The Olympics, Paralympics & Keio

Associate Professor Hisashi Mizutori helped lead the Japanese national team to a gold medal in gymnastics as an athlete at the 2004 Athens Olympics. After retiring from active competition, he led the Japan Men's national team to another gold medal as head coach at the 2016 Rio Olympics. We asked Associate Professor Mizutori about what gymnastics and the Olympics mean to him.

- Your parents ran a gymnastics club, and you started gymnastics at the age of three.

I am one of six, and four of us pursued gymnastics. I remember being so inflexible as a child that I would cry from the pain whenever we did stretching exercises. When I was eight, I watched Daisuke Nishikawa, Yukio Iketani, and the rest of the Japanese men's team on TV as they competed against gymnastic powerhouses like the Soviet Union and East Germany at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. That was the first time I thought about competing in the Olympics. Becoming an Olympic athlete was part of my identity from that point on.

- Aiming for Japan's national gymnastics team is no small feat.

I represented Japan for the first time at the Universiade, now the FISU World University Games, once I became a student at Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU). But in my fourth year at university, I suffered a severe injury before the trials for the Athens Olympics. Fortunately, my coach, Koji Gushiken, a 1984 Los Angeles gold medalist, introduced me to a sports psychology professor at the Japan Institute of Sports Science, who helped me organize my goals and strategies. I spent the next year focused on training, conditioning, and mental preparation, backcasting from my goal of becoming an Olympic athlete. That gave me the confidence I needed to compete in the NHK Cup, a preliminary selection round for the Athens Olympics.

- You went on to compete at Athens as a member of the national team, winning the gold medal in the team competition.

I used a similar approach at the Olympics, understanding the current situation and developing an approach by backcasting from my goal of winning the gold medal. By objectively analyzing my circumstances and constructing a logical strategy and clear image of success in my head, I was able to realize my dream. This experience has been a source of great confidence throughout my life.

- After retiring from active competition, you led the men's team as head coach to consecutive gold and silver medals at the Olympics.

At first, I was puzzled by the differences between competing and coaching. As an athlete, it was enough to think about my individual goals and strategies, but as a coach, my job was to manage the entire team. Because the athletes all possessed such a high level of skill and a deep sense of pride, I realized that I would need to secure buy-in from each of them for the shared goal of winning a gold medal. Looking back, I realize the challenges of being a national head coach as it involves capturing the feelings of each athlete and deciding on the right timing and techniques for guidance.

- Now, you're teaching Keio students as a faculty member at SFC.

Having been in sports all my life, I am inspired daily by many SFC students who naturally excel at academics and athletics. In addition to physical education classes, my seminar covers practical sports psychology and conditioning at the highest levels of sport. Eighty percent of the students in my seminar belong to the Keio University Athletic Association, while the remaining twenty percent are interested in sports business and sports promotion. This year, we plan to conduct research activities with a more diverse approach, working with Kenta Chida, a silver medalist in the men's fencing team foil event at the London Olympics and now an assistant professor at the Faculty of Policy Management.

(Date of interview: April 15, 2024)

Takakuwa debuted at the London 2012 Paralympics as a second-year student at the Faculty of Policy Management. Coach Takano has been working with Takakuwa for many years. We sat down with Takakuwa and Takano to ask them about their years of experience in the world of Paralympic sport, the current state of the Paralympics, and how best to enjoy them.

- Why did you choose to study at Keio University?

Takakuwa: When I was in high school, I learned that a product design laboratory at SFC was conducting research on how to create beautiful prosthetic limbs, and I thought that I wanted to study somewhere I could do that kind of research. I felt like Keio had an atmosphere that respected the individuality of its track and field athletes, and I liked that the athletics field was located right next to the station in Hiyoshi.

- You first competed in the Paralympics while you were still at university.

