KENDOJIDAI 2024.10
Composition: Teraoka Tomoyuki
Photography: Nishiguchi Kunihiko
Translation: Hoshino Maki
Hoshiko Keita returned to the global stage of the World Kendo Championships. His last appearance was six years ago, which he recalls by saying, “I had no real sense that I had won.”
From the highs and lows of the All Japan Kendo Championship, to his long-standing rivalry with Matsuzaki Kenshiro, and the weight of representing Japan, Hoshiko opens up about his journey to becoming a world champion.
The Pressure of Representing Japan
Regaining Confidence Through the All Japan Police Kendo Tournament
— This was your second time competing in the World Kendo Championships (WKC). Your first appearance was six years ago, at the 17WKC Korea. Was your mindset different this time around?
“It was completely different. In the last tournament, my aim was simply to participate in the WKC― it never even cross my mind that I would be competing in the final. Because of that, I felt more anxiety than confidence during my match. From that point on, I trained with the mindset of competing in both the individual and team events, envisioning myself securing victory in the team final. In that sense, my mindset was entirely different this time.”
— In your interview at the 17WKC Korea, you mentioned that you weren’t satisfied with the results. Can you elaborate on that?
“While I was pleased with our team’s victory, I didn’t feel a genuine sense of having won my own matches, which left me with a lingering sense of dissatisfaction. I believed that finding a way to channel that feeling was crucial, and for the past six years, I’ve carried the determination to win my matches in a way that both I and those around me could fully accept.”
— Do you feel that you’ve overcome that lingering dissatisfaction in this WKC?
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