Akiyama, who conveys the charm of tennis from the perspective of a writer, supervises the Grand Slam viewing tours planned by JAL, providing advice on viewing spots and venue facilities, etc. We asked him about how to enjoy watching sports, must-have items for traveling, and the highlights of this year's Wimbledon Championships.
Text: Shota Kato Photo: Keita Tamamura
Travel essentials to inspire your writing
JAL: I'd like to ask you about the essentials you need when reporting overseas. Is there anything you always bring with you?
Akiyama: It's the notebook and pen that I always carry with me and that I find most comfortable to write in. For the past four or five years, I've been using an A5-sized notebook from Moleskine and a 0.7mm ballpoint pen called "Jetstream" from Mitsubishi Pencil.
My favorite Moleskine notebook
JAL: The Moleskine notebooks are made in Italy, but the pens are simply made in Japan.
Akiyama: I'm very practical, and I value the quality of the paper and the ink flow. When covering a major tennis tournament, I always use at least one pen, so I have to bring three or four with me. There are interviews with players after the match, and although I record them with an IC recorder, if it's a press conference with a Japanese player, I want to write down every word as much as possible in my notebook. In addition to the match, I also write about the weather and natural environment on the day in my notebook. When it comes to covering the four major tournaments, I take the ID pass given to the press home as a keepsake of the tournament, and buying and collecting official merchandise is also one of the fun things to do.
Akiyama's must-have items for reporting trips. From the left: IC recorder, press ID pass, Moleskine notebook, Mitsubishi Pencil ballpoint pen
The fun of watching sports isn't just about the game itself. Enjoy the facilities with all your senses
JAL: Mr. Akiyama, you oversee JAL Pack's tours to the four major tournaments. Is there anything you always tell participants when they go to watch sports overseas?
Akiyama: So you don't just try too hard and keep watching the matches. Tennis matches can last from the morning until late at night, and sometimes it can be hot and sometimes it can get cold, so it's very exhausting. There are plenty of restaurants in the venue, so I hope you'll take a break and enjoy some food and drink that you can only get there. I think enjoying the facilities, environment, and atmosphere while watching the match is also part of sports culture. I hope you'll use your five senses to enjoy watching sports, with the intention of enjoying the tournament itself.
At the Wimbledon Championships in London, you often see spectators eating the famous strawberries and cream and drinking champagne, ignoring the match, and I think that's just the right attitude. At the US Open, you can enjoy casual American fast food, and experiencing the food that is unique to the place will surely make a lasting memory.
Highlights of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships include the progress of young players and the return of Kei Nishikori
JAL: The Wimbledon Championships will be held in July 2018. What are some of the highlights?
Akiyama: There are many talented players, including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the men's side, and the Serena Williams sisters on the women's side. I'm looking forward to seeing how the young players will play against the long-time top-ranked players.
Among the young men are Alexander Zverev of Germany and Chung Hyeon of South Korea, and among the women are 20-year-old Naomi Osaka, who won her first tour title at the BNP Paribas Open and is attracting a lot of attention. Rather than the top players declining in ability and being overtaken by the younger players, if both players are in good condition, a generational change may occur as the younger players make their breakthroughs. I think that is the highlight of Wimbledon this year.
JAL: Akiyama-san, you have covered Kei Nishikori for many years. Do you think we can expect him to do well as he returns from his injury in 2017?
Akiyama: Covering Nishikori is my life's work. Of course there are other players I want to watch, but he is a once in a generation talent, and he is also a fascinating person, so I will continue to follow him until he retires. Covering the Junior Davis Cup, where I first watched Nishikori's match, was as memorable as my first Wimbledon coverage. I couldn't help but wonder what he would become in five or ten years' time when he was 14 years old.
JAL: Compared to other athletes, what was it about you that made you stand out?
Akiyama: Not only did he have excellent technique, but I felt that he also had the mentality of a professional. His heart had already reached top-class levels at just 14 years old.
It was a match against a strong Spanish player, but when Nishikori returned to the bench during the break between games, he completely ignored the coach, put a towel over his head and entered his own world. When I asked the coach later, he said that he couldn't say anything at that moment. He said he was overwhelmed by the concentration of the 14-year-old who was simulating how to win.
JAL: That's amazing.
Akiyama: The fact that he was forced to take six months off due to injury since the summer of 2017 is a big handicap, but if all goes well, he will be back in top condition for the summer grass court season of 2018, or at the latest by the North American season in August. In other words, I expect that he will have regained his match instincts by the time of the Wimbledon Championships in July and will be able to perform at close to 100%.
JAL: In terms of enjoying sightseeing as well as watching the matches, are there any spots around Wimbledon that you like to visit?
Akiyama: London is dotted with huge parks. Wimbledon Common is a park on a completely different scale to Japan, and if you think there is a golf course or a rugby field in the park, suddenly a cemetery appears. It is so large that it gives you an idea of how the locals live and spend their time here. I often bring my running shoes with me when I travel and jog, and it's fun to run, even if I get a little lost in unfamiliar places (laughs). There are large parks in the city, such as Hyde Park, so I would like you to visit them. I hope you will immerse yourself in the place and take home the details of what you feel at that moment and the scenery that unfolds before your eyes as memories of your trip.
Hidehiro Akiyama
Born in 1961. After graduating from university, he became a freelance writer, writing for magazines and newspapers, mainly on the sports topic. He began covering tennis in 1987, covering major tournaments in Japan and abroad, including the Grand Slams. He has written many match reports and interviews for tennis magazines such as Sports Graphic Number and the web media run by WOWOW. He serves as vice-chairman of the Japan Tennis Association's Public Relations Committee, and contributes to the association's publications and e-mail newsletters. He co-authored "The Road to the Top" (Bungeishunju) with Kei Nishikori.
Let's support Kei Nishikori!
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
