インターハイ３連覇へ！　日本代表選手が５人　強さの秘密は…　尽誠学園ソフトテニス男子【香川】 (22/07/17 11:30)

The Jinsei Gakuen High School boys' soft tennis club in Zentsuji City will be competing in the Inter-High School Championships in August, aiming for a third consecutive victory. We interviewed this team, which has attracted attention nationwide. Cheering resounds! Applause resonates! The thrilling battles over the net are the appeal of soft tennis. The Jinsei Gakuen boys' team won the Kagawa Prefectural High Schools Inter-High School Championships and the Shikoku Inter-High Schools Inter-High School Championships in June. They will compete in the Inter-High School Championships in August, aiming for a third consecutive victory. In March 2022, the team reached the national top spot at the All-Japan High Schools Selection Tournament for the first time in 10 years. The boys' soft tennis club was founded in 1890. It is a powerhouse school, having won the All-Japan High Schools Selection Tournament three times and the Inter-High School Championships four times in team competitions. (Jinsei Gakuen Coach Hiroaki Mori, in his eighth year in the position) "Focus on the first shot. That one shot is real." The club has 33 members, 90% of whom are from outside the prefecture. Most of the players live in dormitories and undergo rigorous training. (Secret of Strength 1) "Full of Talent" The team boasts a diverse lineup of unique individuals, including five members of the U-17 Japan National Team. Freshman Ikuma Sakaguchi placed second in the national team during his junior high school days. Hoping to become number one in Japan, he came to Jinsei Gakuen. (Jinsei Gakuen, First-Year, Toyoda Yuusei) "Let's go!" Toyoda Yuusei is a cheerful first-year student with a flair for fluid movements. Nomoto Ryosei, the only second-year student on the national team, is a sharp-witted player with a keen sense of strategy. Third-year Miyata Tomotomo has great potential, excels at speedy plays, and is a hard worker. Of particular note: (Jinsei Gakuen, Third-Year, Captain Kurosaka Takuya) "Bravo!" Ace and captain Kurosaka Takuya. He's an all-rounder with exceptional talent, and is attracting attention nationwide. (Jinsei Gakuen Coach Mori Hiroaki) "He's the best of this generation (nationally). He's been a key player since last year. He has a really good sense of the game during matches. His performances, when he's fully involved in the game, captivate the audience. The Inter-High will be a highly anticipated tournament, so I'm really looking forward to it." (Jinsei Gakuen 3rd year student, Captain Kurosaka Takuya) "I'm confident that we've done a lot with this generation. Our goal is not only to win three consecutive championships, but also to win three national titles. I'd be really happy if we could achieve both." (Secret of Strength 2) "A Versatile Serve" His powerful first serve, slammed down from above, reaches a devastating speed of approximately 140 km/h. On the other hand, his cut serve adds spin and changes direction, both vertically and horizontally. (Photographer) "Wow, that's amazing!" This versatile serve is another weapon of Jinsei Gakuen. (Jinsei Gakuen coach Mori Hiroaki) "That's a cut serve. Kishishita, please try to receive it." (Announcer Kishishita Keisuke) "No, no, no." (Announcer Kishishita attempts to receive a cut serve and misses.) "What spin! It's fast. I can see the spin." (Jinsei Gakuen players are excited.) "The mood is great." (Announcer Kishishita attempts to receive a cut serve and miraculously succeeds on his second try.) "I'm doing my best to hit it. It's truly amazing." (Secret of Strength 3) "The most unbeatable duo." Third-year forward Ueda Taidai and back-court southpaw Iwata Kohei. The Ueda-Iwata pair are the most powerful pair right now, having won individual doubles matches against other Jinsei Gakuen players at the Prefectural and Shikoku Inter-High School Athletic Meets. (Jinsei Gakuen Coach Mori Hiroaki) "This pair's strengths are easily brought out. Their combination complements each other's weaknesses. They embody the appeal of soft tennis." (Jinsei Gakuen 3rd-year player Ueda Taidai) "It's being held in Shikoku. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope we can inspire many people." Iwata defeated last year's champion captain Kurosaka in the final of the High School Japan Cup singles at the national tournament held in Hokkaido in late June, winning the national championship. (Jinsei Gakuen 3rd-year player Iwata Kohei) "This gives me more confidence than any other victory I've ever had. I want to do my best to win both the individual and team events and achieve a double crown." The Shikoku Inter-High School Men's Soft Tennis Tournament begins in August in Ehime Prefecture. The challenge to win the national championship begins. (Jinsei Gakuen players) "We're going to win the Inter-High for the third time in a row! Yeah!"