BEYOND STADIUM 2022 to be held

Tokyo's parasports support project "TEAM BEYOND" is an experiential event that connects the appeal of parasports with various interests in everyday life, such as music, comedy, and other forms of entertainment, art, and child-rearing. BEYOND STADIUM 2022 " was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday, November 5, 2022. The cheer song co-produced by Noritake Kinashi and AK-69 was also unveiled for the first time.

This time, we spoke to three people, Noritake Kinashi, Oompa Loompa, and Hide Toyoshima, about their impressions of BEYOND STADIUM 2022, their thoughts on para-athletes, and what they like.

■Talent, singer, and painter Noritake Kinashi

This time, I collaborated with AK-69 to create a support song. I hope that this song will bring together everyone in Tokyo, Japan, and the world, regardless of whether they have a disability or not, as a team.

Also, by interacting with para-athletes, I felt that they were not pessimistic just because they had a disability, but rather had overwhelming power. I have previously gone out to eat with para-athletes such as visually impaired Ochiai Keiji, and when we ate together, he would take multiple trains to come to the restaurant, and in blind football he controls the ball with just the sound of bells and instructions from behind the goal, so I think it's truly amazing.

Even though they are blind, they have come to my exhibitions to experience art. In the future, I would like to try my hand at art that many people can participate in, such as works that can be enjoyed by touching. I would also like to hold exhibitions that combine art and disabilities.

I would like to work together with everyone, not just myself, and use the power of the organization to promote parasports.

Message to university students

I want people to aim to be the kind of person that makes people think, "I want to do something with you!" I want to do all kinds of things with young people. I think it's easier to approach people in a cheerful atmosphere, so I try to be energetic. If young people can learn what they know, and experienced adults can make suggestions, and if that matches and more people get involved, then we can create something great, and there's no way to lose.
By working together, we may be able to see what was previously invisible, and give form to what didn't exist before. Let's create a new world together!

Hayato Tane, 4th year student at Chuo Gakuin University

■TikToker Oompa Loompa (Oompa Loompa)

This was my first time trying out blind football. Blind football is what you might call "invisible football." All players except the goalkeeper are blind, wear eye masks, and play with a ball that makes noise. I regularly practice football on a team called "WINNER'S," but being blind was much more difficult than I imagined, but I found it fascinating and profound. Because I couldn't rely on visual information, I was able to sharpen my senses and nerves, which I don't normally use, and strengthen my five senses more than usual, and I felt that I gained a lot from it.

The theme of this event was "things I love," but my current passions are soccer and impersonations. I enjoy observing and impersonating people, and in the past I've played the role of a coach or teacher. However, I think impersonation is a tricky subject to handle. If done incorrectly, it can come across as "making fun of the person." However, by establishing a solid brand, it's possible to lift viewers' spirits, and I find that rewarding. I was really happy when a viewer told me, "After watching Ompa's video, I felt brave and was able to go to school." I'd like to spread the word about parasports to the world through impersonations.

Message to university students

If there are any students out there right now who are unsure about their future at a crossroads in life, I would like to tell them to "believe in yourself and keep going." In fact, until last year, I was aiming to become a teacher at university. However, when it came time to choose my career path, I chose not to become a teacher, even going against the wishes of those around me, but to become active on social media, which I was passionate about at the time. I thought that if I chose the path myself, I would be able to develop it on my own responsibility, no matter what happened, without blaming others. When you are unsure, I want you to believe in yourself and cherish the things you love.

Ayako Miyata, 4th year student at Tsuda University

■Wheelchair basketball: Akira Toyoshima

I am truly happy that such a large-scale event has become possible for parasports, and that I was able to be involved as an athlete. This event was not positioned as a one-off excitement tied to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, but rather as a large-scale festival, similar to a regularly held cultural festival. I feel that this is very significant, and I feel that parasports are steadily becoming an established presence.

What impressed me throughout the day was the number of booths where anyone could easily try out a sport. I've been involved in wheelchair basketball for many years, and I think it's a relatively well-known sport, but there are still many sports that aren't widely known. While there are many ways to raise awareness, an effective one is to make people feel that it's something they can relate to. I hope that everyone who tried out parasports at this event will feel the appeal of parasports and become even more interested in them. I would also be extremely happy if the excitement I felt from the event could be shared with as many people as possible. No matter how trivial your discovery may be, I'm sure that by the time you realize it, you'll have already become captivated by the depth of parasports.

Message to university students

I hope that you will use your high level of absorption and great ability to communicate to the fullest extent possible the appeal of parasports. We will also be actively creating opportunities for children and people of your generation to come into contact with parasports, so I hope that you will be open-minded and receptive to new things.

Rien Kanda, a fourth-year student at Japan Women's University

Impressions from participating in BEYOND STADIUM 2022

This event was my first time experiencing parasports, wheelchair basketball. Even though it's the same sport, it's basketball, and I realized that parasports are a completely different sport. Having experienced it, I discovered a new appeal and felt I could watch it from a different perspective. The final song of the event, TEAM BEYOND's cheer song, resonated deeply with me as it combined Noritake Kinashi's spirit and his desire to sing a song to cheer everyone on with AK-69's hip-hop rhythm. The song's message, "There are no limits. Even if we hit obstacles in life, we face them as fellow human beings," inspired me and motivated me to further spread the appeal and joy of parasports. As a member of TEAM BEYOND, where athletes, spectators, and supporters all come together as one team to create excitement, I hope to discover new appeal and joy in parasports.

Yoshiyuki Okazaki, 4th year student at Kawamura Gakuen Women's University

This event overturned my previous image of parasports as "something for people with disabilities that has nothing to do with me." At the wheelchair basketball experience booth, I experienced for the first time the difficulty of scoring a shot using only arm strength, since I can't jump, and the excitement of seeing how the flight of the ball changes depending on the slight position of my wheelchair.
The talk session with celebrities and para-athletes was packed with moving and passionate stories that are unique to para-sports, as well as funny stories that had the whole venue filled with laughter. I hadn't paid much attention to para-sports before, but this experience made me want to find some noteworthy athletes and support them!
Furthermore, even if the purpose of attending an event like this was to see one's favorite talent or live performance, if it inspires even a small increase in the number of people interested in parasports, it may help to eliminate the mental barriers that exist between those with and without disabilities!

Misaki Otsuka, a fourth-year student at Tokai University