「実力派」空手選手
11月、校友会関係のイベントに参加した際、ちょうど天皇盃・皇后盃 第53回全日本空手道選手権大会の準決勝が行われており、本学国際文化学部3年生の阿部遥佑選手が出場していました。
勝てば決勝進出、さらに勝てば法政初の優勝になる――とOB会の方が教えてくださいました。イベントに専念しなければならなかったものの、結果がずっと気になっていて……見事な優勝でした。
自己批判や「運がいい」という言葉を交えた謙虚な姿勢の中に、芯の強さ、困難を乗り越える覚悟、そして強くなりたいという純粋な向上心がはっきりと見えました。
正解がないことには面白さがある、とおっしゃった言葉も印象的でした。柔軟性が求められることは確かに難しさでもあるけれど、その中で自分なりの答えを見つけた時の達成感、さらにそれを極めていく過程について語ってくれた時の目は、本当にキラキラしていました。
「これからも長く続けますか」と尋ねましたが、その姿を見た瞬間に、もう答えは分かっていました。
「もちろんです」との即答。大変な時期もあり、これからはもっと大変になるともおっしゃっていましたが、それでも続けていきたい――その言葉に迷いはありませんでした。
体格に恵まれていると言われることはあるかもしれませんが、その身体的条件をどのように活かし、実績につなげるかは、やはり努力と覚悟が不可欠なのだと、阿部選手とお話しして確信しました。少し調べてみると、「実力派」として知られていると書かれていて、深く納得しました。
表敬訪問に来てくださった際、自己紹介の中でこれまでの実績を挙げてくださいましたが、その数の多さに、覚えるだけでも大変なのではと思うほどで、ただただ感心しました。
これからのさらなる活躍を、心から楽しみにしています。
A Student Karateka of Proven Skill
In November, while attending an alumni-related event, the semifinals of the 53rd All Japan Karate Championship (Emperor’s Cup & Empress’s Cup) were taking place, and Yosuke Abe, a third-year student in the Faculty of Intercultural Communication at our university, was competing. An alumnus explained that a win would send him to the finals—and another win would mean the first championship title in Hosei University’s history. Although I needed to stay focused on the event, I couldn’t help but keep thinking about the outcome… and it turned out to be a truly impressive victory.
Within his humble demeanor—marked by self-criticism and comments such as “I was lucky”—one could clearly see inner strength, a readiness to overcome adversity, and a pure desire to become stronger. I was also struck by his remark that the absence of a single “correct” answer is what makes things interesting. Flexibility is certainly challenging, but as he spoke about the sense of accomplishment that comes from finding his own answers within that uncertainty—and then continuing to refine them—his eyes sparkled with excitement.
When I asked whether he planned to continue for a long time, I already knew the answer the moment I saw him. “Of course,” he replied without hesitation. He acknowledged that there have been difficult periods, and that things will likely become even more challenging ahead, yet he still expressed a clear determination to continue, without the slightest doubt in his words.
Some may say that he is physically well built, but through my conversation with Yosuke, I became convinced that how one makes use of those physical attributes and translates them into results ultimately depends on effort and commitment. When I later looked him up and saw that he is described as a “highly skilled, proven competitor,” it all made perfect sense.
During his courtesy visit, he introduced himself by listing his past achievements. There were so many that I found myself wondering whether it might be difficult even for him to keep track of them all—I could only admire him.
I truly look forward to his continued success in the years ahead.
