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Kozuka Takahiko: “Returning the favour to figure skating”
Source. Thank you to Tadaki on Skate & Die for the translation! Please do not repost.
“Returning the favour to Figure Skating” – Kozuka Takahiko talks about his determination to embark on a new path.
Caption: Kozuka, who is about to set out on a new journey as his second career. His thoughts towards figure skating, even now, burn stronger than ever.
Last spring 10 months ago, with the words “(I will) depart the ice”, (Kozuka) put an end to his competitive career and joined the Toyota Car Company. The words made a powerful impression. (t/n: The word choice ‘depart’ is both formal and solemn – you would use this word to indicate those who have passed on – hence conveying the gravity of his decision. Forgive the awkward phrasing in English)
“From here on, I have been thinking that I want to repay the figure skating world by passing on the things that I can with the skills that I have.”
He’s returned. He’s come back (t/n: has the nuance of coming home). Unconsciously, those words cross one’s mind.
“Well no, as opposed to ‘returning’, maybe another word might be more suitable.”
With that reply, Kozuka Takahiko began to detail the days after he joined the company and how he came to his decision (to return to figure skating).
–– “Learning my job well as an individual member of society…”
“If I said (leaving skating) was in order to increase my skills for the future I might be scolded but as an individual member of society (t/n: ie. someone who can contribute to the society like a graduate/worker as opposed to a student/unemployed person), I think that I would be able to delve even further into my career (outside of skating) by learning my job well and working in the company.”
“From the point of view of the people who have been supporting me up till now, there may be those who think that even after I retire I will still skate in ice shows. Thinking that I must make it clear that I have no intention to skate again hereafter, I have expressed myself with the words ‘(I will) depart the ice’. The Kozuka Takahiko who skates on ice will come to an end on the 17th of April (date of 2016 Stars on Ice).”
“Precisely because I am going to appear (in a show) I must put up a good performance. In order to do that, one needs to practice every day. The daily practice that is required to maintain the skill at a level that is presentable to the audience – if you ask me if it is possible to do that as a salaryman, I think it is difficult. Rather than to show everyone a half-hearted state of self, I think it’s best if I could leave behind the memory of a good Kozuka Takahiko in everyone’s minds.”
The above were the words from the interview (Number900) he gave after his retirement announcement. In order to realise those words, Kozuka threw himself into his work in the company.
–– “Whilst participating in the ‘Returning the Favour activities” of the various Toyota sports clubs.”
The work he was assigned to was related to sports.
“Toyota has over 30 clubs but they are broadly separated into Promotional Sports Clubs and Normal Sports Clubs. I was participating in the ‘Returning the Favour’ activities of the Promotional Sports Clubs.
Dispatching players, in that case, to what kind of events and how should we do it – that’s what the majority of my work consisted of. Things like being the ticket-collector at the venue, doing seat allocation. I had thought it would be a lot of desk work but it was a division (of the company) with many work trips.”
The things he acquired through his work were not small.
“They are very basic things but, sending emails, making phone calls, creating plans and doing up the documents and from there getting the final approval. I think it is good that I was able to learn that kind of flow (of projects) in the company.”
Through event planning he came to know of many competitions and was able to interact with many competitors which served as a stimulus for him.
–– “Figure Skating became the main topic”
Despite doing work that was supposed to be fulfilling, he would unknowingly get lost in his thoughts.
“If you took this part and combined it, figure skating would become even better.”
“If it was figure skating, then we’d do it this way…”
His train of thought always seemed to turn towards figure skating.
“I didn’t do things with that intention (to link everything to skating) in mind, but figure skating became the main topic.”
For example, at an October event held in Tokushima by the Rugby club to promote the sport, Kozuka’s heart was struck by this:
“Seeing the happy faces of children having fun and how the people teaching seemed to be enjoying themselves, I began to think that it would be good if we did this in figure skating too.”
Those feelings reached a peak at the end of November when he went to Vietnam. As part of a cultural exchange event “Japan-Vietnam Festival” a Skating camp was held at Vincom Mega Mall in Ho Chi Minh city and Kozuka participated in it.
–– The role of “Passing on to the next generation the things I was brought up with”.
“What I realized was that when I was a skater, I was supported by many people. Up to this point I had known this but that was limited to only the people I could see in front of me. But I learnt that even if they weren’t at the venue, for example if I said ‘I want to do this’, word would travel from the venue and even though they weren’t physically present there were people acting (on those requests). It hit me then that when I was skating, I had received help from a lot of people too.
And yet, to have put an end to figure skating – I felt it was a waste. So much had been taught to me growing up (as a skater) and to pass that on to the next generation and convey it to a lot of people – I thought that to me it was an important role (to take up).”
