Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Japan aims to raise hockey profile at Tokyo Olympics

Tokyo 2020 has launched its ‘Let’s 55 Virtual Experience’, a project that aims to showcase what it looks and feels like as a top-level athlete. The project aims to cover all 55 sports on the Tokyo 2020 Games programme.

As far as hockey goes, Samurai Japan’s Ohashi Masaki spoke to Tokyo 2020 on how he started in the sport and what makes hockey so appealing

“When I was in second grade my brother asked me to come with him, and that’s when I started playing hockey. I’m 27 now so I’ve been playing for twenty years. When I was a kid, there was a local lifting competition and I wanted to win, so I started practising every day.

“I remember how much I enjoyed trying to lift the ball with my hockey stick one time more than the previous day. Thanks to all those days practicing, I acquired good ball control and can maneuver the ball and the stick better. Try lifting for yourself! It will definitely improve your skills.

“Of course I would like us to win the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games, but I also hope the Games would help promote hockey as well. ‘Samurai Japan’ is known for great teamwork.

“Whether it’s defence or offence, the whole team participates and supports each other. Rather than dribbling your way forward in offence, we pass the ball around. In defence, if the opponent dribbles past one of our guys, there’s always another guy, then a third guy trying to stop him. I hope everybody will notice how we work as a team.”

Do you have a feature or story idea from across the globe? Get in touch with us!

Hockey Factory Shop

spot_img

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

More from Author

I broke my back in hockey – it inspired my waterproof cast for future of healing

There’s no denying the human and inspirational impact design student Jake...

I just try to lead by example, says Nicolas Keenan

Nicolas Keenan’s life as one of Argentina’s best players and one...

Programme launched to help former hockey stars with knee osteoarthritis

A new programme designed to help retired athletes treat knee osteoarthritis...

England Hockey appoints Rich Beer as CEO

England Hockey has appointed from within for its next CEO, with...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img