◆ Wish for paper cranes Chizuru Arai, representative of Olympic judo
Students giving golden crane letters to Arai’s mother Masayo (left) = Yorii Municipal Otoko Junior High School
Chizuru Arai (27) from Yorii Town, the 70-kilometer class representative of the Tokyo Olympics, made a paper crane on the 7th by 71 second-year students from Obusuma Junior High School, the mother school of Sumitomo Mitsui Kaijo. The cheering “Crane Letter” was presented to Arai’s mother, Masayo (54).
The students combined 1,600 folded paper cranes, which were made over a month from mid-May, to complete a crane character of 1.3 meters square. In hopes of winning a gold medal, it was treated as “Chizuru” in gold on a black background. Masayo, who received a portrait of Arai and a message of support, thanked him, “I think it will help my daughter.”
The students also asked about Arai’s childhood, and Masayo said, “I started judo in the first grade of elementary school because I was a very active child. I couldn’t win at first, but when I was in the sixth grade, I won the prefectural tournament. I started to devote myself to it. “
Arai won the first Olympics by accumulating achievements such as winning the world championships in 2017 and 2018 in a row. The Judo Women’s 70kg class match will be held on the 28th at Nippon Budokan (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). (Yusuke Sugihara)
◆ “For everyone’s support” Sakura Koike, the representative of para-swimming
Koike (right), who was surprised at the appearance of the two teachers and shed tears, in the water planting in Nishi-ku, Saitama City.
Sakura Koike (20), a representative of the Tokyo Paralympic Swimming Women’s Freestyle 400m (motor dysfunction S7) from Nishi-ku, Saitama City, attended an encouragement party held in the municipal water planting of her alma mater on the 7th. In front of about 180 students, Koike said, “I think I’m very nervous on the day, but I want to help everyone’s support today.”
Koike had paralysis on both legs due to his illness when he was 11 months old. He started swimming in elementary school and gained strength by attending swimming clubs in Tokyo, and is currently studying at the Faculty of Sport and Health Science at Daito Bunka University. In May of this year, he was appointed as his first Paralympic representative and will challenge the race on August 29th.
At the encouragement party on that day, Keita Mori (62), who was the grade chief at the time of enrollment, appeared as a surprise and presented a souvenir. Mr. Mori said, “You did your best. Please show me the continuation of your dream.” Mr. Koike sent a yell to his juniors, saying, “Participation in Para was a dream, not a goal. You can only get a goal if you make an effort. Don’t give up what you are interested in.” (Tomoko Maeda)
