I was a member of the soccer club until junior high school. My first encounter with ekiden (long-distance relay race) was in elementary school, when I participated in an ekiden race held in winter. Several people from the soccer club also participated, and I enjoyed the fun of running with my friends. I happened to do well in an ekiden race I participated in during junior high school, and was able to enter high school on a sports scholarship.

I started track and field seriously in high school, but I had a lot of difficulties after entering university. I couldn't beat my personal best from when I entered university, and I even considered quitting the sport altogether. I finally saw results in November of my third year of high school. I was so relieved when I was able to break my personal best.

When I was in high school, I participated in J. F. Oberlin University 's summer training camp. I was impressed by how students practiced proactively, and I thought, 'I want to join a team with a similar atmosphere.' The seniors were kind and listened to their sincere advice, which was also a deciding factor in my admission.

Currently, the ekiden team is practicing six days a week. What we focus on is not just practicing to complete tasks. We align the intentions of practice with the coach to ensure high-quality training.

Since last year, we have incorporated a menu called "Yoshuku" as part of our mental training. To prevent tension from preventing you from performing well on the actual day, we imagine yourself going well. Starting this year, we have also started breathing training that returns to the basic movement of "inhaling and exhaling" to improve concentration.

Our goal is to participate in the Hakone Ekiden. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the race, so the number of participating teams has increased from 10 to 13. Last year we didn't get the results we wanted in the qualifying rounds, but now we've used that disappointment as motivation and created a mood of "Let's aim for Hakone!"

Although I am the captain, I'm not good at leading the team from the front. That's why, as my own form of leadership, I prioritize communication with everyone. In ekiden (long-distance relay race), you run alone, but you can't win unless everyone is focused on the same goal. I want to create an environment where the team can work together as one, both in practice and in the actual race.

I plan to retire from competitive running after university. That's why I want to have a race without any regrets. When I run near the university, the local people always cheer me on. I would be happy if I could participate in the Hakone Ekiden and live up to everyone's expectations. I would really appreciate your support.