Athlete Brains: Dai Tamesue's "Fluid Pacing" vol.5

A serial interview column where Mr. Dai Tamesue freely discusses "things on his mind right now." The only set theme is "What is autonomy? What is tolerance?" Mr. Tamesue shares his thoughts on various "things on his mind" in response to the mysterious "interviewer's" unexpected prompts. Well then. What kind of stories will emerge this time...? Stay tuned.

──With "Autonomy and Tolerance" as our theme, I'd like to ask about "Food and Health" this time. Given the pandemic, I feel interest in things like food and health has surged again. First, I apologize for starting with a very basic question, but could you tell us something about athletes and food?

Tamesue: When it comes to sports where weight restrictions are a major concern, marathon running comes to mind first. And more so for women than men. It's like an endurance car race – you obviously need fuel, but the weight of that fuel becomes a handicap. So athletes calculate their meals backwards, aiming to use up all their fuel by the moment they cross the finish line.

──What exactly does that mean?

Tamesue: Carbohydrates provide instant energy. Fat delivers sustained energy. Without meticulously calculating that balance, you simply can't run that distance. We track athletes aren't quite that strict about our diets. But we were always conscious of balancing carbs, vegetables, and meat. Think of it like a single-plate meal—how do you arrange the menu on that plate?

──Ah, that's easy to understand. During the pandemic, so-called "COVID weight gain" or "COVID weight loss" has been a topic of discussion. From the perspective of boosting immunity, maintaining a balanced diet is important, right?

Tamesue: I think so.

──Speaking of COVID, we can't casually eat and drink with friends anymore. You know, that "drink-communication" thing? That environment where you can't have that "sharing the same pot of rice" kind of communication. Is that still important in the world of athletes?

Tamesue: According to Kyoto University President Juichi Yamagiwa, famous for his gorilla research, the sense of "sharing" is crucial. Sharing meals fosters a sense of camaraderie. It builds team trust and unity. This apparently applies to diplomacy too—who you eat with and what you eat is far more important at dinner than lunch. Conversely, if you want to distance yourself from another country, you might deliberately skip a dinner meeting and leave.

──Wow, that's deep.

Tametsu: That seems to be a major reason why Japan's relay teams have become so strong. Developing individual abilities is essential, of course, but to enhance team cohesion, "how much you've eaten from the same pot" is crucial. Beyond simply sustaining life or gaining gourmet satisfaction, it's a vital means of communication.

──I understand. I understand very well.

Tamematsu: It's probably the same in the business world, right? You can't just say, "We can have remote meetings, so that's good enough." I think it's time we formalized the essence of communication.

──Communication like "Hey, so-and-so, good work today. Keep it up!" just doesn't cut it anymore, does it?

Tamesue: Eating is both the source of our own vitality and a way to relax our hearts with our companions. In terms of this series' theme, it's truly about "flexible pacing." It encourages self-discipline while also fostering tolerance towards others, so to speak.

(Interviewer: Web Dentsu Inc. Editorial Department)

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From the Athlete Brains Production Team, Shiraishi

Starting with this installment, the theme shifts to "Food and Health." At first glance, it seems like it might delve into more specialized topics like nutrition science and dietary habits from a top athlete's perspective. But once you open it up, it takes a grand leap through discussions of diplomacy and gorillas (!) to the very essence of "food" – communication within teams and organizations. As both an employee of Dentsu Inc., which champions 'Teaming Company,' and as a working adult who has effectively utilized (?) 'drink communication,' this interview offered many insights and discoveries.

Athlete Brains Produced by Dentsu Inc. / Akimichi Hibi (3CRP) & Kohei Shiraishi (CDC)

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For details on the Athlete Brains team, centered around Dai Tamesue, which leverages knowledge cultivated by athletes to solve challenges in the world (businesses and society), see here.