People :
The Chairman of the Japan Karuta Game Association, the Captain of the Waseda Karuta Club, and the leader of the winning team at the All Japan Karuta Tournament
Mr. Ryo Nishizaki

Mr. Ryo Nishizaki Born in 1986. Graduated from Gyosei High School.. Third year student in the Department of Mathematics, School of Education. A member of the Kouki Taniyama seminar. In January 2006, was Runner Up at the Dazaifu Karuta Tournament. In the same year, became Chairman of the All College Karuta Association. His team won at the 13th All College Karuta Tournament and at the 80th All Japan Occupation Field Karuta Tournament. His hobby is weight training.

The Japanese game of karuta is called “a fighting sport played on a tatami mat”. If you watch a player trying to snatch the cards quickly, you will be surprised at the speed. You should think of this game as a kind of sport. Actually, Mr.Nishizaki looks like a wrestler. He said, “I have been the chairman of the Japanese Karuta Game Association this year. I have been busy attending karuta matches and working for the karuta club of Waseda University as its captain. So, last year I trained my body for this year's busy schedule.” He is respected by so many people. His predecessor at the Japanese Karuta Association appointed him chairman. The team members of the Karuta club elected him as their captain.

He experienced endless toil in bringing the Waseda's karuta club to this current situation. Before the club changed, the atmosphere of the club was bad at karuta matches and the college karuta game club. “Our karuta club has a long history in this university. Many people felt crushed by pressure after joining the club. I myself once thought I would give up this sport too. One day, when I met my younger friend from high school who had joined the club, he said to me, “I want to win!” I have never forgotten his words. I realized that I had to back him up. This emotion changed me and made me proactive in changing the atmosphere and the attitude of the members of our circle.”

When the Waseda Karuta Club attended the all Japan Karuta Tournament, the team went up against Ritsumeikan University, one of the strongest teams in Japan. A miracle happened and Waseda won. “That was a team competition. My friend who said he wanted to win started the final round. He did wonderfully fighting against a tough opponent. In the end, there was only one karuta card left. By then, the scores were fifty-fifty. Only God knew who would win. My friend snatched the final card from the mat. Just then, I felt tears running down my face,” he confessed shyly.

“Sometimes I hate to look at the cards, but I have never given up on the game. If I were to give up, the cards would call to me,’ What the hell are you doing? Come on!’ ” Seeing him speaking naturally, I felt certain that many people believe in him and that they try to keep pace with him. When I asked him how he felt about the coming season, he said, “People gather around attractive people. It is my job as the chairman of the association and the captain of the club to improve the atmosphere of the club.” Under his flag, the Waseda karuta club is sure to succeed.