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Waseda University has many professors with a wide range of hobbies and special skills. In "Professor's Time Off," we introduce the unexpected side of our professors that you don't see during class.

Professor Faculty of Sport Sciences Norikazu Hirose​

After graduating School of Human Sciences at Waseda University in 1997, he completed his doctoral studies at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo in 2004. His areas of expertise are athletic training, injury and disability prevention, and growth and development. He supports athletes from J.League Youth to Nadeshiko Japan as a physical coach.

People who want their hearts to be moved

The human body seeks stability. This is supported by the quiet activity of homeostasis, and the brain also seeks constancy by minimizing free energy. However, the mind always desires to be "moved." I believe that humans are such creatures.

I am one of those people, and I live each day hoping to be moved. My time off is also a time to add a little something out of the ordinary to my everyday life.

Everyday that moves the heart and extraordinary experiences

Our hearts are moved when a fluctuation occurs between ourselves and another person, a story, a landscape, etc., and a meaningful connection is made.

When you come into contact with new values in a conversation with someone. When you surrender yourself to the soft sea breeze on an idyllic beach in Thailand. In each of these moments, a small trigger lurks that shakes up who you are now. In such moments, the boundaries of your current self waver, and new connections are born. For me, these emotionally moving moments are the source of my research and educational activities, as well as my support for the physical activities of children with diverse characteristics and soccer training.

A way of walking that moves the heart

This time, I would like to introduce a way of walking in the mountains that particularly moves me.

Mount Fuji in winter as seen from Mount Kumotori (Tokyo side), the highest peak in Tokyo. Just to feel a sense of awe.

First of all, there is no high or low when it comes to mountains. I am not competing over the height we climb, nor are we competing over the speed or difficulty of the climb. I think any mountain is fine. Each mountain has its own charm, and discovering that charm is an opportunity to move my heart.

However, I do have one obsession. "Mountains, hot springs, and beer" must always be a set. Is there a hot spring near the mountain I'm climbing? This is an absolute must. And craft beer. Amber ale, porter... I enjoy choosing depending on my mood that day. If there's a shop like that near the mountain, I'll take the train, and if I'm traveling by car, I'll have one at home. For me, mountain climbing is about having all these elements in place.

Photo on the left: A moment of lingering enjoyment. On this day, I enjoyed a craft IPA (Indian Pale Ale) on the way back from hiking the Ome Hills.
Photo on the right: Hot springs are an essential part of "Hirose's way of walking." After climbing Mt. Oyama, at a ryokan in Isehara, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Walking mindlessly through the mountains, I find myself thinking about many things and feeling grateful. My daily life, my future goals... When I think about these things, a feeling of gratitude wells up inside me, towards the people I care about.

The ultimate time at the summit. Cookware, a pot and a gas burner, have been my friends since elementary school.

The steep slope in front of you and the small flowers blooming... You can compare these to everyday life and feel many realizations. And above all, the view from the top.

Soaking your tired body in a hot spring after a day in the mountains. Taking the time to pamper yourself will amplify your sense of accomplishment. And then there's beer. The feeling of happiness you get from taking a sip maximizes your emotional energy and creates a new connection with yourself.

This is my way of walking.