Keio University Physical Education and Racing Club Director Osamu Kanamata

There is no such thing as being above the clouds.

Keio University Track and Field Club Head Coach: Osamu Kanomata

■ Profile
Born in 1971, he graduated from the Faculty of Law at Keio University. During his time in the track and field club, he achieved notable results including winning the 4x100m relay at the Japan Intercollegiate Championships, placing second in the 200m race, and placing second in the 200m race at the Japan National Championships. In 1994, he joined Mitsubishi Corporation, and after working in Singapore, he moved to the oil major BP in 2004. In 2022, he became the head coach of his alma mater's track and field club. Currently based in Singapore, he serves as the Japan representative for BP's trading division while also dedicating himself to developing students as a coach.

Coach Osamu Kanomata, while serving as the head coach of his alma mater's track and field team, also works as the Japanese representative for the trading division of oil major BP, based in Singapore and traveling back and forth between Japan and Singapore, actively working on the front lines of the energy industry. Based on his belief that "there is no such thing as being above your reach," he continues to impart to students a mindset for succeeding on a global scale, drawing on his experience cultivated in both athletics and business. This time, we interviewed him about his career path and his thoughts on students.

■I want to show students a higher level of world that I have seen through track and field and business.

I am currently based in Singapore and work as the Japan representative for the trading division dealing with oil, gas, and electricity, commuting back and forth between Japan and Singapore. Currently, we are facing a situation where Japan's energy policy needs to be re-evaluated, particularly in light of the tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz due to the situation in Iran. I am involved in energy operations worldwide, engaging in discussions and collaborations with leading domestic companies. Furthermore, I consider the optimal supply routes from which regions to which markets, taking global circumstances into account. I ventured into this world because I wanted to see how far I could go as an oil trader on a global scale, competing against traders worldwide. At the same time, I also serve as the coach of my alma mater's track and field team. I continue coaching alongside my main job because I want students, who have unlimited potential, to see "a higher level of world"—the final learning experience before entering society. My own experiences are the reason I feel this way.

During my student days, I won the 4x100m relay at the Japan Intercollegiate Championships, but individually, I was the runner-up in the 200m at both the Japan Intercollegiate Championships and the Japan National Championships. Having experienced both, I felt that the difference between winning and being the runner-up is small, yet it makes a huge difference. I interact with students every day with the hope of helping them understand what is necessary to win and to think one step further.

■There's no such thing as being above the clouds

Students often set limits for themselves, thinking things like, "That athlete is on another level," "I can't do that," or "I can't beat this person." They dismiss a distant, unattainable world as being "above the clouds." However, in reality, there is no such thing as being "above the clouds." In the past, in the world of Japanese track and field, the record of "running the 100m in under 10 seconds" was thought to be something unattainable. However, once one person breaks that barrier, the expectations of those around them suddenly rise, and they start thinking, "Maybe I can do it too." In fact, there are four Japanese sprinters who have run the 100m in under 10 seconds, and two of them are alumni of this track and field club.

Also, 20 years ago when I switched jobs to the oil major BP, there were few Japanese people who moved overseas to work in the energy industry. But if someone takes the plunge and does it, others will inevitably follow, thinking, "If that person can do it, I can too." The same thing happens in Major League Baseball and overseas soccer, doesn't it? This perspective of "raising your sights" is exactly the same for your job hunting and your life going forward. Are you perhaps only aiming to "get into a famous big company"? That's like wanting to wear a designer suit without any substance to back it up. What's important is not where you get in, but having a vision based on a high perspective of "what you want to be like in 10 years" and succeeding. There's no need to be afraid of the outside world. Don't arbitrarily set limits for yourself by thinking it's beyond your reach, but keep your antennae up, look ahead to the world 5 or 10 years from now, and continue to challenge yourself with a high perspective.

■ Focus on "results" rather than just trying hard.

I tell my students, "It's not about effort, it's about results." I want them to realize that effort is a process, not the goal, and that it's important to work hard in order to achieve results. For example, my "effort" and someone else's "effort" are different. So there's no point in competing with each other using different kinds of effort. However, results are very easy to understand. Results are what allow for comparison. In a track and field club, that means running fast, jumping high and far, and throwing far—achieving results. Working hard towards those results is, of course, something that must be done. In the business world, too, what ultimately matters is "results." Don't use the word "effort" as an excuse to convince yourself. So, in what situations is effort necessary to achieve results? It's about working backward from a "clear vision" and being able to diligently and steadily continue even boring and mundane practice. Track and field is often thought of as a sport of innate talent and ability, but in reality, it's the steady accumulation of unglamorous things like repeating basic training hundreds of times and building a body that won't get injured that is important. The athletes who can continue that over and over are the ones who ultimately achieve results. In soccer, everyone enjoys shooting practice, but I think it's difficult to keep up with repetitive drills like strengthening exercises. Unfortunately, even if you tell people they "should" do them, few actually stick with it. However, those who do persevere are the ones who achieve results.

■Message to university students

Many university students tend to focus only on today and tomorrow. However, I want you to broaden your horizons, be curious about what lies ahead, and keep your antennae up every day. There are many opportunities in places you might overlook. If you don't notice them, you can't even swing the bat. But if you can look ahead and see what kind of ball is coming, you'll know how to swing the bat. If you have a vision for 5 or 10 years into the future and the determination to see it through, your dreams can become reality. Don't set limits for yourself by thinking "there's no such thing as being above the clouds," and live a positive and enjoyable life. Track and field, and business, become interesting when you shift from "something you're forced to do" to "something you choose to do."

Student Newspaper Online, June 5, 2026 Interview with Kaito Sato, 3rd year student at Hosei University

Miyu Maruyama (4th year, International Christian University) / Reina Inomoto (1st year, Kyoto University of the Arts) / Kaito Sato (3rd year, Hosei University)