Sae Takemoto, who served as the ceremonial first pitcher at the Rakuten Super Night Game, is one of the Japan National team’s most anticipated athletes, bringing world-class technique to the women’s javelin throw. For Takemoto, sports has been an important part of growing up. What shaped her to become who she is now, and what are some things she values? We zoom in on a next-generation athlete who embodies Rakuten’s theme, "A Better Future Together Through Sports."

——What does “a better future together with sports” look like to you?

Sae Takemoto (hereafter, Takemoto): “I think sports can help people grow enormously. From my own experience, it can teach you to be considerate of others, and it can also foster a spirit of gratitude. That’s precisely why I want sports to remain something familiar and accessible to many people going forward, and I hope that we can create an environment that empowers people to try out new things.”

——Is that kind of an environment important in javelin throw as well?

Takemoto: “In Europe and other foreign countries, there are athletes who say that javelin was their gateway into sports. But in Japan, I don’t think many people know about javelin throw. I myself came to javelin through baseball, and my impression is that people who are good at ‘throwing,’ like softball players, go into javelin. So I think if there was a culture where people are inspired to try out new things, it would be a great opportunity for younger people to discover javelin throw, and they would have a wide range of options. If these people got the chance to throw a javelin ball, that would probably make a huge difference, and I want to be the one to get the word out.”

——What are the moments you enjoy the most about javelin throw?

Takemoto: “When I was just starting out, it was watching my distance increase. The grip is different from the baseball grip I was used to, so I struggled a bit, but once I understood it, I could throw the javelin so far it was just amazing. From there, I found joy in getting medals and being celebrated by everyone. But as I’ve grown, I’ve come to find the greatest joy in meeting many people through javelin, both at home and abroad, and discovering how different people think about different things.”

——Are you glad you experienced baseball?

Takemoto: “I’m glad I got to recognize that I naturally have strong arm power, as it’s become a source of confidence for me. I remember being able to throw a ball 70 meters in elementary school. Because of that, even if my form breaks down a bit at release or my technique feels off, I can still pull it off using raw shoulder strength. So I almost never feel anxious at competitions, and that might be my strength. But I was incredibly nervous at today’s ceremonial pitch…”

——I heard that you and Eagles player Yuma Yasuda are both from Kobe, and even went to the same school.

Takemoto: “We are! But I never imagined we’d be forming a battery at a ceremonial pitch. Yuma was on a powerhouse team since elementary school. We weren’t in frequent contact, and I was surprised to see his name come up in the draft. I sent him a message, and he was like, ‘Yeah, I know.’ Today will always be a wonderful memory.”

——Looking ahead, what kind of athlete would you like to be?

Takemoto: “I moved to Tokyo in April this year, and I now use the Ajinomoto National Training Center as my training base. To show my gratitude to the people I’ve met and those who cheer me on, I will focus on building a strong mind and body. Ultimately, I want to be someone who can pass on the experiences and knowledge I’ve accumulated to the next generation―a person who is approachable and loved.”

INTERVIEW & TEXT: Keisuke Honda
PHOTO: Masato Ura