I was drawn to the hakama worn by my seniors and started kyudo in junior high. I still remember the sound of hitting the target. I've been competing for seven years, but I'm still desperate to keep up with skilled athletes. I've always been competitive.

My biggest setback was competing in the Inter-High School Championships in my first year of high school. I made a big mistake by pulling four shots and missing four hits (missing the target). It was a frustration I had never felt before, but after that, I devoted myself to kyudo and achieved second place nationwide.

Fortunately, several universities reached out to me. I chose J. F. Oberlin University because the members' archery styles were very beautiful. The day before the selection, I started thinking, 'I absolutely want to practice kyudo here.'

I am currently in charge of the "last shot" in team competitions. The last shot is the one entrusted with taking the final shot in each group when multiple people are shooting together. It's a position where I support my seniors from behind, so I feel a fair amount of pressure. Sometimes, after a senior has finished shooting, they'll say, "Kayano, I'm counting on you," so I have to approach every practice with the mindset of "I absolutely won't miss." However, if I do well, I can encourage my teammates, so I also feel a sense of accomplishment.

I'm sometimes asked, "Don't you get nervous?", but nervousness isn't always a bad thing. In fact, a moderate amount of tension is necessary in a match, and if you can use that tension to your advantage, you can perform at your best. I constantly put myself under extreme pressure so that I can hit the target in competitions.

We were able to win the All-Kanto Student Kyudo Championship held in June. Since I have aimed to become number one in Japan in both individual and team events, I think I got off to a promising start at university.

Through kyudo, I learned the importance of setting goals. When I was in high school, people around me told me, 'You'll become the best in Japan,' and even though I was hesitant, I approached kyudo and that has shaped who I am today. I've also seen seniors who set their goals out loud and followed through on them. From now on, I'll keep working hard toward the goal of winning the men's and women's championships.

The athlete I aim for is one whose posture is "beautiful when drawing the bow." I decided to enroll in J. F. Oberlin University because of the archery styles of my seniors. Since I entered the university because I admired the way I draw the bow, I will not only succeed myself but also strive to shoot beautifully and boldly.