http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/item/342717
translated by Brett Larner
In a visit to Lieutenant Governor Tomomasa Futsukaichi at the Oita Prefectural Government offices on Jan. 10, five Laotian athletes promised to run their best in the Jan. 14 Oita City Half Marathon. The five runners are coached in Laos by Oita native Kenji Ozawa, 46, a senior volunteer with the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Ozawa introduced each athlete individually, expressing his hope that they would all deliver good races.
Accompanying Ozawa in the visit to the Prefectural Offices were four men entered in the half marathon and one woman who will run the 10 km. Lieutenant Governor Futsukaichi commented, "I could sense the depth of the bond between Ozawa and his athletes. I hope to see them reap the full benefits of their training."
Ozawa began a two-year volunteer mission to help cultivate Laos' long-distance athletes in September, 2011, but returned to Japan last October due to health…
translated by Brett Larner
In a visit to Lieutenant Governor Tomomasa Futsukaichi at the Oita Prefectural Government offices on Jan. 10, five Laotian athletes promised to run their best in the Jan. 14 Oita City Half Marathon. The five runners are coached in Laos by Oita native Kenji Ozawa, 46, a senior volunteer with the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Ozawa introduced each athlete individually, expressing his hope that they would all deliver good races.
Accompanying Ozawa in the visit to the Prefectural Offices were four men entered in the half marathon and one woman who will run the 10 km. Lieutenant Governor Futsukaichi commented, "I could sense the depth of the bond between Ozawa and his athletes. I hope to see them reap the full benefits of their training."
Ozawa began a two-year volunteer mission to help cultivate Laos' long-distance athletes in September, 2011, but returned to Japan last October due to health…