—Could you tell us how you came to join the club and talk a little about your training regime?
Atsushi Birukawa:My interest in rowing started at my high school in Akita Prefecture. There’s a river in the city where I went to school, and rowing was popular, and well, the rest is history. Initially, I’d thought rowing was merely about simple, repeated actions—not that complicated, you know. However, once I got seriously involved in the sport, I realized that there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye, and I came to recognize that there are many nuanced difficulties lurking within those seemingly straightforward actions. There are quite a lot of people in the club who’ve come from other sports, and because rowing is very different from most other sports, some members initially struggle to retain their balance when they get into the boat, and they consequently end up going for an unexpected swim. Extending the knees and generating knee power are important elements in rowing, so daily training is imperative to properly discipline the lower half of the body. Our team doesn’t emphasize weight training or other routines to build muscle. Instead, our policy is to strengthen our bodies through movements inherent in rowing, so we focus mainly on rowing practice, workouts, and running as supplementary regimens.
—What characteristics do you think really define Keio Rowing Club?
Former club members come to cheer us on at meets, provide us with refreshments, and frequently visit our training camp; this kind of regular association gives current members a real feeling for the history of the club. But it’s not just about tradition or pressure. Rather, it’s a kind of spirit or attitude that you instinctively feel has been passed down from generation to generation. As an organization within the Keio University Athletic Association, the club has persistently focused on winning—this approach hasn’t changed at all over the last century or so. With so many diverse members in the rowing club, it’s a daunting challenge to unite them as teammates in the pursuit to become the best in Japan, yet these difficulties make our goal all the more rewarding. We’re together every day from dawn till dusk, so I get the feeling I’m going to miss them all after graduation [laughs].
—What’s the allure of Keio University and Keio Rowing Club?
Before I started at Keio, I’d harbored a vague notion that it was an educational institution for children from wealthy families. But once enrolled, I discovered that each and every student is totally devoted to doing something they love. When Keio students work together, we’re able to share something special in pursuit of a common goal. For me, it’s all about the rowing. Each individual has his or her own quirks and dreams, which ultimately has nothing to do with the university. Having said that, I think that Keio is defined by the lifelong ties we’re able to form, and I’d like to still stay in touch with my fellow rowers when we’re in our 70s and 80s—that’s the kind of thing that makes Keio Rowing Club special. Looking ahead, I think supporting the club after graduation will be my way of contributing to Keio University as a whole.