Takashi Yamaya holding a stuffed animal of the official mascot character “Robosuke” = in Senbacho, Mito City
On the 16th of last month, Adastria Mito Arena in Midoricho, Mito City. “I was relieved rather than happy.” Immediately after Ibaraki Robots, the second division of the men’s professional basketball B-League (B2), decided to be promoted to the first part (B1), he was relieved.
Originally an American football player. Born in Akishima, Tokyo, entered Keio Senior High School in Yokohama. In the American football club, a tall 180 cm tall is bought, and the position is the “offense line” that defends against enemy attacks. According to the rules, you can’t decide the points by yourself, and you are an unsung hero who devotes himself to the support shooting of allies. It suits the personality of having a hard time.
At Keio University, he was active as a deputy captain of the American football club. After graduating, I intended to keep a distance from American football, but I was asked by the recruiting team to join the company. In the fourth year, he won the rice bowl, which decides the best in Japan.
And he will be involved in the management of professional sports teams. After leaving Recruit, he worked for a consulting company and became the president of Tochigi Brex (currently Utsunomiya Brex), a professional basketball team. Yuta Tabuse, who became the first Japanese NBA player, was acquired and led to the number one league in Japan in the third year of its founding.
I came to Ibaraki in 2014. Its predecessor, Tsukuba Robots, went bankrupt and was greeted by the president of a new company established for reconstruction.
In 16th year, he entered the second division at the same time as the B League was established. However, nowadays, even with the corona sickness, 2,000 people are rushing to cheer, but at the beginning, a quiet old bird rang.
“You can make as many excuses as you don’t, but if you don’t, you can’t start.” I went to local festivals and events with the players and struggled to gather sponsors. He made frequent appearances at business meetings and built a network from scratch in a strange place.
The team steadily strengthened, but did not reach the playoffs (PO) to decide the champion of the year. It finally entered PO this season. Although he missed the victory, he grabbed the long-sought B1.
From next month, he will be the top management of another sport in Shintenchi. It will be officially announced soon. “I want to do something that no one has done,” he challenges the next challenge.
I can’t forget the letter I received from the marathoner who had his leg amputated after winning the Rice Bowl. “I got the courage. I’ll try running again with my prosthesis,” he said. I realized the power of sports to move people’s hearts.
“I don’t know which one will win in sports, and there is no planned harmony. That’s why I can make a big impression.” (Chihiro Hosaka)
