Recalling the Beautiful Dusk Skies of Tohoku and the Smiles of the People He Met

――You must have been quite nervous the day before or just before the start?

I had already made peace with it the day before, so I wasn't too nervous. Looking back now, I think the peak of my anxiety was before the 30km pace run in early February. On the day itself, while heading to the start line at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, I was surprisingly preoccupied with practical matters. For instance, whether to wear a jumper or short sleeves, or if I'd be able to spot the friends who had told me they'd be cheering along the route (laughs).

But, I feel like I've learned the importance of self-management at my age thanks to that. What kept me going with my training was the exhilaration, a sense of purification of body and mind as the distances increased – the unique joy of running. And above all, it was remembering the vast, beautiful dusk skies I saw in Tohoku after the earthquake, and the smiles of the people I met there.

Mentally and Physically Grueling Moments Persisted

――It seems you were listening to music on race day. What were you listening to?

I had prepared my own playlist, but I decided to listen to two hours of unplayed episodes from my friend Gilles Peterson's radio show. I wanted to embrace the excitement of not knowing what would come next, much like my first marathon. Giles couldn't participate in this marathon due to an injury. I ran while listening to his show.


――42.195 kilometers – there must have been tough moments...

The cheers from my family, friends, and acquaintances, as well as the voices of encouragement from everyone lining the course who cheered on all the runners, were a great source of motivation.



――Did you receive any messages of support from the Hata-chii Foundation?

A few days before the race, I was shown photos of the children, which really motivated me. I also received a message with photos immediately after finishing, and then a direct phone call. All of it made me very happy. It warmed my heart to know that my challenge had been worthwhile.

I Want to Keep Running

――The moment you crossed the finish line, what was your first thought?

I was filled with regret that I hadn't reached my target time. Through participating in this race, I identified many areas for improvement, such as the importance of daily training, the difficulty of conditioning, and pacing during the actual event. I want to continue running to overcome these challenges, achieve my target time, and to continue supporting the children in the disaster-stricken areas.


――What are the future plans for the charity project?

On March 11th, the first anniversary of the earthquake, we will hold a charity event running around the Imperial Palace with radio listeners and OPENERS readers. Additionally, on the same day, a charity T-shirt I designed will be released at all SHIPS select shops. After deducting production costs, all proceeds from the sale of this T-shirt are planned to be donated to the Hata-chii Foundation.

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