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Track & Field and Soccer Clubs Hold Joint Pep Rally at Tama Campus

  • December 16, 2022
  • Events and Occasions
Notices

On Wednesday, December 14, a pep rally was held in front of the round lawn at the Tama Campus for the Track and Field Club, which will participate in the 99th Tokyo-Hakone Ekiden (Hakone Ekiden), for the 83rd time in eight consecutive years, and the Soccer Club, which will compete in the 6th All Japan University Soccer Rookie Match.

First, the director of the track and field team and other officials were introduced, followed by comments by the coach, introduction of the athletes by the chief (Kohei Nishizawa, 3rd year), and a statement of determination by the captain, who spoke of his feelings and aspirations for the competition.

Shunta Uchida, Ekiden Team Captain, Track and Field Club
We have been working all year with the goal of finishing 5th overall, which we failed to achieve last year. Although there were some frustrating moments in the first half of the season when we did not achieve the results we wanted, most of the team members were able to improve on their personal bests in the fall season, and we are looking forward to the Hakone Ekiden in very good shape. We will do our best as a team, so please give us your support.

Shunta Uchida, Ekiden Team Captain, Track and Field Club

Tomoo Tsubota, Director, Ekiden Team, Track and Field Department
The Track and Field Team has been training hard over the past year for the 99th Hakone Ekiden. We will work together as a team to achieve our goal of finishing 5th overall this year by demonstrating what we have accumulated over the past year on January 2 and 3. I look forward to your enthusiastic support.

Tomoo Tsubota, Track and Field Club Ekiden Team Manager

Then, after the introduction of the soccer team managers and other officials, comments by the 1st and 2nd year team coaches, introduction of the players by a senior student (Yuta Hirowatari, 3rd year), and a statement of determination by the players followed, in which they expressed their feelings and aspirations for the tournament.

Keifu Kimura, soccer player
The soccer team has been working for a year with the mission of bringing smiles to the faces of everyone involved. This tournament will be the last of the season. We are grateful for the cooperation and support of so many people who have made it possible for us to play soccer, and we will do our best to compete to win Japan's No. 1 championship. We will do our best to compete for the top position in Japan.

Keifu Kimura, soccer player

Takuma Aoshima, Soccer Team Coach
The Rookie Tournament is a tournament mainly for first and second year students, and it is a tournament where students who will carry the soccer team in their backs in the next two or three years will be active. We want to make this tournament not only to become the best in Japan, but also to prove that the future of the soccer club is bright. Every day, we train with a passion that surpasses that of the World Cup. We will do our best to live up to expectations, so please give us your support.

Takuma Aoshima, coach of the soccer team

Afterwards, both clubs exchanged commemorative gifts, wishing each other success in their respective endeavors. The track and field team gave a soccer ball with a message on it to the soccer team, and the soccer team gave a sash with a message on it to the track and field team, with Uchida and Kimura both smiling as they received the gifts.

In the latter half of the event, the cheerleading squad gave a demonstration, which included a powerful performance by the leadership team and a brilliant dance performance by the cheerleaders.

In his closing speech, Akira Tokuyasu, Director of the Health and Physical Education Center, said, "One year of practice will never betray you. I hope that you will believe in the training you have done and take on the challenges of your respective competitions," he concluded the pep rally with a powerful exhortation.

The Hakone Ekiden will be held on January 2 (Mon.) and 3 (Tue.), 2023, and the All-Japan University Soccer Rookie Match will be held from December 19 (Mon.) to 24 (Sat.), 2022. We look forward to your support for the athletes.

  • The Ekiden team of the Track and Field Club, competing in the 99th Hakone Ekiden

  • Soccer team participating in the 6th All-Japan University Soccer Newcomer's Tournament

  • The two teams exchanged commemorative gifts to wish each other good luck.

  • The cheering crowd cheered for the team.

  • Many students and faculty members gathered to cheer the team on.

  • The send-off ceremony was held under a blue sky.