Volunteer Newsletter by City Cast Chiba, Vol.3

Vol.3 Table of Contents

【Page 1】TOKYO2020 stage is going to a second act! 【Page2】Right before to the Paralympics! Interview with the athletes! - The Paralympics table tennis athlete Nozomi Takeuchi from Chiba Prefecture! - 【Page 3】Guten Tag! TOKYO 2020 As Seen From Germany 【Page 4】Joined in "Chiba-Netherlands Supporter" activities ~ Report form [Team Yell] ~, Newsletter Quiz, Editor’s Note

Vol.3 - published on August 25, 2021

This newsletter was all translated by City Cast Chiba. The summery in Spanish, French, Chinese and Korean is also available.

Click here for the newsletter in Japanese

【Page 1】TOKYO2020 stage is going to a second act!

Bathing in the afterglow of lingering movement of Olympic Games, Paralympics are coming soon finally! Unfortunately Paralympic Games will be also held without any spectators, but “New Normal” is taking root for our volunteer activities. This issue is also filled with a lot of contents, for example, the interview to the Paralympic athlete, the report from one of the City Cast Chiba who is living in a foreign country and the report on visit of high school and junior high school students team.

TOKYO2020 for City Cast Chiba

From Olympics to Paralympics! Comparing it to the marathon, we are in the turning point of TOKYO2020 right now. These lively pictures below show one scene of City Cast Chiba’s “first half of the game”. Let’s have nice games in “the second half” together. Here we go!!

【Page2】Right before to the Paralympics! Interview with the athletes! - The Paralympics table tennis athlete Nozomi Takeuchi from Chiba Prefecture! -

Q: How did you spend this whole year after the Paralympic was postponed?

A: Everyone must have a really harsh time during the state of emergency. I also had a harsh time that I could not play table tennis and actually I had a sad things that my old teacher passed away as well. But that actually made me stand with my own feet, and face to own myself, then motivated myself to join the Paralympic.

Q: How do you feeling now on to join the Paralympic 2020?

A: Be myself, and I want to show “This is who Nozomi Takeuchi is!”. I want to get the medal with a smile, without upsetting or frustrating face. With a smile from beginning to end!

Q: It might be hard work during the games. How can you become stronger?

A: I actually have a dream to become No.1 in the world since I became No.1 in Japan. This is the dream of my passed away teacher and me.  I also think I can pay my parents in return, going onto the big stage and getting a medal.

I actually think a little bit that my parents might feel guilty about me having a disability. However I am myself now because of having these arms. I want to tell them that “Your daughter is No.1 in the world. Be proud of her”.

The support of the people around me also motivate me. My own will that I do love playing table tennis and my hating to lose are also reasons, but the strongest reason is that I want to repay the people around me, so I can do my best.

Q. Tokyo 2020 aims to realize "Diversity and Inclusion". Do you feel that the world is changing?

A. This might sound harsh, but I think it often happens that people with disabilities that are easy for anyone to notice attract more attention. I have a functional disability in my right arm, but it is hard to see at a glance. People like me, who have a disability that is hard to identify, don't get much attention at all. There are many people who appear to be healthy, but are living in pain and suffering in secret. It would be great if we could make society more aware of this reality. I think that when the number of such people increases in the future, the country will become a more comfortable place to live, and I hope that the people around me will become more understanding.

Q. What are the strong points of Ms.Takeuchi's play?

A. I am good at serving. And hitting the ball hard when it is returned from the serve is one of my strengths too. Also, people around me often say that I have great spirit when I hold my serve (laughs). Like an uncanny presence. I hope people will see that.

Q. What would you like to say to our readers?

A. I would like them to see through the screen the potential of a person who can work this hard! I would like to thank the volunteers for raising their hands under this difficult situation.

(Interviewed by Yukarin)

【Page 3】Guten Tag! TOKYO 2020 As Seen From Germany

Some people of "City Cast Chiba" are living an active lifestyle abroad. The Tokyo 2020 was held during the Covid-19 pandemic, and Japanese hospitality was practiced even without spectators. How were these situations reported overseas?

Now, I would like to introduce the report "TOKYO 2020 from Germany" from Mrs. Kunda, who lives in the Federal Republic of Germany (hereinafter called 'Germany'). (Guten Tag! : German "Hello")

Niederwald Monument

Global Pandemic... I Can't Go Back to Japan!

The Tokyo Olympics was over in a flash. Many competitions were held every day and I wanted to spend a lot of time watching each competition. Originally, I was planning to go back to Japan and volunteer as a City Cast in the Narita Airport area. But, due to the situation of the pandemic, I have been unable to go back to Japan since last year.

