Our Town Inagi 2023: Toshihiko Soeno

4th place in the Men's Individual Category of the 34th National Health and Welfare Festival Kanagawa, Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Sagamihara Tournament Sports Wellness Blowgun!

Toshihiko Soeno (70 years old), a resident of Omaru, participated in the 34th National Health and Welfare Festival Kanagawa, Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Sagamihara Tournament (nickname: Nenrin Pic Kanagawa 2022) held in Kanagawa Prefecture from November 12 to 15, 2022, and won 4th place in the men's individual category of the "Sports Wellness Blowgun" event.

"The National Health and Welfare Festival (hereinafter referred to as the Nenrin-pick) is held to promote the health and social participation of Older Adults aged 60 and over through exchange competitions in sports and cultural events (such as Go and Shogi), as well as welfare events. This year's event, held for the first time in three years due to the impact of COVID-19, featured a record 32 sports and cultural events, with approximately 610,000 participants."

First participation in the long-awaited Nenrinpic!

Four years ago, Mr. Soeno won the Tokyo tournament in sports wellness blowgun and secured his first appearance at the National Senior Games as a representative of Tokyo. When it was confirmed that he would participate in the National Senior Games, Mr. Soeno was very happy. However, due to the impact of COVID-19, the National Senior Games he was scheduled to participate in were postponed or canceled, and this year he finally achieved his long-awaited first appearance after three years. Regarding the results of the match, he expressed his regret, saying, "I really wanted to score better. I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the venue, felt the pressure, and fell just short mentally."

Sports wellness blow darts is a sport that everyone can enjoy

Sports wellness blowgun is a competition where participants use their breath to shoot arrows at a circular target located 6 to 10 meters away (8 meters for the Nenrin-pick), competing for points. It is a lifelong sport that anyone can enjoy, regardless of age or gender, as it does not require high athletic ability or arm strength. On the other hand, if one's mental state is not stable, subtle differences in the blowing technique can occur, making it a very delicate sport that requires mental strength and concentration.

Mr. Seno encountered sports wellness blowgun about 10 years ago. Since it was a sport that was not very well known, he became interested and when he actually tried it, he became fascinated by its fun. "The exhilaration when the arrow hits the target is irresistible," he said, his eyes shining as he talked about the charm of sports wellness blowgun.

Currently, Mr. Teno is affiliated with the Japan Sports Wellness Blowgun Association and is also engaged in promoting the sport as a certified instructor.

Finally, when I asked Mr. Seno about his future goals, he smiled and said, "I want to work hard to participate in the Nenrin Pic again." Mr. Seno's further challenges continue.