The secret to the strength of Hiroaki Kozai, a member of the Japanese men's wheelchair basketball team at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, on the "world stage"

Wheelchair basketball is a popular event that attracts a lot of attention at the Paralympics. It is also said to be the star sport because it has relatively easy-to-understand rules and allows people to enjoy the players' super plays. What kind of drama awaits at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, which are scheduled to open on August 24, 2021?

In this article, we interviewed Kosai about the highlights of wheelchair basketball and his enthusiasm for the tournament. We also asked Kosai, who has experience living abroad, about barrier-free issues both in Japan and overseas.

In reality, it is a delicate sport where position is decided by centimetres or millimetres.

OnTrip JAL Editorial Department (hereinafter referred to as JAL): I heard that the basic rules of wheelchair basketball are the same as regular basketball. There are no double dribbles, and as long as you understand that moving the wheelchair three times while holding the ball is considered traveling, and that it is a foul if your buttocks leave the chair, then you're OK. With that in mind, please tell us what to look out for and what the best part of watching the game is.

Hiroaki Kosai (hereinafter, Kosai): I think the best thing is that players are classified according to the level of their disability, and points are given in 0.5 point increments from 1.0 to 4.5 points in order of severity. The total score for one team (five players) is limited to 14 points or less, and players with severe and mild disabilities compete together, but it is not just the so-called "players who can move well" that do well, but each individual player's playing style is also incorporated into the tactics.

JAL: You have a score of 3.5, so your disability is relatively light. Have you had any memorable experiences with teamwork with players with severe disabilities?

Kozai: There are many. For example, there is a tactic called "screening." If there is a defender in the direction I am moving, a teammate will move in that path to block the defense and allow me to move. Able-bodied basketball players can move sideways to slip between players, but wheelchair players cannot move directly sideways, so they have to turn sideways once before moving, which is a very effective tactic. This kind of mutually cooperative play happens everywhere.

JAL: It's amazing how quickly the wheelchair moves, and how easily it can be spun and controlled.

Kozai: When people hear "wheelchairs," many of them may imagine the ones used in hospitals, but it's much faster than that, and there are violent collisions, so it's sometimes called "wheelchair martial arts." The movements may look flashy, but in fact it's a delicate sport, with the wheelchairs being used to decide positions by centimeters or millimeters.

The secret to strength is the desire to overcome your past self

JAL: What is the secret to your strength?

Kozai: I don't think I'm very strong, but ever since I was a child I've had the desire to "get better." When I try to compare myself to others and try to win, I end up putting in too much effort and it usually doesn't work out, so I try to compare myself to my past self instead of the others. So I have a strong desire to "win against myself." If people think I'm "strong," maybe it's because of that desire that I appear strong.

JAL: You placed 7th at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics and 9th at the London 2012 Paralympics. Then, as vice captain, you placed 9th at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympics. What did you do to make your desire to win come true?

Kozai: That's right. Looking back, before the Rio 2016 Paralympics, I was stubborn and would not do anything that I didn't agree with. But that also meant that I was only operating within the scope of my own ideas. Since I wasn't getting good results because of that, I began to think that the answer must be outside of myself.

I do worry about change, but if I do that I immediately go into stubborn mode, so I've become conscious of just trying things out first and thinking about it later, and giving myself a bold challenge.

JAL: It seems that you used the disappointment of the Rio 2016 Paralympics as a springboard to work hard. Through this experience, you were able to view yourself objectively, which was a big change for you.

I want to amaze the world by showing that you can win even without height.

JAL: What made you start playing wheelchair basketball?

Kozai: I've always loved playing with balls, especially baseball, so I would go to see professional baseball games. However, although there is wheelchair softball now, I had never heard of wheelchair baseball back then, and I didn't have the opportunity to join a team.

Then in 2000, when I was in elementary school, I went with my father to a trial session hosted by a wheelchair basketball team in Chiba.

I had hardly ever seen basketball, but when I tried out a competitive wheelchair at a trial session, I found it to be completely different from the wheelchair I usually use, and it was so fun to move around so easily. I could go fast and turn around. So the captain invited me to join the team, and I became obsessed.

JAL: Do you still have that same feeling of fun that you had back then?

Kozai: To be honest, there was a time when I forgot what it felt like to have fun. Right after the Rio 2016 Paralympics, rather than feeling like it was fun, I had a strong feeling that "I have to do something" or "It should be like this," and the fun just disappeared somewhere.

JAL: How did you overcome it?

Kozai: When the first state of emergency was declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the gyms were closed and I was forced to stay away from basketball, so I mostly stayed at home. About two months later, the gyms were open again and I tried to shoot. I don't remember the first one going in, but even the sound of it missing made me happy. "Ah, this is it." I was able to reaffirm that I loved basketball.

JAL: That period may have been a time when many people were able to reexamine what is important to them. The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics came after such a period. What is your goal for this tournament?

