Skip to main content

Caught Off Guard by Announcement, Kawauchi's Colleagues Vow to Support Him All the Way in Next Phase of Career

As his journey takes him far away across the world, the shining star of the Saitama Prefectural Government is set to take a new step. Returning to Japan on April 19 after becoming the first Japanese man in 31 years to win the Boston Marathon, Yuki Kawauchi, 31, unexpectedly announced that he plans to retire from his job at the prefectural government offices next spring to turn pro. His boss, colleagues and prefectural government officials were caught off guard by the announcement, expressing surprise and dismay, but voiced their support as they said, "We respect his decision," and "We will support him forever."

After announcing his plans to go pro at Narita Airport, Kawauchi hurried to work at Kuki High School in Kuki, Saitama. After receiving flowers, a cake and blessings for his achievement from Principal Atsushi Takemoto and his coworkers, Kawauchi smiled widely, saying, "I'm very grateful. I'm so happy. I didn't think I could really win it."

With a pile of documents stacked high on his desk, Kawauchi opened his computer and got down to work. Asked why he had come to work right after returning to Japan he answered, "I've been absent for a week and came back a day later than scheduled, so I've caused a lot of inconvenience."

Kuki High School is approaching its 100th anniversary. A member of the centenary commemorative project executive committee, Kawauchi commented, "I owe a lot to my colleagues having supported me, and the 100th anniversary project matters. For the time being I want to keep my balance between work and racing the way I always have until now."

Kawauchi is beginning his fifth year at Kuki High School following five years at Kasukabe High School. Principal Takemoto praised him, saying, "He is an excellent administrative worker. He is a very serious young man who shows initiative in his work. Once this centennial business calms down I'd like to do something to recognize him."

Regarding Kawauchi's announcement that he would go pro, Principal Takemoto commented, "If that is his wish then I would like to respect it. I think that a result such as that he produced must have made him think. We all want to support him."

Members of the prefectural government's running club who trained with Kawauchi and took part in training camps and ekidens with him were likewise surprised by his announcement that he would go pro. Club director Sho Kuwabara said, "I'm shocked. Kawauchi is always really into training. I'm impressed every time."

The running club has about 100 members. It was founded in 1983 but went defunct at one point. Since Kawauchi joined the number of club members has swelled, as have its female fans. Club secretary general Keiko Kanai shared Kuwahara's surprise, saying, "We just talked about the training camp schedule last week." At the club's year-end-party and other events, Kanai said, "He never stops talking about marathons. Racing is always on his mind."

"He never forgets when someone has helped him and always tries to repay that debt," said the prefectural sports bureau's Masami Kubo. Wishing only the best for the office star, Kubo said, "I'm sorry to hear that he is going to turn pro, but we'll support him forever."

source article:
https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20180420-00010003-saitama-spo
translated by Brett Larner

Buy Me A Coffee
Labels:

Comments

Metts said…
I hope he stays as an independent pro like some have done and not enter the corporate system. His brand may be high enough now to get some good independent sponsorship and not be sucked into the corporate system.
April 26, 2018 at 12:11 PM
Post a Comment

Most-Read This Week

Keita Sato Joins Swoosh TC

After appearing at a Nike event on Apr. 3, U20 1500 m NR and indoor 3000 m and 5000 m NR holder Keita Sato , 22, updated his Instagram profile to announce that he is joining Nike's Swoosh TC . At the Nike event Sato said that he plans to run the 1500 m at the Apr. 11 Kanaguri Memorial Meet, then will move to the U.S. "To be successful at the global level I need to train and grow alongside world-class athletes," he said. "I have to take every day seriously in order to achieve that dream of being internationally competitive." Swoosh TC was founded last year. Its coach Mike Smith has guided many athletes to international championships, including prior to Swoosh TC's launch, with some earning medals and podium finishes under his leadership. photo © 2026 Brett Larner, all rights reserved source article: https://www.rikujyokyogi.co.jp/archives/204241/2 translated by Brett Larner
Post a Comment
Read more

Kanakuri Memorial Meet Streaming and Start Lists

Japan's outdoor Grand Prix season kicks off Saturday in Kumamoto at the Kanakuri Memorial Meet . Streaming will be at the link above starting at 9:30 a.m. local time. Complete timetable and start lists . Main events and some noteworthy entries: GP Women's 800 m Heat 2  - 12:10 p.m. All-time JPN #4 Ayano Shiomi , 2:01.01 GP Men's 800 m Heat 2  - 12:30 p.m. GP Women's 3000 mSC  - 2:45 p.m. All-time JPN #4 Yuzu Nishide , 9:38.95 All-time JPN #5 Manami Nishiyama , 9:39.28 South Korean NR holder Ha-Rim Cho , 9:53.09 GP Men's 3000 mSC  - 3:05 p.m. All-time JPN #2 Ryoma Aoki , 8:18.75 All-time JPN #5 Yutaro Niinae , 8:19.54 All-time JPN #7 Hibiki Obara , 8:22.64 All-time U20 JPN #2 Tetsu Sasaki , 8:29.05 All-time U20 JPN #3 Soma Nagahara , 8:30.37 GP Women's 1500 m Heat 2  - 3:35 p.m. Teresiah Muthoni , 4:02.54 Margaret Ekalale , 4:09.64 all-time JPN #3 Ran Urabe , 4:07.90 All-time JPN #6 Tomoka Kimura , 4:09.79 All-time U20 #5 Mei Sakiyama , 4:13.67 GP Men's 1500...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aoyama Gakuin University Launches Women's Ekiden Team With Goal of "Stopping the Declining Numbers in the Sport"

2026 Hakone Ekiden champion Aoyama Gakuin University held a press conference Apr. 4 at its Sagamihara campus announcing that it was adding a women's ekiden team to its track and field program. In its first year the team has only 2 members, Nodoka Ashida of Ritsumeikan Uji H.S. , and Kairi Ikeno of Suma Gakuen H.S . The team's head coach will be Susumu Hara , who coached the AGU men to their second Hakone threepeat this year and had a hand in the GMO corporate team's first-ever New Year Ekiden win. At the press conference he talked about the reasons for launching a women's team, and the harsh realities facing women's track and field. AGU is the undisputed leader in the evolution of the university men's ekiden circuit, but adding a women's team represents a new challenge. Hara cited 3 objectives in expanding the AGU program: "creating an environment where female athletes can balance competition and life events," "expanding the opportunities...
3 comments
Read more