Everyone is different | Kenji Kumasaka (Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies)
2004.05.06
April 6, the kickoff lecture. The speaker was Toru Kurihara. He is an alumnus from SFC's eighth graduating class and a leading Japanese rugby player who signed a professional contract with Suntory. On the screen in Theta Hall, footage was playing from when he became a university champion in his third year. Although it was only from a few years ago, Kurihara had already transformed into a different person. His physique was different. His presence was completely different.
A new student asked a question: "In a Japan national team match, when the outcome depends on your kick, what goes through your mind as you kick the ball?" After a moment of thought, he replied, "I kick with the expectations of 120 million people on my shoulders. Once I was able to do that, my kick success rate improved." By placing immense pressure on himself, he likely balances the mission he is entrusted with and the tension in his body. There is no solution in running away; by pushing himself to the breaking point, his sense of responsibility and trust in his own body align, and success is gifted to him. Amazing. After the lecture, Kurihara headed to a taping of the TV show *Junk Sports*.
April 27. It was raining and very windy. My portable umbrella broke. Just my luck. On a day like that, something happened on the Toyoko Line on my way back from Yokohama to Shibuya. At Hiyoshi Station, a young man in red pants got on and immediately started texting with his thumbs. A few stops later, two high school girls with bags got on and sat next to the young man. Then, the young man immediately said, "Are you guys from Keio? That bag has The Pen Mark on it. I'm from Keio, too," showing them The Pen Mark on his own file. He gave the high school girl with the Fender guitar concert tickets and flyers, and finally even a business card with his photo on it. He talked nonstop the whole time and then quickly got off the train. Immediately, the high school girls gave their assessment. "Keio, my foot. And this business card, does he want us to say it's cool or something? What an idiot." It was brutal. These girls might be enrolling at SFC in a few years. I couldn't help but wonder, is everyone going to be okay?
Everyone is different. There are many different styles. Let's keep trying??
The NBA playoffs are on. Will the sleeping Lakers awaken again? This is also a style.
(Date published: 2004/05/06)