[From July Issue 2013]
ASANO Shigeto
Have you heard of rafting? It is an outdoor sport involving teams of six riding in a rubber raft and paddling skillfully as they are pulled down rivers on strong currents. River currents are not always gentle; sometimes there are big surges and rapids with steep drops. Sometimes, rafts can flip over, or members can be thrown out.
ASANO Shigeto, an athlete who became interested in this competitive sport, formed Japan’s national team in 1999. The first time he participated as a coach and athlete in an international event, his team came 15th out of 16 teams, but in 2010 and 2011, his team won the championship. What was the secret behind the team’s sudden ascent to the position of best in the world?
Rafting is popular in countries such as Brazil, the Czech Republic, the United States, and Italy. There was a big difference in experience and physical strength between Japanese athletes and athletes from other countries. That is why it was said that: “It will take 50 years for Japan to become best in the world.” Asano overturned such conventional wisdom; he surprised people in the industry both at a domestic and international level, by becoming world champion eight years after putting together a professional team – just ten years after he made his debut.
Asano cites “the power of teamwork” as one of the reasons for the team becoming world champions. “During the race, team members become both rudder and engine. Therefore, we cannot reach our full potential unless the feelings of our team members are united.” Since the condition of the river, which sets the stage for the competition, changes from moment to moment, “it is important to always be of one mind in order to make decisions in an instant.”
During the actual race, “when the current flows against us around rocks, we intentionally do not fight against it, but instead just drift along with it. On the other hand, if there is a chance to advance, we aggressively take full advantage of it,” Asano divulges. “For this reason, there is no substitute for the sense of accomplishment that comes with adapting to a situation that can vary from moment to moment. This excitement buoyed me up, allowing me to become world champion.”
The World Championships are held once every two years, but the location and date varies. The next championships will be held in New Zealand in November this year. “Team Japan will attempt to win their third consecutive victory, however, I will not participate, but rather work on supporting the team,” says Asano. After withdrawing from the front line, by making use of his experiences, Asano has energetically put his energies into teaching through workshops and lectures.
The attraction of rafting lies in being thrown into violent currents, traversing dangerous ground time after time through great effort, and adapting to a variety of changes; a skill set that can be applied to work or study. Attitudes developed through rafting, such as “proactively adapting to change, “at times going with the flow,” and “valuing teamwork,” might also be useful skills for people to apply to their own lives.
Text: ITO Koichi
[2013年7月号掲載記事]
浅野 重人さん
ラフティングという競技を知っていますか? 6人が1組となってゴムボートに乗り、かいを巧みに操って、はげしい流れの川を下るアウトドアスポーツです。川の流れはいつもおだやかではなく、川とは思えない大きな波や落差のある滝にも見舞われます。ボートがひっくり返ったり、そこから投げ出されたりすることもあります。
この競技に興味を持ったアスリートの浅野重人さんは、1999年に日本代表チームを結成。監督兼選手として初めて参加した世界大会の成績は16チーム中15位でしたが、2010年と11年には優勝の栄冠を勝ち取りました。短期間で世界の頂点に上りつめることができた秘訣は何だったのでしょう。
ラフティングはブラジルやチェコ、アメリカ、イタリアなどで盛んに行われています。これらの国々の選手に比べると、日本選手は経験でも体力の面でも大きな差があります。ですから「日本が世界一になるには50年かかる」と言われていました。浅野さんは、そんな常識をくつがえし、プロチーム結成から8年、初出場から10年で世界一となり、国内外の関係者を驚かせたのです。
浅野さんは、世界一を極めた理由のひとつに「チーム力」をあげます。「レース中はチーム全員が舵にもエンジンにもなります。ですから、全員の気持ちがひとつになっていないと力を発揮できません」。競技の舞台となる川の状況は絶え間なく変わるため、「瞬時に判断できるよう、常に意思統一をしておくことが大切です」と普段の心がけを語ります。
実際のレースでも、浅野さんは「岩場の周りの逆流では、あえて逆らわず、流されるままにします。反対に、前進できる機会が訪れたら、ひるまず、積極的に攻めてみます」と川と向き合う秘訣を明かします。「それだけに、刻々と変わる局面を乗り切ったときの達成感は何物にもかえがたいものです。この、わくわくする気持ちが世界一獲得への支えとなりました」。
世界大会は現在、2年に1度の割で開催されていますが、場所や時期は年によって変わります。次の大会は今年の11月にニュージーランドで開かれます。「日本は3連覇をかけて大会にのぞみますが、私は出場せず、応援にまわります」と浅野さんは話します。浅野さんは第一線を退いた後、これまでの経験を生かしたチームワークの講習会や講演会などの活動を精力的に行っています。
はげしい流れの中に放り込まれ、危ない場所を乗り越える努力を重ねることで、さまざまな変化に打ち勝つラフティングのおもしろさは、仕事や学習に対する構え方に似ています。「変化を前向きにとらえる」「ときには、流されてみる」「チームワークを大切にする」といったラフティングの姿勢は、人として生きていく上でも大いに参考になるでしょう。
文:伊藤公一
Information From Hiragana Times
- December 2024 Issue Is Now On Sale!November 18, 2024
- November 2024 Issue Is Now On Sale!October 20, 2024
- October 2024 Issue is Now on Sale!September 17, 2024
Topics in Japan
- From Ancestry to 6,000 Descendant Varieties: The Lineage of Rice in IndiaNovember 18, 2024
- Minamiuonuma City – A Region of Japan Renowned for Its Rice, Cuisine, and CultureNovember 18, 2024
- A Day to Appreciate Labor and the HarvestNovember 18, 2024
- A cactus competition showcasing rare shapesNovember 18, 2024
- The Japanese, Given Life by RiceNovember 18, 2024
Topics in Japane Category
- Business (117)
- Entertainment (80)
- Events (10)
- Food (50)
- Highlights (556)
- Hot Events (2)
- Language (60)
- Living (24)
- New Products & Services (2)
- People (129)
- Society (176)
- Spots (6)
- Travel (82)
Products
- Print version | プリント版
¥10,560Original price was: ¥10,560.¥9,900Current price is: ¥9,900. - APP Version | アプリ版
¥9,000Original price was: ¥9,000.¥7,200Current price is: ¥7,200. - APP+Print Version | アプリ+プリント版
¥19,560Original price was: ¥19,560.¥13,900Current price is: ¥13,900.