Alumni Report Special Interview Alumni Today Participating in the Olympics was their goal since they were students Alumni Report Having earned a place, they are aiming for the next level had a significant impact on me. There were also people who Winning a place at the Tokyo Olympics had competed in the Olympics around me, albeit in different events. At tough times after I started working Coach Sakai Hattori : Congratulations on winning a place in the Tokyo Olympics listened to my concerns. When I told him about the results of men’s 10,000m! the MGC, he encouraged me, saying, “from here is when the Aizawa : Thank you! I’m happy to have achieved my number one goal real work starts.” His voice sounded happy though. Aizawa, from last year. did you also think about the Olympics since university? Hattori : It must have been hard to train this year, being your f irst year Aizawa : Yes. Coach Sakai also always told me to “run with a focus on in the workforce and with the impact of the novel coronavirus, the future.” This time too, he told me, “ The result this Toyota Motor Corporation from when did training get on track? time is not where it ends. Achieve results in the Olympics, Long Distance Team Aizawa : From around the summer. At university, I was training for and connect this to your biggest goal, the marathon,” which Yuma Hattori ekiden, but last year I switched to track-focused training. I I thought was typical of Coach Sakai. was able to get regular high-level training as my teammates Hattori : And of course Toyo University Track and Field Club is Profile are all top athletes. I gained confidence by running a 10,000m known for “SONO-ICHIBYO-O-KEZURIDASE － Every in November in the 27-minute range, then I competed at Second Counts! ” Having those words engraved in your mind Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics, 2016 Graduate. When in the Japan Championships in Athletics, set a new Japanese record, also is a factor. Toyo University Track and Field Club, and won a place in the Olympics. Aizawa : The words are also very dear to me. Hattori was awarded five single stage Hattori : prizes in the three major university ekiden, Hattori : Did you think you could win before the race? The reason why I can keep going at the final stages of the and was the captain in the fourth year. Aizawa : I felt it was possible if I gave it my all. I thought how much race is thanks to having those words in my heart since I was a Currently a member of the Toyota Motor student. At the most demanding times when you are running, Corporation Long Distance Team. Hattori you can persevere until 8,000m was key, but I was able to finished second in the 2019 September persevere from the challenging early stages, and it was a the words come back to me, give me confidence, and I feel Marathon Grand Championship (MGC) satisfying race where I was able to focus on running until the like,“I can do it!” I get inspired and think,“I can give more!” and earned a place at the Tokyo Olympics. His record marathon time is 2: 07:27 (14th finish. Aizawa : Also, during the Japan Championships in Athletics, it was ) Japanese all-time Hattori : (27minutes) 18 seconds is a fantastic time. Did you improve because I literally tried to make every second count that I was your speed? able to beat the standard time by about ten seconds. I also Aizawa : Yes. Getting rid of the fear of fast pace by working on speed think that these words mean to cherish every second of every training on the track helped me a lot. Yuma, you also worked day. I will value every hour, minute, and second for the on speed training with your colleague Bedan Karoki, right? roughly six months until the Olympics. I saw Karoki encourage you by saying, “ You have to have a Hattori : Before I was on the Japan national team, I was on the Toyo fast pace from the start,” and I thought he was right. University team, so I think getting a place at the Olympics Hattori : It was pretty tough, but thanks to that, I also became able to is returning the favor. But it doesn’t end here. Also, at the run at marathon speeds. I am also placing importance on Olympics I want to run in a way that inspires everyone. stamina and intend to train for the Olympics while taking into account training volume as not to pick up any injuries. Every day will have meaning if you set a goal Aizawa : It was a while ago but, was the MGC a special race? Hattori : For me, I thought that my life would change with the outcome of this race. I went into the race with the strong feeling that Hattori : Is there anything you want to say to our juniors studying at I would definitely finish in the top two because I trained Toyo University? well without compromising. Aizawa : With the impact of the novel coronavirus, you probably Aizawa : It was exciting watching you battle with Suguru Osako at the cannot do things the way you want to. It is the same for me. end. Similarly to how in my fourth year of university, I decided my Hattori : When I caught up with Osako, who had pulled ahead, he goal was to be in the Olympics, you can decide on your future looked back, so I thought this was a sign that he was struggling. goals, even in this situation. If you decide on a goal, now you From there, I became confident, and I was able to attack at have more time than usual, so you can fully devote your time once. to preparing. Asahi Kasei Corporation Hattori : Athletics Team Aizawa : As a result, you earned a place at the Olympics. Congratulations That’s true. once again. Aizawa : On the other hand, if you don’t have a goal, you will waste Akira Aizawa Hattori : When I crossed the line, I felt relieved more than happy. time even if the novel coronavirus pandemic ends. In other words, I think now is a turning point for how you will spend Profile But a few days later, I started to feel frustrated about not being able to win. I still feel it now. your life. Department of Economics, Faculty of Hattori : I also think that the time you spend as a student becomes the Economics, 2020 Graduate Aizawa was captain of the Toyo University Track and Focused on the Olympics since they were students. substance and wealth of your life. I think there you have lots Field Club in his fourth year, set new records of frustrating time not being able to go to university, and not for sections in each of the three major Running with Toyo University on their shoulders university ekiden, and was awarded the being able to meet friends, but don’t only think of the Shiso Kanakuri Cup.Currently a member negative. I want you to look ahead to your future, create as of the Asahi Kasei Corporation Athletics Aizawa : Team. Aizawa won the men’s 10,000m Yuma, you said you would switch to marathon and compete much positive time as possible, choose what to do every day, setting a new Japanese record (27:18.75) at the Olympics since you were at university, right? and spend time meaningfully. at the Japan Championships in Athletics Hattori : Yeah. I think Coach Sakai telling me to focus on the Olympics in December 2020 and earned a place at The dialog was held in mid-January the Tokyo Olympics. 14 TOYO UNIVERSITY NEWS No.261 TOYO UNIVERSITY NEWS No.261 15.