Japan wheelchair rugby player Daisuke Ikezaki talks about the appeal of traveling "without overcoming obstacles"

The wheelchair crashed violently and my worries disappeared.

OnTrip JAL Editorial Department (hereinafter referred to as JAL): Wheelchair rugby is quite different from the sport one might imagine when thinking of rugby. Please tell us the basic rules.

Daisuke Ikezaki (hereinafter, Ikezaki): Wheelchair rugby is played on a basketball court in a gymnasium, with four players on each side, both male and female. The ball used is a special ball developed based on a volleyball. A major feature of wheelchair rugby is that it is the only full-contact sport among wheelchair sports. Players can crash into their opponents with all their might and knock them down. That's a commonality with rugby.

It was invented in Canada in 1977 with the idea of creating opportunities for people with severe disabilities to participate in sports, but you might wonder, "Why would someone with a severe disability participate in such an intense sport?" I think the message it conveys is that even people with severe disabilities can participate in such an intense sport, and that they are living strong lives.

Players are given seven points ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 depending on the functions of their bodies, and the total of the four players on the court is limited to 8 points. I get 3 points. If two players get 3 points, the remaining two points are 0.5 and 1.5, or 1 and 1. In any case, we have to include players with severe disabilities. That doesn't mean that players with severe disabilities have fewer opportunities to shine, but it's only when they put their bodies on the line to block and create a path for their teammates that they can score. I think it's a sport where people with severe and mild disabilities can express themselves on the court.

JAL: When you look at the racing wheelchairs, they are covered in scratches, and you can see how intense the competition is. The highlight and best part is the power of the collisions, isn't it?

Ikezaki: That's right. The scratches and dents on the rugby wheelchairs (wheelchairs used in wheelchair rugby) are evidence of the battles they have fought. There are defensive and offensive rugby wheelchairs. Defense wheelchairs use their heads to block opponents. Offense wheelchairs are armored vehicles that cut in quickly.

In my case, because I have a weak grip, I wear anti-slip gloves to make it easier to pedal, and I use elbow supports instead of brakes to stop the wheels. Other athletes also use techniques to help them control their wheelchairs according to their own disabilities.

Because it is an intense sport, wheelchair troubles often occur during the match, and the help of staff such as mechanics on the bench is essential. If you are tackled and fall, they will help you up, and if you have a flat tire, they will fix it. Just the other day, a spoke broke, but they replaced it in less than a minute. If repairs take too long, it can disrupt the flow of the match, so I think the cooperation with such professional staff is one of the highlights of this sport.

Even if your opponent comes at you, or you fall, you get up and move forward. I think this is the way to live life, regardless of whether you are disabled or able-bodied. I myself have become stronger not only as an athlete but also as a person through competition. In that sense, it is a sport worth watching.

JAL: I heard that you switched from wheelchair basketball to wheelchair rugby. Weren't you scared at first?

Ikezaki: I played wheelchair basketball for about 15 years from high school, but I couldn't continue because my arm strength had weakened. That's when I discovered wheelchair rugby. In basketball, if you collide, it's a foul, so when I first got on a rugby wheelchair, I was scared and didn't want to hit with all my might. But I started with light taps, gradually increased my speed, and when I finally hit it, I thought, "That feels good" (laughs). All the worries I had at that time disappeared, and I immediately decided, "Wheelchair rugby is the sport that suits my personality and disability, so I'm going to take on the world."

The "bang" of the first hit was like a gong to me. That's when my life in wheelchair rugby began. I hope to spread the word about wheelchair rugby to more people so that people with similar disabilities can see parasports as one of the options in life.

I want to create a team that is better than "Japan, the best in the world."

JAL: What kind of character is Ikezaki on the team?

Ikezaki: I think he's a character with glasses and a beard (laughs). I'm joking, but... it's weird for me to say it myself, but I think he's a character that people take a step back from. During the competition, I get really excited in a good way, so I think it's hard to approach or talk to him, but after the competition, I'm always messing around and joking, so people might think that I have a big difference between on and off.

