Morita
Chairman Akio Toyoda has also called “para-sports a contest between superhumans,” in which athletes and their equipment compete as one.

As you suggest, they may serve as a source of ideas and inspiration, and I think that aspect forms part of the appeal of para-sports.

At the same time, another crucial element is seeing para-athletes navigate the challenges that stem from their individual impairments through competition. In this regard, where do you think the strength of para-athletes comes from?

Commissioner Kawai
More than strength, I would perhaps call it resilience.

As I see it, the “strength” comes from accepting your own disability, or to frame it more negatively, your “weakness.”

An object that is hard and stiff can easily be snapped in two. But a flexible tree branch is resilient enough to continue growing even as it is buffeted by the wind and other elements.

I think para-athletes possess the same kind of vitality. That’s what they showcase.

Resilience is strength through flexibility. I believe that is what para-athletes possess. It’s the product of constantly having to confront your disability, combined with the daily effort of striving to perform at your best as an athlete. I think that culminates in the unique, compelling words and performances they deliver.

Morita
Regardless of whether the disability occurs at birth or later in life, para-athletes are able to accept and navigate their personal challenges and find ways to engage in sports.

For example, a person with an arm impairment must figure out how to maintain their balance at the starting line on a running track. I really hope people will visit the Games venues and, in the moments between events, also observe the ways in which athletes have been able to adapt.

Commissioner Kawai
Yes indeed.

And what allows these athletes to shine is having the right environment, be it the stadium, arena, pool, or field.

For the wheelchair racers who put on such outstanding performances, or the powerlifters who can lift those unbelievable weights, even two or three stairs can present a barrier.

Wheelchair users are an obvious example. They require the proper environment to be able to perform at their best, and I think it’s important that people come and see that for themselves.

Morita
If we’re talking about environment, it is also true that, away from competition, these athletes face hurdles in their daily lives.

Commissioner Kawai
In some countries and regions across Asia, the conditions are even tougher. Despite that, the athletes have pushed forward with their training and made their way to Japan, to be here at the Asian Para Games.

Please give a thought to these athletes as you show your support.

Morita
Seeing these performances live in person offers a great deal of food for thought. I think a major international para-sports event can spark change in society, once the festivities are over and people return to their daily lives. For example, people say that the city of London was transformed after the London Paralympics.

With these Games being held in Nagoya and Aichi, what are your expectations in this respect?

Commissioner Kawai
I think we’ll see significant change. In Tokyo too, despite being held without spectators, the Olympic and Paralympic Games brought profound changes in certain areas.

Given that this event is taking place in the regional city of Nagoya, in Aichi Prefecture, I feel that any change happening here has the potential to spark change across all of Japan.

Tokyo is a capital city with a large population. But rather than being dismissed as something that can only happen in Tokyo, I think these Games demonstrate how change can spread throughout Japan.

Morita
As you have noted elsewhere on various occasions, even when change takes place, it does not happen overnight. It takes time, but you believe this event could potentially serve as a catalyst?

Commissioner Kawai
I think so.

That will be the legacy that lives on in the hearts of everyone who attended the Games, all those involved, the volunteers, the organizing committee members and the spectators at the venues, as well as those who couldn’t be there in person but watched online or on television.

It’s not about the physical legacy of building various sports venues or improving road and rail infrastructure, but rather the legacy that we must instill in people’s hearts.

They will carry that legacy with them for the rest of their lives, contributing to para-sports in their country or region, and creating a more inclusive society where everyone can be true to themselves.

Morita
In that sense, the Asian Para Games present a vital opportunity. Yet more than that, it is about the athletes—the most important thing is whether they are able to showcase the hard work they have put in to get this far.

Commissioner Kawai
That’s right. As the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were being held without spectators, at that point these Asian Games and Asian Para Games had already been confirmed for Aichi-Nagoya.

With this event being hosted in Japan, many athletes decided to continue competing, eager to perform in front of a home crowd. Among the younger athletes, some set their sights on these Games after Tokyo, continuing to grow and earning their spots on the team. Attending the event is a wonderful way to get to know these diverse athletes.

Morita
Lastly, there is a question I have been wanting to ask you in person. What does sport—not para-sports, but sport—mean to you?

Commissioner Kawai
For me, it is an essential part of life. Recently, I haven’t been going to the pool very often, but I do run and visit the gym.

With a visual impairment, there are not many sports you can do on your own. Of course, if I can get to the pool then I am fine to swim alone, but running is obviously not something that I can do by myself. I meet up with a guide runner who runs with me.

Running together opens up a different dimension and doubles the joy. There is a multiplier effect. It has helped me to rediscover the fun beyond simply slogging away on your own, while also giving me time to check in with myself both mentally and physically.

I hope I can continue doing this and have fun with it for many years to come.

Morita
So sports might seem like a solitary pursuit, but they’re actually a way to connect with others?

Commissioner Kawai
That’s right. At the Sports Agency, I often speak of the five ways that people can engage with sports: the core value of participating, watching, and supporting, as well as coming together and connecting. Each offers its own pleasure—the joy of playing sports, the joy of watching, the joy of supporting others, and of coming together and connecting around sports—and discovering what resonates with us individually is how we continue our engagement.

The desire to lead a healthy, fulfilling life is likely something that many of us share. I believe that sports and physical activity can certainly contribute to that.

This is another reason why, with everyone’s support, we are dedicated to building a society where sports enable people to lead the lives they want to live.

Morita
A fitting final message as the Sports Agency Commissioner. Thank you very much.

As you mentioned at the end, the Asian Games and Asian Para Games provide an opportunity for us to come together and connect. I hope many people take this chance to personally engage with para-sports.

Mr. Kawai, thank you very much for your time today.

Commissioner Kawai
Thank you.

The Asian Para Games run until October 24, with 18 disciplines staged across 19 venues in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures.

Toyota Times Sports will, as usual, be covering the results. However, as Commissioner Kawai emphasized, there are certain moments, and a special energy, that can only be experienced by being there in person.

We hope many will join the excitement and leave with a lasting legacy in their hearts.