European football championship ＆ Tokyo Olympic games

Germany where I live had implemented a lockdown since last November, which continued beyond the Easter holiday in April.  It didn’t allow children to go to school and turned all of their classes into on-line lessons. While missing opportunities to go shopping and eat at restaurants, we had to endure such a hardship.

Eventually, by this time when the lockdown was eased, European football championship postponed for one year was held in England in June.

At the final match, nearly 67,000 spectators without wearing masks were sitting next to each other closely at a venue in London.  Watching the shocking footage of news in Germany, there’re lots of people who were taken aback by the gap between the scene and a news that Tokyo Olympic games were held without any spectators.

How was their response in Germany?

In Germany, there had hardly been advertisements and public viewings of the Tokyo Olympic games. However, they were broadcasted and Japanese culture was introduced on TV.

One of the biggest news was about a tennis player, Alexander Zverev who won the gold medal of the man’s single. He was the first German gold medalist in this match.

Furthermore, it was big topics that the Bicycle women’s team pursuit won the gold medal with the new world record and Malaika Mihambo of the running long jump also won.

Japanese ”OMOTENASHI” seen by the world

There was a very disappointing voice because Tokyo 2020 was held without spectators. But in this difficult situation it was often said that Tokyo 2020 was succeed.

Some German athletes were found to be infected with the Covid-19 in Japan and were quarantined at a hotel with similar meals every day in a small room where can’t even open the windows.

The other hand, some athletes introduced that Olympic Village was comfortable. There were many meal choices every day, and meeting famous athletes in the Olympic Village.

And although there were many volunteers in Japan, there were people who could not play an active part due to a match without spectators. Somebody said that were impressed with the kindness the wonderful response of the people who actually work as volunteers, and the smiles even in the hot weather.

Almost everything wasn’t go as planned in Covid-19 situation but I believe that our OMOTENASHI reached to the hearts of foreigners.

Japan attracting attention with TOKYO 2020

Since Tokyo was chosen to host the 2020 Games, more and more my German acquaintances went sightseeing to Japan or want to visit in the future. Unfortunately we can’t easily go to Japan under the pandemic for now, I’m sure a lot of Germans were inspired by Tokyo2020 and became interested in Japan.

I am very glad to participate the volunteer activities as a member of TOKYO2020.

The father river, the Rhine.

(Written & Photos by Kunda)

【Page 4】Joined in "Chiba-Netherlands Supporter" activities ~ Report form [Team Yell] ~, Newsletter Quiz, Editor’s Note

Joined in "Chiba-Netherlands Supporter" activities　~ Report form [Team Yell] ~

"Choi-Vola" (Volunteers' associates) members of Team Yell who are active have joined in a public tour for Chiba-Netherlands Supporter, watching the practice of the Netherlands national team from the audience seats after taking sufficient measures against infectious diseases. This is a report of what the younger generation felt from the posture of the Olympians just before the Olympics.

“Impressed by practicing hard” Report from Fujimura-san (athletics)

I was so impressed by the Netherlands team practicing hard in spite of this pandemic situation.  I usually belong to the track and field club, so I wanted to be able to think and act like the Dutch players.

“Cheering with my own Uchiwa (Japanese fan) “ Report from Ishiwada-san (athletics)

When I was cheering with the handmade Uchiwa, designed the flag of the Netherlands, the player who noticed it waved and I was happy that I could communicate even if I was away. I felt close to the activities of the athletes and looked forward to the Olympics.

“Dutch players with many smiles” Report from Kiritani-san (athletics)

The Dutch players had a lot of smiles on the whole during the practice. 

Also, I was impressed by the athletes who run many laps without breathing up and the sprinters who run lightly with spring-like legs with strong repulsive force and beautiful posture, which was a very good experience.

“Good reference for swimming class” Report from Urabe-san (swimming)

I have been learning swimming for 6 years or so. When I watched the practice scene, I thought it was amazing that the Dutch players were stretched out to their fingertips and aware of various details. I wanted to use them as a reference in the swimming class at school.

Newsletter Quiz

We will publish “beneficial” and “fun” quizzes every volume!
In this Vol.3, we will give you a quiz on the Paralympics which started on 24th August!

1. How many Paralympic sports will be held in total at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture? 1)2 sports, 2)4 sports, 3)7 sports
2. Which is the name of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics mascot? 1)Someity, 2)Miraitowa, 3)Somighty
3. Apart from badminton, what is the other sport that will be held for the first time in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics? 1)Table tennis, 2)Canoeing, 3)Taekwondo