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One of the missions of KOKUA , the SUP brand created by Kaneko Kenny, is to nurture the next generation of paddlers. "I want to support paddlers with pure passion," says Kaneko Kenny. He accepts them as part of the KOKUA team and supports their growth and achievement of their goals.
This time, we interviewed Yu Tachibana, a member of Team KOKUA . She grew up surrounded by the ocean in Okinawa and is currently a second- year high school student. Influenced by her father, she started SUP at a young age and is now in her eighth year as an athlete.
Tachibana will be competing in the ISA World Championships to be held in Puerto Rico in November . What are her thoughts as her first world championships draws near? We asked her about her enthusiasm for the championships and her career so far.
The beach is just a one-minute walk from his house. He started SUP because of his father.
I started SUP when I was about 4 years old, riding with my dad.
Although she is only 17 years old, Tachibana has already achieved many accomplishments, including winning the All Japan Championships and the Asian Tour. She first encountered SUP when she was just four years old.
"My father used to do SUP and windsurfing, so I started SUP because of that influence. I first got on a board when I was really little, and I don't remember it at all. I often rode on a board with my father."
The ocean is just a one- minute walk from her home. She learned how to paddle and ride the waves from her father, who is familiar with the ocean. She started out paddling with her father, and when she entered elementary school, she began paddling alone. SUP was a part of her daily life from before she could even remember.
"When I'm SUPing , it feels like I'm taking a walk on the ocean. There are fish, coral, and every time I go out I can see new scenery that I can't experience on land. I've been paddling almost every day since I was little, and I never get bored of it. It's so much fun, and I became addicted to it. Before I knew it, I loved it."
In Okinawa. When I learned to row by myself.
She made her debut as a racer at a competition in Okinawa, where she was invited by an acquaintance. She was in the fourth grade at the time. Her race debut was a series of firsts.
"My only experience was rowing with my dad in the nearby ocean, so being surrounded by dozens of other racers was a truly refreshing experience. The ocean was also different to the usual ones, and everything was a new experience for me. What I saw and experienced didn't seem real, and it was a strange feeling the whole time.
I remember just rowing as hard as I could during the race. In the end, I finished in second place. I wasn't particularly thinking about winning, but I was very happy to finish in a position I never expected."
It was my first time participating in an international competition, and I continued rowing with complete fervor.
Starting with the competition in Okinawa, Tachibana's career as an athlete began. He has participated in various races both in Japan and overseas, and is now in his eighth year of his career. We asked him what his most memorable moment was during those eight years.
On the Asian tour. Tachibana is in the center of the photo.
"Winning the Asia Tour in 2019. The first race in Taiwan was my first international competition.
On the day of the race, the waves were really big and the conditions were far from ideal, and from the start to the finish, huge waves kept coming in, to the point where I couldn't even tell where the other competitors were or what position I was in. The waves were really amazing.
Even in those conditions, I continued rowing at my own pace, completely absorbed, until I reached the finish line. It was only after I crossed the finish line that I realized I had come in first place . It was such a difficult race, so I was really happy to win, and it was an unforgettable event.
Tachibana went on to win subsequent tournaments and dominated the Asian Tour. He says the driving force behind his success is "because I love the feeling of accomplishment."
"I love the sense of accomplishment I get when I reach the finish line. No matter how hard it is, the moment I reach the finish line I'm filled with a sense of accomplishment for having rowed all the way to the finish. It makes me think, 'I can do it,' and that it was worth the effort. Finishing first feels better than coming second , and the sense of accomplishment is completely different. That's why, when I enter a race, I want to aim for first place . I think that feeling of accomplishment is what motivates me."
"A place of longing" - towards the World Championships
Tachibana riding the waves at KOKUA FLY PRO
Tachibana will be competing in the World Championships to be held in Puerto Rico in November . What are his thoughts as he waits for the tournament to arrive?
"First of all, I'm really looking forward to it. The World Championships is a place I've always dreamed of, so I'm really excited to be able to go there.
I've seen Japanese junior riders win up until now, and I've always wanted to be in the same league. So, I feel like I'm finally going to be able to participate. This year is the last year for the Under 18 division, and since I'm participating, I want to aim to win."
He is excited to see how he will fare on the world stage and is looking forward to the day of the race. He has been preparing hard for the world championships, a place he has always dreamed of.
"I've heard that the waves at the venue are high, so I'm mainly focusing on practicing surfing. I want to give it my all so that I can finish with a result that I'm satisfied with."
My future goal is to continue enjoying SUP as a paddler.
Photo taken during the Asian Tour. Tachibana is fourth from the right in the front row.
Tachibana is currently 17 years old. As he builds his career, many choices will be waiting for him. We asked him about his goals as a competitor and as a paddler.
"I want to continue enjoying SUP for as long as I can. For now, I'm not in danger of forgetting how much fun it is, but I do think that one day I might forget. So, having fun is my goal, and it's something I want to cherish.
Of course, as an athlete, winning and losing are inevitable, so it's not all fun and games, and there are times when I feel sad and frustrated. But even if the result of a race is disappointing, when I return to Okinawa, I can think to myself, "Well, it was fun, so that's all that matters." I feel like I'm able to maintain my motivation precisely because I'm having fun.
That's why having fun is so important to me. I want to work hard at racing and training, not letting everything depend on winning, but remembering to have fun."
"Don't forget to have fun." This sentiment seems to be heavily influenced by the people around Tachibana.
"I'm surrounded by people who are free, have their own lifestyles, and seem to be having fun. There are many people who are true to their feelings and do what they want to do, and they all seem to be having fun. For example, my father opened a shop doing what he loves, and Kenny (Kaneko Kenny) started his own SUP brand. There are many people around me who are having fun and achieving what they want to do.
When I see everyone, I think they are simply wonderful, and I want to enjoy every day too. To that end, I want to become someone who has the courage to take action on what I want to do, even if it is just a temporary feeling.
While he has a strong desire to win, he never forgets to have fun. This attitude of Tachibana is something that not only athletes but everyone should cherish.
The world championships are just around the corner. Don't forget to have fun and win a satisfying result.
