By strengthening your physique,
Our goal is promotion to the second division.

College of Health and Welfare Third-year students
Boys' Volleyball Club Left Field
From J. F. Oberlin Senior High School, Tokyo

Kazuharu Kasai

Main content

Skills improve with effort.

I started playing volleyball after entering junior high school. When I first saw volleyball up close, I was drawn to the way the team worked together as one. The rules are simple: don't let the ball drop in your own half, but drop it in the opponent's half. But seeing the older students so enthusiastic about it made me want to try it too.

Since I didn't play for a so-called powerhouse school, I was worried about whether I'd even make the bench when I entered university. But I always played while thinking about how I could use my skills to benefit the team and what my strengths were compared to my rivals. The habit of observing the play of highly skilled players is still relevant to my current playing style. If you work hard, your skills will improve. I feel that my time dedicated to volleyball in school clubs was a period in which I accumulated many successful experiences.

Using the bitter disappointment of relegation as motivation, they aim for promotion.

In 2022, the men's volleyball team had third-year students as their senior class. We often lost out to more experienced teams from other universities, and we were relegated in the 2022 spring league. We were truly disappointed, so we are working hard in practice with the desire to be promoted as soon as possible. Our strength is that we have been playing with the same lineup for two consecutive years. The coordination among the members has become smoother, and our awareness of connecting plays and the precision of our blocking have also improved.

Volleyball is a sport where height gives you an advantage, but we are not a team blessed with height. To compensate for the height difference, we want to strengthen our physical abilities and avoid losing in terms of physical endurance. Now that I have reached the upper grades, I have more opportunities to guide younger students. It's important to pay attention not only to practice and matches but also to their daily behavior. Sometimes you have to say something that hurts your ears. Since we carry the J. F. Oberlin University signboard, I believe we need to approach this with awareness.

Because we're a united team, we can persevere even when we're at a disadvantage.

As someone who gets to play in a match, I can't afford to play half-heartedly. Everyone wants to be a starter, but even so, the number of players who can actually play is limited. The whole team, including the bench players, holds back their desire to play and cheers us on with their voices. It's because of my teammates that I can keep going even when we're at a disadvantage. I'm aware that I'm carrying their hopes on my shoulders, and I go into the game determined to do my best for them as well.

I've had a lot of injuries in the past, which has caused a lot of trouble for the team. To be honest, there were times when my motivation was low, but I've been supported by many people, and that's how I've made it this far. They support me not only in club activities but also in my personal life. I'm grateful that I can play volleyball every day, and I want to work hard to achieve solid results this season.

Interview date:
This was done in June 2023 for the "Obirin Sports" website.

By strengthening your physique,Our goal is promotion to the second division.

Main content

Skills improve with effort.

Using the bitter disappointment of relegation as motivation, they aim for promotion.

Because we're a united team, we can persevere even when we're at a disadvantage.

Related content

By strengthening your physique,
Our goal is promotion to the second division.