Now 24 years old, she first went on an overseas tour when she was 15 years old and in her third year of junior high school. Leaving her parents behind and visiting England with her teammates, she says her experience excited her, as she had always had a strong interest in overseas destinations. Since then, she has consistently played in overseas matches, and now spends more than half of each month on overseas tours.
Although traveling in a wheelchair is by no means light, Uechi's demeanor as she talks about her travels is light as a feather. What is the secret to maintaining such a posture amid a packed schedule of matches and physically demanding days? We asked her about her commitment to seeing the world through tennis, and the appeal of traveling in a wheelchair.
Interview and text: Kumiko Katakai Photography: Lori Barbely Editing: Satomi Hara, Kohei Sasaki
My greatest pleasure is discovering new restaurants and eating delicious food.
JAL: What are you looking forward to when traveling?
Kamiji: When we're on away games, we're usually traveling the day after the game, so we don't have much time to relax.
But even among all of those, I still want to eat delicious food (laughs). I don't miss Japanese food. So, eating delicious food from the place I'm visiting is what I enjoy most.
JAL: Do you have any favorite shops around the world?
Uechi: There are restaurants like that, but I prefer to find unknown restaurants. I ask the Japanese people who come to support us and those who support us if there are any good restaurants nearby.
Also, the overseas players also enjoy eating out, so we exchange information with each other (laughs).
I only brought a minimum amount of luggage and was able to relax and sleep soundly on the plane (laughs).
JAL: You could call yourself a "travel pro," but is there one travel essential that you always bring with you?
Uechi: I'm the type of person who carries so little luggage that people ask me at the airport check-in counter, "Is this all the luggage you have?!" (laughs).
When I first started going on overseas trips, I used to bring a lot of my own clothes with me in case I needed to go somewhere, but most of the time I end up not being able to go, so now it's all sportswear (laughs).
But the one thing I can't live without is my favorite, green tea. I always bring some green tea bags with me before a match or when I'm relaxing at the hotel.
JAL: Do you have any preferences for how you spend your time on the plane?
Uechi: I don't bring many personal belongings on board, so I usually just watch movies or sleep. I don't really pay much attention to the time difference and I'm able to relax.
I almost never have trouble sleeping because of a change in environment. After arriving at the airport, I can sleep so soundly that I can head straight to the practice venue (laughs).
JAL: That's amazing! I think I understand the secret of your strength now (laughs).
Kamiji: I hear that a lot (laughs).
He enjoys interacting with local people in a way that's only possible because he's in a wheelchair.
JAL: So far we've mainly been talking about your overseas trips, but do you ever travel privately?
Uechi: I can't take time off so I haven't been there that often, but I've been to Monaco, Korea and Thailand. The first place I went privately was Australia with a friend the year after I graduated from high school. I love Korea, so I've been there about four times already.
He has also visited Monaco on private trips. *Photo provided by him
JAL: Traveling in a wheelchair can be inconvenient at times, but what do you prioritize when choosing a travel destination?
Uechi: That's true... It's always better to have barrier-free facilities, but many of the countries I visit aren't like that.
So rather than worrying about whether it's easy to get around in a wheelchair, I try to go to places I want to go as much as possible, although of course I will get help from the people I'm with and those around me.
Even in Korea, which I love, many places are not barrier-free. But, for example, if you are stopped in the street, there are many people who will quickly carry your luggage or lift you up.
I think that able-bodied people probably often complete their trips without relying on others, but in the case of wheelchair users, they get help from local people, and this is where interaction takes place.
I think it's fun to be able to remember, both while traveling and after the trip, those things, like "I was helped at that time," or "The story that the person who helped me there had was interesting."
I want to know more about what the person in front of me is thinking.
JAL: Earlier you mentioned an episode where you asked a local person for recommendations on good restaurants. Does your travels involve actively enjoying interacting with people?
Uechi: Rather than being proactive, it's something very simple and natural for me. I want to know what the person in front of me is thinking, I want to hear their opinions, I want to know more about them.
When I first started going on overseas tours, I still couldn't speak any English and it was hard to communicate, but when I showed an interest in learning more, everyone was willing to speak to me slowly.
I have the impression that that moment was really fun, so I would like to go there even if I'm alone and can't speak the language.
WHEELCHAIR TENNIS
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
