[Athlete Voice] Track and Field Club, Ekiden Team Captain, Kan'ei Morishige
Athlete Voice
"Physical" and "Mental" By strengthening the two pillars, Heading to Hakone
College of Health and Welfare 4th Grade Track and Field Club, Ekiden Team Captain Graduate of Imabari Higashi Secondary School, Ehime Prefecture
Kan'ei Morishige
Main content
I decided to enroll at Obirin University with the dream of contributing to their first-ever appearance in the Hakone Ekiden (long-distance relay race).
The soft tennis club I belonged to in junior high was one of the strongest schools in the prefecture. Thanks to the rigorous training that sometimes required running over 30 kilometers, I naturally developed the ability to run. I was recognized for having the best leg strength in the club and was scouted to participate in the invitational tournament, which was the trigger for starting ekiden. Before I knew it, I was even more absorbed than tennis, which was supposed to be my main club. After high school, when I was struggling with where to go to school, it was my current teammate Nagao who reached out to me. I met him at the Shikoku selection camp, and I was deeply moved by his words: 'Let's go to Obirin together. If we do it, we can contribute to our first appearance in Hakone,' and decided to go to J. F. Oberlin University.
I experienced an unexpected setback shortly after entering university. My body simply wasn't developed enough, and for 6 to 8 months of my first year, I was unable to participate in activities due to injuries, and naturally, I couldn't play in matches. I was truly frustrated that I was relegated to the second group without even having the opportunity to demonstrate my abilities, and I resolved that "I can't end it like this."
A year of stagnation led to a major breakthrough.
Determined not to waste any more time, I considered various options and ultimately chose weight training. Starting around February of my first year, I began learning from a top trainer and working on building my physique. The results were a great success. It gave me a better understanding of my own body, and most importantly, I haven't been injured since. Within about six months of starting training, I achieved the third-best result in the 5000m race within the club and was able to reclaim my place on the first team.
Looking back, having my classmates was incredibly reassuring. They encouraged me during tough times, and when things were going well, we were able to push each other to improve as good rivals. I was able to work hard with humility and confidence thanks to my teammates. Because of these feelings, when I was appointed captain, I agonized over what I could do to make the team stronger. The biggest change I focused on was creating an environment where we could communicate regardless of our year in school. I wanted to focus on nurturing the next generation for the future of Obirin University and create an environment where we could learn from and inspire each other, transcending the boundaries of our year.
By utilizing everyone's individual strengths, Obirin will become even stronger.
Since becoming captain, I've incorporated weight training to improve physical strength based on my own experience, and I've also added mental training to our team practices. The impetus for this came when I reflected on last year's qualifying rounds, where our performance declined, and remembered the words of alumnus Ledama Kisaisa. Even he, who boasts exceptional speed, said, "I'm afraid of losing. I always feel in danger." Anyone can become intimidated in the face of a big stage. I realized that mental strength is also important in order to perform to one's full potential.
We start our practice sessions with group meditation. When each of us thinks about something that will make us feel positive and focuses on it, our morale rises. I also conducted individual interviews with each member, believing that understanding each member's individuality would raise the overall level of the team. For me, it was an opportunity to broaden my perspective, and I think the team members have developed an awareness that "we're not leaving everything to the captain, but everyone is leading the team together." This year at Obirin, not just the captain, everyone is demonstrating leadership. I believe we can become even stronger as we aim to participate in the Hakone Ekiden.
Interview date: This was done in April 2022 for the "Obirin Sports" website.
