Respect for autonomy and proactive encouragement.
I will keep in mind the decision I made as captain.

College of Arts and Sciences Third-year students
Boys' Volleyball Club Captain Receiver
Graduate of Yasuda Gakuen High School, Tokyo

Takashi Fujino

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Supported by my family's encouragement, I overcame rigorous training during my elementary, middle, and high school years.

From a young age, I've experienced various sports, including soccer, swimming, and karate. I started playing volleyball when I was in fourth grade, after my father took me to visit a volleyball club in Edogawa Ward. Both my father and grandmother had played volleyball before, so my father gave me lots of advice on techniques and training methods, and my grandmother and mother supported me more enthusiastically than any other sport. Wanting to reciprocate my father's feelings and see my grandmother and mother happy, I naturally became engrossed in volleyball.

The team I belonged to in elementary school was one of the top two strongest clubs in Tokyo at the time. It was tough to become a regular player, but I fought hard for a position for my father, mother, and grandmother, who supported me more than anyone else. Thanks to that effort, I became a regular player as an attacker. In middle and high school, I went on to attend schools with strong volleyball programs. I am grateful that I was able to endure the tough training and continue playing volleyball because of the support of my family.

I'll leverage the strengths of those around me to figure out the best way for the team.

When I was about to enter university, I became interested in J. F. Oberlin University after being recommended by my high school volleyball advisor. J. F. Oberlin University I played a practice match with the volleyball club and was attracted to the team's warm, homey atmosphere. I also participated in the open campus, and since it matched my expectations, I decided to attend Obirin.

What I felt after joining J. F. Oberlin University 's volleyball club was the difference in atmosphere compared to high school. Until then, the opinions of the coach and coaches were absolute, and the important thing was to 'play faithfully as told.' However, at Obirin, rather than the coach making decisions, the importance of "autonomy" is emphasized—thinking for themselves, exchanging opinions, and applying them to the game. Because you can play freely, the responsibility also increases. Starting this year, I will be entrusted with the captain, and sometimes it can be difficult to organize the members' opinions. However, all of these were positive opinions put forward to "win." When in trouble, I consult with the vice-captain or peers about the best approach, and ultimately make the decision myself.

Our immediate goals are to finish in the top six in the league and to qualify for the Intercollegiate Championships.

Since becoming captain, my mindset has changed. I now pay attention not only to the regular players, but also to everyone else, including the managers. In volleyball, you can't win if only the "regulars" are excellent. Victory is only achieved when there are people who perform various roles at a high level, such as ball handling and analyzing videos of opposing teams' matches. I'm grateful to these people and make a conscious effort to proactively communicate with them. I've also become more aware of even small things, like injuries to players during practice.

While it's usually a fourth-year student who serves as captain, I've been entrusted with the role since my third year. Following the advice I received from the previous captain, this year I want to focus on building a solid foundation for the team by improving skills such as agility and quickness, and enhancing basic physical fitness, and then use that as a springboard for future success. Our immediate goal is to participate in the Intercollegiate Championships (All Japan Student Championships), and we will be competing to finish in the top six overall in the spring and fall league matches.

Interview date:
This was done in April 2022 for the "Obirin Sports" website.

Respect for autonomy and proactive encouragement.I will keep in mind the decision I made as captain.

Main content

Supported by my family's encouragement, I overcame rigorous training during my elementary, middle, and high school years.

I'll leverage the strengths of those around me to figure out the best way for the team.

Our immediate goals are to finish in the top six in the league and to qualify for the Intercollegiate Championships.

Related content

Respect for autonomy and proactive encouragement.
I will keep in mind the decision I made as captain.