Takakuwa: Yes, it was in my second year. The London Games saw a significant increase in attention to the Paralympics, thanks to the efforts of those involved, with stadiums filled with spectators who cheered on all the athletes. It was my first time running in front of such a large crowd, but I was happier than I was nervous. I think London marked the beginning of greater attention to Para sport. Until then, Para athletes had traditionally been seen as an extension of disability sports, but London ushered in an era when we had to start honing our skills as serious athletes.

- Does this mean that the skill level among Para athletes has improved along with the increased attention?

Takano: From a coach's perspective, the bar for Para sport has been raised dramatically since the London Games, and she is absolutely right when she says that qualifying to compete in the event itself is now a challenge. In fact, the challenge continues not only for the athletes but also for us coaches. When I began coaching Takakuwa, there were hardly any developed methods for training Para athletes who wanted to aim higher, which meant I had to formulate my own coaching methods through trial and error. Some semblance of a technique has finally taken shape, though I still have many issues to address.

Takakuwa: Coach Takano was the first coach to understand me when I was in high school and wanted to run faster and aim higher.

Takano: I also coach Takakuwa's classmate Ryota Yamagata, a sprinter who currently holds the Japanese record for the 100m. The starting point for instruction is always to deal with each athlete individually, whether they have a disability or not. Sports coaching tends to rely on general formats you can apply broadly, but it's challenging to meet the aspirations of athletes who want to aim higher if you do that. I suppose this tailored approach may be more significant for Para athletes than non-disabled athletes.

- Coach Takano, what sets Takakuwa apart as an athlete?

Takano: In a word, she's hardworking. She approaches every task meticulously, tackling each with utmost sincerity. And there aren't many athletes that can really do that properly. But sometimes, being too diligent can lead to getting stuck in a rut, so I encourage her to be mindful of that.

- Could you please say a few words to Keio students regarding the upcoming Paris Paralympics?

Takakuwa: I'm working hard so I can compete at my fourth consecutive Olympic Games. If I am selected to compete, I want to focus on results. I hope I can deliver a performance that will help more people discover the joy of Para sport. Thank you for your support.

Takano: As I mentioned earlier, dealing with each athlete on an individual basis is crucial in sports coaching. I think it's the same with cheering for the athletes. Think about the efforts each athlete has made. Cheer them on. These are the things that make Para sport so enjoyable.

The athletics field at Hiyoshi Campus underwent renovations on March 21, 2024.

The field was first used as the venue for the ceremony held in November 2008 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Keio University, which drew large crowds. Since then, it has been used for a variety of purposes, including physical education classes, junior high and high school sports days, daily training and matches for the track and field and lacrosse teams, and as a venue for Mita-kai alumni events. Over time, the track surface had worn out, and the artificial turf had deteriorated, posing a risk of losing its certification from the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF), so major renovations were carried out last academic year.

In planning a complete overhaul, discussions were held with faculty and staff of the Institute of Physical Education and relevant faculty and staff members of the Keio University Athletic Association to ensure that the athletics field maintained its certification and was user-friendly for everyone. The lane markings were upgraded to international standards to produce athletes who can compete globally. The field was equipped with artificial turf for throwing events, and goal lines were added for frequent lacrosse use. The most significant change was the track surface, which was changed from red to blue. Blue tracks are a recent trend and are said to have a calming effect on athletes' mental health. In addition, all lighting fixtures were also updated to LEDs, making them environmentally friendly. Following a full day of rigorous testing by JAAF inspectors, the field's certification was successfully renewed on March 17.

The biggest attraction of the field is the proximity between the spectators and athletes. The Hiyoshi Athletics Field hosted the Tokyo Big6 Track and Field Meet on April 6, 2024, becoming a successful inaugural event with lively cheering from the supporters of each participating school.

It will continue to be a memorable place for many students, alumni, faculty, staff, and local residents for many years to come.

Add hashtags like "# 慶應から世界へ," "#KeioSpirit," "#すゝめ," "#Paris2024," and "#[sport name]" on social media to support Keio. Cheer on the athletes competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Games wherever you are!

*This article originally appeared in the 2024 Summer edition (No. 323) of Juku.