[No. 63] Kazuo Sano

In April 1959, I advanced from Keio Senior High School to the Faculty of Engineering at Keio University. I was in the sixth class of the newly established Department of Instrumentation Engineering. After completing one year of liberal arts courses at the Hiyoshi campus, I spent the next three years commuting to the tranquil Koganei campus, surrounded by the lush greenery of Musashino. At the main gate of the Koganei campus, there was a wooden sign with "Keio University Fujiwara Memorial Faculty of Engineering" written in ink, and the school buildings were a collection of single-story wooden structures that retained the atmosphere of a former factory site. My motivation for choosing the Department of Instrumentation Engineering was inspired by the words of Professor Shoichi Majima, a key figure in the department's revival. In an article introducing the department, he emphasized the importance and indispensability of instrumentation to the world, stating, "There is no science without measurement," and "Measurement and control are the two wheels of science." This left a strong impression on me that I still remember vividly today.

After my time at Koganei, I graduated from Professor Michi Mizushima's laboratory in March 1963. I decided to enter the steel industry, a field where I believed instrumentation technology had the greatest potential. I joined Nippon Kokan K.K. (later NKK, now JFE). I was assigned to the Physics Research Laboratory of the Technical Research Center, where I began thematic research focusing mainly on thermal measurement inside blast furnaces—a world away from the precision of instrumentation technology. After six years as a novice researcher at the company, I was sent to study abroad for two years in the Master of Science in Chemical Engineering program at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon returning, I resumed my research work at the factory. My responsibilities expanded to include ironmaking, steelmaking, and rolling. I wrote my dissertation on the theme of "Measurement and Control of Molten Steel Level in the Mold during the Continuous Casting Process," submitted it to the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, and in November 1985, I was able to obtain my Doctor of Engineering degree.

Meanwhile, returning to my student days, I also made sure to fully enjoy my youth during my time at the Koganei campus. Having been familiar with swimming since childhood, I felt something was missing as there was no swimming club at Koganei. Along with like-minded peers, I established a swimming club within the Faculty of Engineering's Athletic Association. We named it the "Gin-ei-kai" (Silver Swim Club), taking one character from the name of Professor Ginjiro Fujiwara, and started with just four members in our first year. Thanks to the dedicated junior members who followed, the club's activities have continued, and next year (2010), we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Gin-ei-kai Swimming Club, having built a tradition and history.

It was later that I learned of and was deeply impressed by the "Three Treasures of Sports," a philosophy on sports by Shinzo Koizumi (Editor's note: former President of Keio University from 1933 to 1947, economist), who strongly inherited the teachings of Yukichi Fukuzawa, an advocate for the balance of literary and martial arts. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce them here.

The first is "the experience of diligent practice." The only thing that makes countless impossibilities possible is silent, continuous practice. This is the famous saying, "Practice makes the impossible possible."

The second is "the spirit of fair play." Be a brave fighter and a graceful loser.

The third is "friends are life's treasure." Those who have them can be said to have obtained the greatest happiness in life.

In addition, I find the final rule, Rule 10, from the "Ten Rules of Practice" by the legal scholar Izutaro Suehiro, who was instrumental in the formation of the Japan Swimming Federation, to be truly profound: "Good practice can only be achieved with a good coach. However, an athlete who relies solely on the coach and does not devise their own methods will not improve."

These words are the best guide not only for athletes but also for young people challenging their goals in life. My challenge in swimming did not cease even during my corporate life. From the time I joined Nippon Kokan in April 1963, I believe I was drawn to the factory's fire-prevention water pool after work because of the allure of swimming. As I became more deeply involved, I set three goals for developing athletes during my time as the swimming team's head coach: "setting a new Japanese record," "producing Olympic athletes," and "achieving national team victory." I am eternally grateful that I was able to achieve these goals one after another with the immense support of many people and wonderful collaborators. My coaching career spanned over 30 years.

The biggest event I had the experience of participating in for the Japan Swimming Federation, in parallel with developing athletes, was the "9th FINA World Championships Fukuoka 2001." The city of Fukuoka and the Japan Swimming Federation worked hand-in-hand to realize this massive project, which brought together a record 2,450 athletes from 134 countries and regions and had a budget of approximately 4.5 billion yen. As the Tournament Officer and General Manager, I was able to mark a page in swimming history with its great success. Furthermore, last year (August 2008), I was appointed as the head of the Japanese national swimming team for the Beijing Olympics. We formed "Team Japan" for swimming, consisting of 42 athletes in swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming, and 27 officials, for a total of 69 members. We competed with the goal of "raising the Hinomaru on the center pole!" Thanks in part to the superhuman performance of Kosuke Kitajima, we were able to win six medals, including two gold. This is a treasure for a lifetime, and I am deeply grateful for everyone's cheers and support.

Finally, as of April of this year (2009), I have taken on the role of president of the Japan Swimming Federation. Although my abilities are limited, I am determined to strive for the further development of the Japanese swimming world, and I would be grateful for your continued support on various occasions.