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

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Hakone Ekiden

The Hakone Ekiden is the world's biggest road race, 2 days of road relay action with Japan's 20 best university teams racing 10 half marathon-scale legs from central Tokyo to the mountains east of Mount Fuji and back. The level just keeps going higher and higher , hitting the point this year where there are teams with 10-runner averages of 13:33.10 for 5000 m, 27:55.98 for 10000 m, and 1:01:20 for the half marathon. It's never been better, and with great weather in the forecast it's safe to say this could be one of the best races in Hakone's 102-year history, especially on Day One. If you've seen it then you know NTV's live broadcast is the best sports broadcast in the world, with the pre-race show kicking off at 7:00 a.m. Japan time on the 2nd and 3rd and the race starting at 8:00 a.m. sharp. If you've got a VPN you should be able to watch it on TVer starting at 7:50 a.m. on the 2nd , and again at 7:50 a.m. on the 3rd . There's even a 2-hour high...
3 comments
Read more

Mashiko Breaks U20 5000 m NR - Weekend Track Roundup

Saturday's Kanakuri Memorial Meet in Kumamoto was the weekend's main event in Japanese track, but there were good results at the Nittai University Time Trials meet in Yokohama too. Emmanuel Maru (Toyota Boshoku) led the men's 5000 m A-heat at Kanakuri in 13:14.06, with Tomonori Yamaguchi (SGH) clocking the fastest Japanese time in 13:16.38 in his first race as a corporate leaguer. Waseda University duo Rui Suzuki and Yota Mashiko went 6-7 in 13:20.64 and 13:22.87, the 18-year-old Mashiko shaving 0.04 off the U20 NR. In 8th, Yamato Yoshii (Toyota) ran a PB of 13:23.92. 3000 mSC NR holder Ryuji Miura (Subaru) continued to struggle after a weak indoor season, finishing 18th of 20 finishers in 13:45.10. 19-year-old Festus Kimorwo (Kurosaki Harima) was under 13:20 in the B-heat too, winning in a 13:19.59 PB. 2 more collegiate men broke 13:30, Daichi Fujita (Chuo Univ.) 8th in 13:28.93 and Riki Koike (Soka Univ.) 9th in 13:29.09. The top 6 in the men's 800 m A-hea...
Post a Comment
Read more