Iwata Chihiro: “Many of them probably found me mysterious”
In January 2024, Iwata arrived in Kansas as Japan’s first-ever flag football export and went straight into the rigorous practice with the season starting a short month later.
Anxiety, she says, was close at hand as she adjusted to life away from family and communicating in English, but, at the same time, her resolve hardened as she met the early difficulties head-on.
“It was harder for me to imagine staying in Japan, graduating from university, and getting a regular job somewhere. I was more afraid that if I did that, I’d be turning away from what I was truly passionate about. So I was able to accept the uncertainty of a new environment relatively calmly.”
A typical college day ends with classes around three o’clock in the afternoon, followed by over two hours of team meetings and practice. On some mornings, she might have practice or a weight training session before class. Add in the challenge of adapting to life in a second language, and Iwata’s day can feel particularly prolonged.
“My first semester, I didn’t talk much, so I think many of them probably found me mysterious,” she says, remembering how she tried to first fit in.
“I still sometimes struggle to express my thoughts or instructions clearly in English. Even so, my teammates try to understand me, they’ll interpret what I’m trying to say and ask, “Do you mean this or that?” which really helps.”
The encouragement of those teammates helped the Japanese flag star find her feet, and the language barriers off the field soon melted once she assumed her position on it. While they appreciated her more polished and meticulous technique, she admired their athleticism and speed and now had a voice among them.
“One of the reasons I decided to study abroad was because I wanted to change myself, so I honestly feel that I’ve gained far more than I’ve lost,” she says of the experience that is now setting her apart as an athlete.
“Being apart from my family and friends in Japan has helped me rediscover the importance of spending time with people and how to build deeper relationships, so overall, I think it’s been a really positive experience.”
“In the beginning, I felt most like my true self during practice, which reminded me how amazing sports can be.” – Iwata Chihiro
AloJapan.com