Ikezaki looks serious while playing

Even if you take a detour, the experience will come in handy

JAL: Now I'd like to talk a little bit about your travels. First of all, how often do you go on expeditions?

Ikezaki: I flew a lot from October last year to March this year. I made 3-4 round trips to Japan, including Phoenix, San Diego, and Las Vegas, to participate in the American League. Until two years ago, I flew between Hokkaido and other areas 80-90 times a year. I've now moved my base to Tokyo, so I don't fly that much, but depending on the time of year, I sometimes fly around three times a week.

JAL: How do you spend your time on board?

Ikezaki: Whether I'm flying domestically or internationally, I'm the type of person who can sleep anywhere, covered with a blanket and listening to music or watching a drama, so I'm always comfortable.

I'm happy when passengers and captains say "We're rooting for you." I'm grateful that there are wheelchair rugby and parasports posters at the airport, as they help raise awareness. I'd like to see more of them.

JAL: When you're overseas, do you worry about the time difference?

Ikezaki: The impact of the jet lag is terrible. The night and day are completely reversed, and I've even played in a match without sleeping. If I'm staying for a week or so, I have to stay up all night to keep up with the match. I play a whole day, come back tired, fall asleep, then wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall asleep again... I repeat this cycle. It's physically tough, but it's also part of the experience of traveling. It's not fun, but I'm trying to think that it's okay because I can talk about the jet lag like this.

JAL: I'm sure you've traveled to many places for matches and for personal reasons. Do you like traveling?

Ikezaki: I like traveling. If I have time, I want to go to many places. If I'm busy all the time, I feel like I'm boiling like water and eventually I'll disappear, so sometimes I want to cool down. At times like that, I want to take a day or two away from the sport and go somewhere to refresh myself.

I get tired of being in crowded places, so I want to go to nature, like Hawaii or Okinawa. Beautiful ocean, beautiful sunset, white sand, a glass of Coke, I just want to space out there.

Forests are good too. I like greenery and hot springs. If you're in Hokkaido, I recommend Noboribetsu Onsen (Noboribetsu City). There's an inn where you can drink beer while soaking in an open-air bath. I don't drink alcohol, but the hot springs there are good.

JAL: Of all the countries and regions you've visited, what's your favorite?

Ikezaki: Sedona, Arizona, USA, is famous as a power spot. There are no direct flights from Japan, so we first got off at Los Angeles or San Francisco and then got off at Phoenix Airport, and then took a jeep for about two hours, climbing over rocks.

I had always wanted to go to Sedona. Thanks to the power I felt when I lay down on the ground, I won the U.S. Championship that season (2018) and was also named MVP, and I also won the U.S. Championship and was named MVP this year. I may look like this, but I actually believe in that kind of power (laughs).

JAL: I'd like to go there too (laughs). Riding in a jeep and crossing rocks... that doesn't seem like a very barrier-free trip, so do you gather any information about barrier-free access in advance?

Ikezaki: There is no such thing as barrier-free in nature. If I thought about barrier-free access, I wouldn't be able to go where I want to go, so I don't think about it. It's hard to generalize because the perspective differs depending on the severity of the disability and the situation, but in my case, my disability is relatively mild, so I don't do much research or planning in advance.

If there is a problem at the destination, I think about how to solve it, whether to rely on someone or give up. I don't think it has anything to do with disabled people or able-bodied people. If it's something you really want to do, I don't think there is a wall you can't overcome. It's just that in our case, there are more walls than able-bodied people. If you can't overcome it, you can just dig a hole and go through it, or take a detour to get there.

It's important to have the strength to overcome obstacles, but I think there are many other ways to move forward that suit each person. Life is like a journey. If you take a detour, you'll gain the strength to deal with the experience, and small troubles will turn into memories and laughs in the future. I think it's good to walk forward with that mindset.

