Following the lead of the World Rowing Masters Regatta, the Japan Rowing Association honoured the competitors who were 80 years old or above, presenting them with a memorial medal.

This year there were 50 recipients, four of them female and the two oldest were 87-year-olds, Kazuyoshi Sakai and Hiroomi Kobayashi of the Suwa Chu Sou Ryoukai rowing team.

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At the first tournament in 2008, there were six competitors 80 years of age or older, but in the last decade more and more have participated. Takahiko Miyasaka of Tomon Middle Rowing Club asked each recipient about the secret of their longevity and rowing history and summarised it as follows.

Year of birth Name Age How you have stayed active in the sport? Length of rowing career

1931 Kobyashi Hiroomi 87
Sakai Kazuyoshi 87 Working in my field cultivating vegetables gives me physical strength. 74 years including a 30-year break.

1932 Kino Hiroichi 86           My love for rowing.         67 years
Konuta Kyoko                   86           The start is one of the most exciting parts of the rowing race, even if after decades.              30 years
Yamazaki Soichi                 86           I helped establish the rowing club in my middle school days. I had a 40-year break and returned to rowing after my 60th birthday and participate in the Masters ever since.   30 years

1933 Hotta Kyuya 85
Miyasaka Yuji 85

1934       Imamura Takashi              84           Rowing is part of life.      65 years
Sugiura Tsutomu              84
Taguchi Taira 84
Matsuura Syuhei              84

1935       Osugi Koichi                        83
Kato Takashi                       83
Kikuchi Yuzo                      83           Rowing is my reason for living. I live for rowing. 69 years
Koji Hideaki                        83
Seiyama Takamasa 83
Tanaka Shigemi 83
Chino Yoshitoshi 83
Hanafusa Isao 83
Yomo Tsuneo 83

1936       Ichikawa Akio                     82
Imada Tomohiko 82
Ushimru Miyoko 82
Ohara Yasohachi 82
Konishi Tsunehiko 82           Rowing is my way of maintaining physical strength and to prevent the decline of muscle loss.   7 years from entering university, and 15 years since retirement, 22 years in total.
Suzuki Shintaro                 82
Takai Hideo                        82
Takishima Fusae               82
Nagoshi Shigeko               82
Noborisato Sadaharu 82           I pursue my ideal rowing style.   60 years
Furuya Masato                 82           Eights:- cooperation and team play.         Total 17 years. Four years in college and 13 years in Masters.
Miura Kunio                       82           University rowing friendship and rivalry. The competitive nature of the sport.                60 years. 10 years in Masters.

1937       Igarashi Takashi                 81           Rowing is an important part of my life.   62 years
Sato Fukuzo 81
Suzuki Fumio 81           Rowing is a lifelong sport, to maintain health and physicality.       40 years
Takahashi Tadashi            81
Tsujimaki Takashi             81
Nakano Daiji 81
Hashimoto Syunnosuke 81
Baba Kenji 81
Fujino Syujiro 81           Being a member of TMRC & Penta RC. Rowing is very suitable sport for the aged to help maintain physical strength. 4 years in university,13 years in TMRC / Penta. I aim to continue rowing until I reach 90 years of age.
Motomura Yoshiyuki 81

1938     Arai Yuji 80
Ogami   Kiyoshi                 80
Kayama Tokuji                    80           Rowing gives me something to look forward to each week. I graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 1961, All Japan champion in fours 1959. Lost in the semifinal of Rome Olympics domestic qualification…life’s biggest regret.
Kawai Tadashi                    80           To reduce the loss muscle strength of the heart and lungs. I aim to exert myself to my physical limits to maintain strength and health.   60 years rowing career from university days onwards.
Tsurukai Hisaya                 80
Magami Yasunari 80
Matsuo Syunkichi             80
Motoki Toshio                   80

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World Rowing Cup completes second event with wide medal spread

“I live for rowing.” Japan honours Octogenarian rowers

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