Interview Index

8 years since I started canoeing and played polo for almost invariably. I luckily could belong to the strongest team in Japan , Sakura Invers, which won Japan Championships in 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

I also enjoy slalom in the winter season for training and kayak surfing for fun.

The popularity of polo is the same to compare with other countries. I mean not so popular in this stage. At the same time I can say that canoe polo is geographically spread in Japan since we have 47 prefectures, where there are canoe polo teams in 20 prefectures from the North to South. Let me take a good example that we can be proud to announce to the world. We have 68 teams and 540 players in the biggest polo tournament in Japan, which is the Awara Cup.

Right from the '94 first World Champs in Sheffield, it was obvious Japan were developing at a fantastic rate. As a National team how often do you get to play ?

We come together for a national training once a month though only twice a year to participate in international competitions, which are World Championships and Asian Cup in the even number years and Asian Championships and Oceania Championships in the odd number years. (Asian Championships is an event not only for polo including sprint racing and slalom. Besides Asian Cup is only for polo.) I heard that European national teams participate in international competitions once a month, which is surprising and envious for us. Basically we used to have only World Championships and Asian Championships that mean one international competition per a year. This is s big gap of polo development between us and European countries considering the experience and that is how Asian Cup was started from 2002 every 2 year. (We now have Asian cup and Oceania Championships in the year European Championships is held. I personally would like to add Pan-Pacific Championships in the close future.)

A couple of days on weekdays for individual training. Every Saturday and Sunday with my club team mates. Once a month for the National team.

Is there much development in Japan particularly for the Ladies and Youth classes ?

Definitely yes. You might have seen the remarkable performance which our women’s teams did at Essen last year. Also we have many young players enjoying polo, where we can have a dream that Japan polo have a stronger presence at the World Champs’ in the future.

Australia was my first overseas tour in 1997, from which I could learn a lot from their tactics, and also felt polo as a warm community for the first time. I have also been to Italy which gave me a big influence not only to my polo playing style but also to my way of thinking, as it were, vivaciousness. I was so impressed to see the outstanding performance of the GB team at Essen last year. I found something nearing completion of modern canoe polo in their playing style.

Furthermore I would like to say that every time I go to overseas, I feel canoe polo as a warm community. Every time I went to many countries, I was welcomed with warm words, came across many people through polo and drunk beer etc.. I came to love this sport to have such unforgettable memories all over the world where canoe polo is.

Within the 6 best teams in the first stage and a bit higher in the future. The goal of Japan senior men’s team for the 2004 Worlds is to be in the 6 strongest teams. We can say that they are GB, Dutch, Germany, Italy, France and Australia, which is a very high wall to climb. We are training to beat one of these countries in the coming Worlds at Miyoshi. To reach a bit further I would like to place our goal to our younger generation who have a big possibility to succeed in that target.

That is a big wall to climb, but maybe it’s time for one of those teams to drop down. Which of those Nations do you think you have the best chance against ?

I have to say the wall is too high even against every country in this stage. But at least we will make our first challenge this October to participate in the Oceania Championships.

The 6th World Championships are to be held in Miyoshi, Japan. How important is this event to the authorities and those within the sport ?

First of all, we are so happy to welcome new members to the Worlds from our neighbourhood. Secondly I hope that many children watch the event and as a result come to be involved in this sport in the future. Yes, to successfully stage the Worlds is one of the big goals for us and just as important is that after this festival, canoe polo can take root in Japan and last for many years to come.

Surely yes. To get better, we have to learn from advanced Nations. This year some 50 players and officials from the Japan Canoe Federation will send 6 teams to join the Oceania championships and most of us have a strong willingness to make a tour among European Nations at the next opportunity. Actually some of our Ladies have made a tour to France and Ireland this summer already.

Second place at the last Asian Cup and 1^st place at the last Asian Championships in 2002.

I can say that Japan influenced some Asian nations. In 2000, I made a polo tour to Asian countries, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan and could make a lot of polo friends there. To play amongst Asian countries, I found it is important that Japan continues to get stronger together with other Asian countries. Yes, Taiwan’s performance at Essen was sensational and Iran’s high performance was surprising to many people. To be on the long period of view, as a member of Asian countries, the Asian countries should strike sparks off each other to get stronger together so that our Asian tournament get more competitive and so that Asian countries get stronger still. Malaysia and Singapore are already regular member of Asian tournaments and they will appear in the Worlds’ very soon.

Are there any other Asian Nations playing polo regularly that you haven’t already mentioned ?

We play against Macao in the Asian Cup. I know that South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand are also playing polo but do not play against them in the competitions these days. I regret to say that not that big number is playing polo and we have to make some promotion inside Asia.

Most makes of equipments are available here in Japan although it’s a bit expensive.

How do you think the available paddling kit has effected the development of the sport in Japan in recent years ?

As written above we have easier access to the equipments these days and we can no longer make any excuse of our losses due to our equipment.

One third of the travel expenses to the Worlds at Essen was aided by the Japan Canoe Federation although we used to pay it all ourselves in most cases .

Frankly speaking, the officials of Japan Canoe Polo is getting much better these days and we are sure that such assistance will expand in the future.

Should there be any thing you want to know about the World Championships at Miyoshi next year, please don't hesitate to ask. I am not the official of the Championships but would like to help if there is anything I can personally do.
Looking forward to seeing you next July in Japan!

Feature Interview - September 2003

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