I feel I am becoming able to act and think while incorporating both perspectives.

Looking back on the four years I spent at Keio University, what remains most memorable are the encounters with people. There were those aiming to start businesses, those immersed in research, and those challenging themselves abroad. Each was seriously facing what they wanted to do. I feel there were many people who acted with their future in mind while maintaining both temporal and mental leeway.

It was because I saw those peers that I naturally came to think, "I'll try to commit seriously to both the sport and work." I believe the greatest asset I gained at university was not sepak takraw techniques, but the "attitude of thinking for oneself, choosing for oneself, and challenging oneself." It is often said that "he who hunts two hares leaves one and loses the other," but I believe there are sights you can only see because you chase two rabbits. By challenging different fields such as sports, academics, and work, learning and perspectives intersect, leading to one's own strengths. Since you are in the free environment of being a university student, I want you to not fear the unknown, actively challenge multiple fields, and accumulate experiences unique to you. And if you like, please also support us, the Japan national sepak takraw team.