Our Town Inagi 2019: Yurika Harashima

Japan's Best in Soft Tennis

Yurika Harashima, a third-year student at Bunka Gakuen University Ogikubo High School residing in Yanokuchi, participated in the 2018 National High School Sports Festival Inter-High Soft Tennis Women's Individual Competition (from July 30 to August 2, 2018, in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture) and achieved a remarkable victory.
On the day of the tournament, strong competitors from across the country gathered, creating a tense atmosphere, but she approached the match with the mindset of being "bright, free, and energetic." Although she felt nervous and her body didn't move as she wished in the first match, she drew strength from the cheers of many supporters and focused on "making noise" to advance.
When asked about her feelings on winning, she said, "I am honestly happy. I want to thank everyone who supports me on a daily basis."
Furthermore, following her victory at the Inter-High, Harashima also participated in the 73rd National Sports Festival, "Fukui Shiawase Genki Kokutai," held in October 2018, where she achieved another victory and was crowned the best in Japan.
She expressed, "I have been able to continue playing tennis thanks to my parents, coaches, and teammates. With gratitude for everyone, I was able to concentrate fully on my play."
We cannot take our eyes off Harashima's future activities after winning the title of the best in Japan.