JAL: Going back to the topic of wheelchair rugby, with big tournaments like the Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge 2019 and the Tokyo Paralympics coming up, do you feel any pressure as the star of the Japanese national team?

Ikezaki: There's no zero pressure. It's the Japanese flag after all. I think it's a big pressure more than anything. But pressure is never a negative thing. It also has a positive meaning in that people have high expectations of me and are supporting me, so I want to live up to that.

After winning the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the championship at the 2018 World Championships, the only thing they can do next is win the gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics. How can they perform to live up to expectations and how can they create a team that surpasses the "Japan team, the World Championship champions"? It's a good concern. They can't do things half-heartedly. They always fight on the court as a team, putting their lives on the line.

JAL: The Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge 2019 will be held in October. What are some highlights?

Ikezaki: This is the first time that the top eight countries (Japan, Australia, USA, Great Britain, France, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil) will come together to play in a big tournament in Japan. The level of each country is rising, so it doesn't matter if they are lower-ranked or higher-ranked, and you won't know the outcome until you play them. In order to give it our all and win in our own style, we need to always be challengers. I hope that everyone who comes to watch the games will not only support the Japanese team, but also support the games of various countries.

JAL: What does the Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge 2019 mean to you, Ikezaki?

Ikezaki: It's a tournament that's almost like a prelude to 2020, and being held in Japan is a good opportunity to convey the appeal of wheelchair rugby and parasports to many people. I want wheelchair rugby to become a sport that is more accessible to everyone. To put it simply, I want it to be a sport that is created together with many people, like baseball, which is often broadcast on TV and has thousands or tens of thousands of people cheering when a match is held.

JAL: What are your future prospects and dreams for wheelchair rugby?

Ikezaki: My dream is to have a clubhouse for parasports. Wheelchair rugby in particular leaves scratches and pine resin stains on the floor, so there are few gymnasiums that can be used. If we had a clubhouse, we could practice and hold training camps without worrying about such things.

And we want to give hope to small children with disabilities through our sport. That's why we need medals. The words of medalists carry weight and persuasiveness. We want to be the best in the world, not just for ourselves, but to give back to the people who supported us and for the sake of children. However, that is not the goal, but merely a passing point. I think it is necessary for us to make our mark in history in order to develop parasports in the future.

I want everyone to visit my hometown, Hokkaido.

JAL: In 2019 and 2020, Japan will be hosting major international tournaments, and many people from overseas will be visiting Japan. Are there any recommended travel destinations in Japan that you would like people from overseas to visit?

Ikezaki: My hometown, Hokkaido. Hokkaido has a lot to offer in terms of nature and food. In terms of seasons, there are many delicious things to eat, especially in autumn. After watching this year's Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge 2019 or the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, I hope you will visit Hokkaido and experience its charms to the fullest. I think that not only Hokkaido, but also the big cities of Tokyo and Osaka are packed with cultural attractions, and I hope that those who come to the tournament will experience the charms of Japan, including its buildings, food, and people.

JAL: The JAL Group aims to create a society where everyone can enjoy travel, sports, and culture. Please give a message to those who are anxious about traveling or who want to try sports but are unsure.

Ikezaki: Whether you have a disability or not, I understand the feeling of being anxious about traveling. I'm sure there are various anxieties, but if you think of those anxieties as part of the journey, I think it will be easier to travel. Even if something difficult happens, I'm sure the experience of dealing with it will be useful later.

When it comes to sports, it's hard to find the courage to take a step forward on your own, so it's better to tell many people around you about your dreams and goals. By telling them, people around you will support you, and being supported will give you the courage to move forward. Once you take a step forward, you can take two or three steps forward, and gradually you will find yourself in an environment where you have to keep going. By creating that kind of environment for yourself, I think you will gain confidence and get closer to your goals.

If you give up, it's over. There's no future. Even if things don't go well, I think it's important to keep going with a strong will to not give up. This is all something I've experienced and felt myself. The words "I'm rooting for you" give me strength, and I continue to work hard towards my dreams.