On December 15, Kazuhei Kimura, a representative of the Japanese Para-cycling team, Futo Nagamori, a key player in the Japanese representative Blind Soccer® team, and G.G.Sato, a former professional Baseball player, participated in the Parasports Experience Park by Rakuten held in Fukuchi Town, Fukuoka Prefecture.How did these three individuals, each from different genres and careers, enjoy this one day and what did they feel?I want to find hints to expand the possibilities of Parasports from the opinions and ideas expressed from various perspectives.

The first ever Parasports Experience Park by Rakuten featured a variety of Parasports booths for experiences such as Para-cycling, Blind Soccer®, Wheelchair Tennis, Para Athletics, and more.The bright voices of elementary and middle school children echoed throughout the Kaneda Gymnasium in Fukuchi Town, which served as the venue.

Kazuhei Kimura (a representative of Para-cycling in Japan for the visually impaired class), and Futo Nagamori (a representative of the men’s blind Soccer in Japan), both of whom are affiliated athletes of the Rakuten Group, were involved in this event.When former professional Baseball player G.G.Sato joined as a guest, a unique triangle of “Para-cycling”, “Blind Soccer®”, and “Baseball” was formed!Recognizing this as a rare opportunity, I had them gather in the waiting room at the Kaneda branch next to the gymnasium to hear the story.

Kazuhei Kimura, a player who has been interviewed in the past on syncSPORTS by Rakuten.At the beginning of the event, the blind stretch was also livening up the venue with talk.

Futo Nagamori, a player who usually belongs to a team called ‘free bird mejirodai’.The “FP” in position stands for Field Player.

G.G.Sato, who was active as a professional baseball player for the KAMIKAWA Shibetsu Samurai Blades in the Hokkaido Frontier League until 2023.This time, they participated as a guest.

Discoveries Brought About by New Challenges

——The children who participated said, “It was difficult but fun!”They exclaimed with excitement.How was it for everyone?

Kazuhei Kimura:”I was overwhelmed by the energy of the children.In the “Tandem Cycling Game” section, we had people try out a cycling machine where two people pedal in sync, utilizing a virtual game.’How can I row well in sync with my breath?’The sight of them calling out to each other and making efforts was impressive,”

Futo Nagamori: “In the ‘PK Experience’ section of Blind Soccer®, I was amazed at the adaptability of the children. The sensation of chasing the ball relying on sound, you grasped it surprisingly quickly.”

——Many of the children who regularly participate in sports were present, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, even if it was their first time.How was G.G. Sato?

G.G.Sato: “When I first experienced Blind Soccer®, I felt a fear beyond imagination while playing in a state where my vision was completely obstructed. However, I feel that I was able to learn the courage to overcome that, and the importance of trusting in one’s companions, together with the children.”

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Kimura having a chat with the children at the “tandem cycling game” booth.

Nagamori was interacting with the children while wearing the indispensable eye mask for playing Blind Soccer®.

The young baseball players seemed delighted to have a commemorative photo with G.G.Sato.

Sharing Emotions Beyond Competition

——Para-cycling, Blind Soccer®, Baseball.Everyone is involved in different sports, but if there is a common appeal to all sports, what do you think it is?

Kazuhei Kimura: “My sport is Para-cycling for the visually impaired class, so the combination with the pilot (the sighted person in the front seat) is more important than anything else.When the timing of pedaling synchronizes perfectly with each other, you can achieve the highest acceleration.However, it becomes difficult to move forward if the rhythm is even slightly off. I believe the exhilarating feeling of perfectly syncing with each other in that moment is a charm that is also common to other sports.”

G.G.Sato: “That’s certainly the case.During my professional baseball career, there were also times when I managed to bounce back in critical situations thanks to the encouragement from my teammates.I feel that calling out to your friends and dancing are really important things to do.How about Mr. Nagamori?”

Futo Nagamori: “Well, yes. For example, there have been instances where the situation improved by sharing insights from those around me.The presence of comrades who can encourage each other is also linked to the origin of “enjoyment” in sports.In any sport, I believe it primarily involves having a sense of enjoyment, and then being able to overcome weaknesses or enhance the accuracy of your strengths.”

G.G.Sato: “I also started playing Baseball because of the pure feeling of ‘fun’. The enjoyment becomes motivation, and the people around me cheer me on, saying, ‘You’re doing great.’There are people who are moved not just by winning or losing, but by the process and effort involved.That’s the beauty of sports, isn’t it?”

Expanding Connections, Proposals for the Future

——This was the first time the Parasports Experience Park by Rakuten was held. Do you have any ideas for improvements for the next time, such as “It would be better if we did this”?

Kazuhei Kimura: “I think the children enjoyed themselves thoroughly, but it would be nice if there were more opportunities for the parents to ask questions freely.Parents with children who have disabilities often harbor vague anxieties, wondering ‘what will become of my child’s future?’ By understanding our competitive life and daily routine, if we can share specific stories, we might be able to see new possibilities.”

Futo Nagamori: “I believe that if we allocate a little more time for lectures and Q&A sessions, it will lead to a deeper understanding.This time the focus was primarily on elementary and junior high school students, but personally, I think it would be great if we could expand the participation to high school students and above.”

G.G.Sato: “Even among the children who meet for the first time at the venue, interaction naturally occurs.Sports have such a mysterious power. I would like to see more projects that take advantage of those characteristics.”

Parasports Experience Park by Rakuten is a place where you can “do”, “watch”, and “learn” about new sports for the first time.With each cycle, if this circle can spread throughout the nation and the world, the future will surely become brighter.

PHOTO: Teppei Hori
TEXT: Nariko Inoue
EDIT: Yohsuke Watanabe, Shiori Saeki (IN FOCUS)