On January 1st (Sun), the radio program “The Deep” (Nippon Broadcasting, every Sunday from 20:00 to 20:20), in which sports writer Tatsuhito Kaneko serves as the main personality, will be broadcast. Fujitsu Limited, Toyo University OB, former “Mountain God” Ryuji Kashiwabara will appear. Kashiwabara, who won the section award for the fourth consecutive year in the 5th section of the Hakone Ekiden mountain climbing, talked about his aptitude for mountain climbing in the 5th section.
Tatsuhito Kaneko and Ryuji Kashiwabara
“The Deep” is a program that welcomes top athletes as guests and delivers the fun of sports and the deepest feelings of athletes. After entering Toyo University, Kashiwabara ran the Hakone Ekiden 5th Section for 4 years in a row, setting new section records 3 times. He was called “Mountain God”. After graduating from university, he was active in relay races and retired in 2017. Currently, while working hard to support the strengthening athletic club at Fujitsu Limited, he also performs at performance events. In this program, Kashiwabara was asked about his aptitude for mountain climbing, and answered that it was a “difference in feelings.”
Ryuji Kashiwabara
Kaneko: You may have heard about it a lot. What is your aptitude for mountain climbing?
Kashiwabara: I already have feelings. It’s just a matter of whether you want to do it or not. I really think so. I think that people’s feelings can be anything. I want to get better! I think there is one thing called that kind of ambition. No matter how bad a person is, if they have the desire to improve, they can become good at it. It’s about possibilities. Even if you’re good at it, if you slack off, you’ll fall down, and that’s the only difference. I really think that’s all.
Kaneko: Is that really all?
Kashiwabara: I think so. Please take a look, Hakone Ekiden. There are so many different types of people who are climbing mountains, aren’t they? There is Mr. Imai, who is said to be the first generation mountain god (the first “mountain god”, Masato Imai), me, and Jinno-kun (the third generation “mountain god”, Daichi Jinno). It runs completely differently.
Kaneko: I see…
Kashiwabara: There is no correct answer. I don’t think there is really a right answer. People want to make the right answer.
Kaneko: I want it. yes.
Kashiwabara: In hindsight, there is only the correct answer.
Kaneko: So, I want to win with a player who has that aptitude.
Kashiwabara: Of course, I think I have a certain degree of aptitude. I think everyone somehow knows that it’s not zero. But if you ask me if I can climb because I have that aptitude, I can’t climb and I can’t run. Feelings are important there. It’s mental.
Kaneko: The feeling of not losing, the feeling of working hard?
Kashiwabara: The feeling of how much you can suppress it is also important.
Kaneko: Shouldn’t that feeling win too much?
Kashiwabara: That’s right. After all, it’s going to be empty. Too much force and that will lead to brakes. After all, there is how important mental control is.
Kaneko Darren
Kaneko had the impression that he didn’t talk much about Kashiwabara when he was active. Kashiwabara said, “In addition to building a wall, when he spoke, misunderstandings could arise, so he protected himself by not speaking.”
Kaneko said, “I’ve seen many players who innocently answered reporters and TV interviews closed their hearts.” I don’t know,” he said.
Listen to the podcast here.