Kosai: Twelve countries will participate in the men's competition, but the Japanese team is particularly lacking in height. This is a fatal problem in the sport of basketball. As for how Japan will compete, speed will be key. They will compete with speed and precise wheelchair control. They will also use the court widely and aim for a game with quick "transitions," or quick changes between offense and defense. When these two elements are combined, they will be able to overcome the height of the players.

It's going to be tough to play against any of the strong teams, but I want to surprise the world by showing that even if you don't have height, you can win if you play the right way. I've been selected to represent Japan since the 2006 World Championships, but I've never been able to achieve satisfactory results, so I want to show what I've been building up little by little and get the results I want.

JAL: I heard that you have a picture of the gold medal as your wallpaper.

Kozai: Yes, my goal is to win a medal!

In America, it's the hardware that's barrier-free, while in Germany, it's the mindset of the people that's barrier-free.

JAL: You have lived in the US and Germany. Are there any areas you would recommend?

Kosai: I've just lived in the US and Germany, so I've hardly ever traveled. When I come back to Japan after the season ends, there are training camps and tours with the Japanese national team, and even if I go somewhere, if there's a game, it's a "tour" and not a "trip."

However, about four years ago, I took a quick trip to my alma mater. I strolled around the campus, met my roommate from back then who was still there, and chatted with him while eating some pretty unhealthy food (laughs). It was a lot of fun.

In Germany, I lived in the suburbs of Frankfurt, one of the big cities, but if you drive about 20 minutes away from Frankfurt, you'll find a lot of nature. Germany is a country that is very conscious of environmental issues, so you can really take it easy.

I currently live in Chiba Prefecture in Japan, but I have been to Boso by myself to refresh myself. I was in a room with an open-air bath, and when I tried to take a bath while watching the sunrise, it started raining heavily (lol). Even with that, it was a fun and relaxing experience.

JAL: Are there any differences in terms of barrier-free access between overseas and Japan?

Kozai: I think America is more advanced than most. In America, there is a law called the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that prohibits discrimination based on disabilities, so wherever you go there are ramps over steps and the toilets are barrier-free. Barrier-free facilities are quite advanced, and I was able to live my life as a part of society without having to worry about anything.

I get the impression that Germany's infrastructure is less advanced than America's, but that's why I feel like there are a lot of people willing to help out. For example, once when I was getting off at a bus stop, a passenger who was getting off at the same time quickly put out the ramp for me. They did it so smoothly that I didn't even have a chance to say "thank you," and when I got off, the other passenger said, "It's okay, I'll put it back," and put the ramp away. It's normally a job for the driver to do, but the passengers naturally helped out as if it was the most natural thing to do.

JAL: What about Japan?

Kozai: I think things are changing. More stations have elevators, and many new buildings have wheelchair-accessible toilets. However, some buildings and stations only have elevators for loading and unloading, so passengers have to take a detour, and an attendant must accompany them. There are still some shortcomings.

The Grand Canyon is a place I've wanted to visit since I was in college.

JAL: I imagine that away trips are tough with the continuous games, but do you have any tips for having fun despite that?

Kozai: When I go on an away trip, I try to take a break from basketball... well, that sounds cool, but I actually play games (laughs). Other than that, I have books, a tablet, and a backscratcher because I'm a bit stiff (laughs). I often read books on leadership. But on planes, I prefer movies over books. I rarely have a chance to go to the cinema, so I check the JAL website in advance and plan what I'm going to watch.

JAL: Is there anywhere you want to go once the coronavirus pandemic is over?

Kozai: The Grand Canyon. I've wanted to go since I was in college, but I never had the chance, so I'd like to go now. I want to feel my own smallness in the midst of the majestic nature. (Laughs)

JAL: You went to the US alone and played professionally in the German league. Then you returned to Japan for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. You made big decisions at every stage and paved your own path. Finally, please give a message to those who are worried about traveling far away or who want to try sports but are unsure.

Kozai: I thought it was the best thing to do when I decided to return to Japan, so it wasn't really such a big decision. However, when I decided to go to the University of Illinois, it was a big decision. In fact, I cried my eyes out at the airport (laughs).

There may be times when what you should do and what you want to do are slightly different, but it is very important to take a step towards the image of who you want to be.

On the other hand, I don't think you should push yourself when it's time to relax. It's healthiest to be true to yourself. Even though we're in a situation like this now, I hope we can find fun things to do now and enjoy traveling again.

Hiroaki Kozai

He started playing wheelchair basketball at the age of 12, and was selected for the U-23 Japan national team in his first year of high school. After graduating from high school, he went to the United States alone and transferred to the University of Illinois. That same year, he won the NCAA Championship, and later won the NCAA season MVP award for two consecutive years. In Japan, he plays for NO EXCUSE.

JAL is an Official Airline Partner of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Text: Yukiko Yasuraku