Athlete Brains: Dai Tamesue's "Fluid Pacing" vol.9

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.

──Following up from last time, I'd like to explore the theme "What is loneliness?" At the end of our previous conversation, using casinos as an example, we touched on a kind of dependency on "something reacting to your actions." This time, I'd like to start by asking: Are people "distracting themselves" from loneliness, or are they "controlling" it?

Tamura: You're starting with another tough question. For athletes, while performance and results are important, the most thrilling moments are when "the world's reaction hits you directly." You could say it's the moment you're at the opposite end of "loneliness," right? While savoring that exhilaration, you gradually start to feel like you're being swept along by society. Then, strangely enough, people develop this desire to distance themselves from society, the so-called mundane world. Even though they've finally been freed from "loneliness."

──It's a kind of "state of mind," isn't it?

Tametsu: Exactly. To escape loneliness, you immerse yourself in something. That something does free you from loneliness. But then you become dependent on that very thing. That's the tricky part about humans. Whether it's alcohol, romance, work, gambling, or of course, sports.

──I understand completely.

Tamura: When that happens, you start wanting to step away from the mundane world. The very world you were clinging to escape loneliness. For example, during my active career, going on overseas trips would make me feel incredibly good, even for just two or three weeks. That sense of being freed from something. I think this is nearly equivalent to "loneliness," yet it leaves you feeling very positive.

──That's a deep conversation.

Tamese: Essentially, I think it boils down to how we deal with loneliness. People cling to things precisely to escape loneliness. But clinging then leads to dependence and being bound by that very thing.

──That's true for us ordinary folks too, not just top athletes. Like when someone who's worked relentlessly since joining the company suddenly gets demoted. The sense of loss then is beyond words.

Tamesue: For athletes, the "sense of loss" when retiring from active duty is immense. It feels like losing 95% of your life. It's not just loneliness. It's like your mind goes completely blank, or a hole opens in your heart, or you feel like collapsing to your knees. After all, the thing you've devoted almost your entire life to is being taken away.

──How did you overcome that "sense of loss"?

Tamesue: In my case, I just devoured books. Reading and deepening my knowledge made everything I saw feel fresh. Sure, it was a way to kill time, but I believe knowledge and culture are absolutely essential for enduring loneliness and overcoming it.

──I see.

Tamesue: Doing that also helps you see the meaning in what you've done so far and the path forward—what you should do next.

(Interviewer: Web Dentsu Inc. Editorial Department)

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From the Athlete Brains Production Team, Shiraishi

In the story of overcoming the unbearable sense of loss after retiring from active competition through reading (knowledge and culture), I sense the seeds of the Tamesue we know today. Viewing athletes through the lens of "loneliness" reveals their unique fate: experiencing loneliness on a scale and at a relatively young age that most people never feel. Unraveling this challenge offers insights not only for addressing athletes' "second career issues" but also for solving societal problems stemming from loneliness. This is an area Athlete Brains also wants to challenge.

Athlete Brains Production Team Dentsu Inc. / Akinori Hibi (3CRP) · Kohei Shiraishi (Business Co-creation Bureau)

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Athlete Brains, spearheaded by Dai Tamesue.
For details on this team that leverages athletes' cultivated knowledge to solve societal (corporate/social) challenges, click here.