hop on the train to the translation station

#my translations -> self explanatory

“I felt it was a team where I could continue to improve myself.”

What Kageyama Felt As He Looked Back On the 2023-2024 Season

“There were a lot of times where I was stumped by blocks, but I think we could have done a better job with reorienting.”

Kageyama, who spent the 2023-2024 season with Italy Serie A Powerhouse Ifviga Torino, first expressed regret when asked about his feelings about this season. For Kageyama, who hates defeat more than anyone else, being unable to lead his team to victory at any level is surely vexing. More than anything, it’s only natural for a setter to blame themself when they can’t find the reason their team struggles with blocks. The reason Kageyama decided to transfer to his new team from the team which, last year, advanced into the finals of the World Championship Finals, was this:

“I felt it was a team where I could continue to improve myself.”

Coming up on his fifth season in Italy, he’s constantly setting records. Even so, it’s precisely because he has confidence in his ability to overcome this wall that he chose this team. Undoubtedly, in the Paris Olympics and the coming season, Kageyama will be able to slip through rival team’s blocks while showcasing his characteristic superhuman setting.

Having turned twenty-seven in December 2023, Kageyama has entered his prime as a volleyball player, but his insatiable desire for self improvement hasn’t changed in the slightest since he began taking volleyball seriously in his second year of elementary school.

His middle school classmates, Kindaichi Yuutarou-senshu and Kunimi Akira-san joked that, “Kageyama will probably be hitting jump serves in his seventies.” I suppose Kageyama intends to continue playing volleyball until his body can no longer move.

The Start of His Volleyball Life Was His Grandfather’s Wish

Many fans worry that Kageyama will wear out his spirit by continuing to abuse his body and mind to that extent, but Kageyama is a professional athlete, who ensures he rests properly.

Kageyama: “I try not to change the rhythm of my daily routine while my body works to recover during the off season. When it feels like nothing is going smoothly, I try to go on walks. Going on a walk with an empty head is always refreshing.”

Kageyama has said his grandfather who taught him volleyball, Kazuyo-san, also taught him that “‘Self-maintenance’ is just as important as practice.”

Looking back on Kageyama’s high school days, while there were, of course, strategic substitutions, he was never benched due to serious injury or illness. As a professional, being able to stand on the court in perfect condition is an important factor to their success. It may be precisely that Kageyama was able to reach where he is today because he faithfully followed his grandfather’s teachings.

Shortly after Kageyama was born, he already was well acquainted with the volleyball, and at the age of three, Kazuyo, who coached a ladies’ team, and Kagyama’s older sister Miwa-san began taking him to the gym to play volleyball.

When he entered his second year of elementary school, Kageyama joined the boys’ volleyball club “Little Falcons,” beginning to play volleyball seriously.

From a very young age, Kageyama loved volleyball above all else, to the extent that he didn’t care for video games in the way his classmates did.

Hearing Kazuyo-san’s words, “The position that gets to touch the ball the most is setter,” was a great factor in Kageyama setting his sights on the position.

One day, a young Kageyama, who wanted to play in a match just a little longer, purposefully hit serves weakly. Kazuyo had told Kageyama, who had been guilty afterward, “If you get really good, you’ll be able to play in even more games… If you get really good, I promise you, someone even better will come and find you.” 

Kageyama’s desire for strength probably originates from that unchanging desire to play in matches, just a little longer.

Unfortunately, Kazuyo-san passed away while Kageyama was in middle school, but the things he taught him remain rooted, unchanging, within Kageyama.

By the way, Kageyama’s parents and Miwa-san are detached* from volleyball, but he said, “My parents and sister are supporting me, but don't come to cheer me on directly. They’re the… Laissez-faire? type, I think.”

*(T/N: The word used here could also mean quit/lost connection from, or uninvolved with. I was unsure which word to go with.)

Translation note: The honorific "-shi" is used here, which may be unfamiliar to some readers; It's similar to -san, though somewhat more respectful and mainly used in TV, news, and interviews.

Profile:

Born: October 16th

Tokyo Native. Nekoma High School Graduate.

Position during active years: Setter.

After graduating, started a business during university.

His active participation on YouTube and in the pro gaming community has earned him a high level of popularity.

Image Caption: The Bouncing Ball Logo on Hinata-senshu's Trunks. [Kozume-shi's] reason for the sponsorship contract was simple: "I have the money."

Image Caption: Kodzuken has gained worldwide recognition as a streamer and pro-gamer. For example, he has fans in places as far away as Brazil.

“But if you get boring, I’ll drop you.”

In a suburb a little out of the way from the city center, there’s a well-established traditional Japanese-style house. In one room, turned to the mic in the middle of a stream, sits the very popular YouTuber Kodzuken, AKA Kozume Kenma.

Kenma: “A lot of people say it’s surprising, but is it really so strange? It’s spacious, so you can fit a lot, and there’s not a lot of people around, so it’s pretty quiet… Well, I guess it’s a bit of a pain that it turned into my friends’ hangout spot.”

Kozume-shi was also a player who participated in Spring Nationals during his active years. He said he continues to stay in touch with his high-school teammates even now.

Kenma: “Even though I don’t invite them, they go out of their way to show up at my house and watch TV or have dinner… I don’t really mind, though. And, well, I mean.. the food that Fukunaga* [*Fukunaga Shouhei-san, the comedian, was one of Kozume’s high school teammates] makes for us is pretty great.

Kozume-shi is also a former teammate and childhood friend of the Volleyball Association’s Kuroo Tetsurou.

Kenma: “Kuro* [Kuroo Tetsurou] and I meet up to hang out every now and then. It looks like he's been busy lately going all over the place, but we both live in Tokyo, so… it’s alright. He makes me help him plan collaboration projects from time to time.”

Speaking of Kozume-shi, his activities as a pro-gamer are still fresh in our minds. When he was 26 years old, he and his pro team set a record in the world’s Best Four. After that, he withdrew from the team and retired, to the sadness of many.

Kenma: “I had plenty of fun, and decided that I've had my fill of playing games competitively. As for now, playing games on stream is just right for me.”

Video game streaming is also one kind of thing that's popular on Kodzuken's channel. The genres he streams are first person shooters, third person shooters, and horror games in general, such as survival horror. The truth is, I’m also a fan of his channel.

Also look out for the sponsorship contract with Hinata-senshu!!!

Kozume-shi, you founded Bouncing Ball Co. when you were a college student, and have been active in the professional gaming community, trading, and streaming since then. Where do you get that driving force from?

Kenma: “I get the feeling that I’m always looking for something I find interesting… The sponsorship contract with Shouyou (*Hinata Shouyou Senshu) interests me too, so that’s the reason we still continue with it.”

In your high school days, your relationship with Hinata-senshu was that of rivals who fought a fierce battle. Even now, it seems your relationship is just that of good friends.

Kenma: “Shouyou is always ‘new,’ so I never get tired of watching him. Sometimes, we play online games together, but his actions are unreadable as ever, so it’s fun. Ah… we stream too, from time to time, so check it out, yeah?"

It’s a relief to hear from this point on, this uneven (?) combo's relationship will continue without changing. You can also expect new volleyball-related projects in the future.

(T/N: The question mark was included in the original document.)

Image Caption: There are a lot of fans who didn't know that KODZUKEN used to be a volleyball player. The stream where he played beach volleyball with Hinata-senshu remains a popular video on his channel.

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songs mentioned:

maru maru mori mori

ikagatsu exile (maybe)?

day of wrath

anpanman march

dragonball cell walking sound effect

sazae san 1969 ending (first ten seconds)