And so he thought of what he himself could pass on and finally reached a conclusion – he wanted to teach the techniques of skating.
–– (He) did not realize - “Both Nobuo-sensei and my father were too close to me”.
There was once a coach who pointed out that “Japan’s skating techniques were handed down from Sato Nobuo-sensei to Kozuka’s father (t/n: Kozuka Tsuguhiko, who represented Japan at the 1968 Olympics) to Kozuka”. Kozuka himself did not hold such a viewpoint then.
“It was during a time when I was foolish but both Nobuo-sensei and my father were too close to me. In a good way, they were both an existence that was like air to me, and because of that I didn’t feel (that they were too close). But when you think about it, even in sports like golf and baseball, just like how in the beginning when you bat or you pitch, you can become entrenched in your bad habits, the foundation in skating too is important. And yet there is a lack of coaches teaching skating (skills, basic skating).
What Nobuo-sensei can teach, within his ability to do so personally, is good but one has to think about the fact that his physical strength is declining and that my father too is an old grandfather. I thought that maybe my mission is to convey, as much as I can, the things that were taught to me. It is precisely because these are the techniques taught to me by so small a number of coaches that I feel it must be passed on to the children.”
What gave him the most support of all were the voices of those around him.
If he went to the rink, the children would call out to him.
“If you’re not going to be a skater then come teach us!”
“How do we contact you?”
“When you’re free, teach us ok?”
–– Whilst employed in the company, he dived into outreach programmes.
It was the same when he was out of the office and in the field.
“During the JGP at Shin Yokohama, the event at Tokushima and the Japan Nationals that happened the other day – ‘I cheered a lot for you’, ‘I loved your skating’, ‘Will you not skate again?’ – A lot of people spoke out to me. When I answered ‘I do skate once in awhile’, I’d get replies like ‘Not like that, will you not show yourself a little and skate publicly?’
At the event in Tokushima there were even people who had rushed over from far away. I wondered if I managed to charm them more than I thought I could, or if I was able to come across as someone who was approachable. I think that was the biggest thing (I learnt/realized).”
With that determination in his heart his meetings with the company increased. The result was that they reached an understanding, and it became possible for him to begin his desired activities whilst holding his position in the company.
What activities will you concentrate on from now on?
First off, (spreading the knowledge through) outreach programs.
“I want to do it regardless, whether internationally or within the country. Not just a simple skating camp/class, I want to share my experiences with how frightening injuries can be, the importance of cooling down on top of doing sports – if I can hold a skating class that incorporates all that it would be good. I want to continue holding classes in Vietnam too. The last time it was only in Ho Chi Minh City, but it’d be good if I could hold them in Hanoi or other such places.
Additionally, starting with Vietnam followed by other southeast Asian countries, I think there are many skaters who are unable to compete in large competitions because they have no federations so one of my goals is to set up these federations. I feel proud when I compete for Japan. I want to change the situation where people who want to compete have to leave the country they were born and raised in. Growing up in your home country and competing in your home country – if I can nurture a skater like that it would be nice.”
–– “The first step is to start moving my body, and while training properly...”
Have you thought of coaching students who appear at high level competitions?
“If the need arises, I think I could. But that needs experience too and Nobuo-sensei has said that things can go wrong even if you’re doing many things one at a time so right now I would like to focus on outreach programmes.”
What about Kozuka yourself, as a skater, is there a chance you would appear at, for example, an ice show?
“First I want to start moving my body and return to my previous state (level of fitness) through training properly. If I receive any offers, then I want to perform well as a proper cast member.”
All those words carried the meaning that he would return to the ice.
–– “To participate in Figure Skating in a new version of myself”
Kozuka continued:
“More than just returning to the world of Figure Skating, in my own way I’ve had the opportunity to meet many different people and I’ve realized many different things. It’s not just returning, I am consciously participating in figure skating in a new version of myself.”
And with that he laughed shyly.
“It’s been a short time (away) but I was able to experience many things. My superiors pulled me along when I couldn’t do things saying ‘Kozuka, keep going!’ Although I announced my desire to depart the ice in order to do my job properly, I hope that you will let me off lightly.”
By stepping away, there were things he realized, things he became able to realize.
When he was a skater, being supported by many more people that just those he could see.
The skills that he cultivated during his skating career that no one else has. Being a skater that still remains in people’s hearts.
More than anything, having devoted the better half of his life to it – figure skating, and the memories of it that would not fade.
With the experiences he gained from a different world, Kozuka Takahiko, who has made a decision to return the favour towards figure skating, is now making a fresh start.
