[ENG SUB] Ran Takahashi 髙橋藍 x Masato Kai 甲斐優斗 : Passion for The National Team

[ENG SUB] Ran Takahashi 髙橋藍 x Masato Kai 甲斐優斗 : Passion for The National Team

The Japanese national team, learning much from defeat,
continues to chase sights they have not yet seen. The ones who will shoulder that future are two young prodigies. Not just the Los Angeles Olympics, but also after that. We’re the ones who will have to carry it forward. An icon of Japanese men’s volleyball, combining
both popularity and ability, Ran Takahashi. I want to go toward Los Angeles with an even stronger sense of rivalry I want to work hard so that I can make Ran-san feel pressured. A university student burning with ambition, Masato Kai. We looked into their passionate feelings for Hinomaru (Flag of JapanI. A year ago, Japan challenged the Paris Olympics, aiming for its first medal in 52 years. But the result was elimination in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive Olympics. They once again realized how difficult it is to win at the Olympics. The atmosphere was completely different from other world tournaments. Even Germany, who we usually beat, was suddenly playing much stronger than usual. That’s something you can only understand once you’ve actually competed at the Olympics. I think Kai might have been pretty nervous too. When he came in as a pinch/relief server, normally in the VNL he’d smash a great serve. But there (Olympics) some clipped the net. Watching it, everyone thought, ‘Wow, that’s unusual.’ It was my very first Olympic experience. I really felt a stiffness—something you don’t see in other tournaments. The Olympics is on a completely different level. The Olympics is dominated by immeasurable pressure and tension. That was symbolized by the nightmare match against Italy. What was missing at that time? For me, it comes down to experience It’s about how much experience you have, and whether you can fight with strength and confidence in that moment. When we lose, it’s often because we let slip that one point we really needed. In those tense moments, not being able to score that one point leads to defeat. I think team Japan needs to build more and more of a sense of standing on the podium, a sense of winning. And for Los Angeles, we have to think about what it will take to reach the podium. Coach Tillie told us that we need to live every day with the mindset of winning in Los Angeles. The goal is to win an Olympic medal. To be at the center of that celebration is every player’s dream. My biggest goal is to win a medal at the Olympics. My goal is to stand on court as a starter for Japan and score the final point. I want to go toward Los Angeles with an even stronger sense of rivalry. I want to work hard so make Ran-san feel pressured. Of course, I feel the same way. Ishikawa too—none of us are guaranteed a spot on court. The competition within the team raises everyone’s level. It pushes me too—it makes me feel like, ‘I have to step up.’ When I play with Kai, I don’t quite feel that from him yet. I think he could show it a lot more. Though still young, they already have plenty of big-stage experience. And they fully understand the weight of carrying Hinomaru (Flag of Japan). We’re still young. I’m 23, Kai is 21. Not just Los Angeles, but after that too, we’re the ones who will have to carry it forward. That’s a responsibility we need to bear. To keep winning, having this much growth and experience so early is a huge advantage. We need to use that and become players who can stand on the podium again. By winning, I think the people watching, the fans, will become even more passionate about volleyball. Not just the two of us, but as a whole team, I want us to raise the level of volleyball. For now, all eyes are on the young warriors who will carry Japan’s future into the Los Angeles Olympics, three years from now.

A conversation between Ran Takahashi and Masato Kai, who are the future of the Japanese men’s volleyball national team.

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#髙橋藍
#RanTakahashi
#甲斐優斗
#MasatoKai
#バレーボール男子日本代表
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