Personal story CASE7
A transfer student, who came from Chiba Prefecture seeking waves in Hiroo
Maiko Miyasaka (17 years old)
From Chiba Prefecture. Started surfing at age 7,
and visited Hiroo for the first time at age 10.
Moved to Hiroo, by herself, in the spring of 2014.
While living at the residence of Toichiro Ikeshita, the president of Ikeshita Sangyo,
Transferred into Hokkaido Hiroo High School.
2 older sisters are both professional surfers.
7-1Starting surfing at age 7
Started surfing when solicited by the sisters
Taken by Hiroo on the first visit
I started surfing at age 7
to be like my 2 sisters, 3 and 1 years older than I.
By the time I was in 3rd grade,
I was getting into it, to not be beaten by my sisters,
like, I would not be the first one out of the water.
I heard about the amazing ocean of Hiroo
from the owner of a surf shop in Chiba
that I frequented at the time.
When the 3 of us said, “we want to go!”,
my parents agreed, and we went to Hiroo as a family
during the summer break of my 3rd grade year.
We drove North, and surfed our way up to Hiroo.
Thinking back about it, its like a story from a movie.
The only thing I remember about the ocean of Hiroo
was how cold it was, even though it was summer.
But I was captivated by the surrounding nature, like a clean river,
which I cannot experience in Chiba.
7-2Transferring schools from Chiba to Hiroo
I liked Hiroo too much
Moved to become a professional surfer in this ocean
I was able to come to Hiroo during the following summer
in a surf shop owner’s RV.
The owner introduced me to president Toichiro Ikeshita of Ikeshita Sangyo,
from whom I am currently renting a room.
After that year, my sisters and I would come to Hiroo during long breaks,
and stay at his house
to surf and go see places.
I would have too much fun in Hiroo during those few days,
so I would return to Chiba when the break was over,
but often came back to Hiroo during the following weekend.
As I traveled back and forth between Chiba and Hiroo,
until I was in junior high school, I began thinking,
“I want to surf everyday in Hiroo, and find my dreams for the future on my own.”
When I was deciding about high school, I told my parents that “I want to go to Hiroo.”
They graciously accepted my wishes.
I consulted president Ikeshita, telling him about my wishes to move to Hiroo,
and he agreed to take me in.
7-3High school like in Hiroo, away from the parents
Surrounded by nature and warm people
Experiencing daily growth in my life in Hiroo!
While temperature in Hiroo is low compared to Chiba,
it is rich with nature and warm people to make up for it.
I am enjoying my life in Hiroo, being surrounded by them.
Hiroo gets one of the best waves in the country,
as such,
I believe my surfing skills are definitely improving.
In summer, I hit the waves in the morning before school,
and immediately after school. I am essentially in the water all the time.
There is a secret hideout up the nearby river, in an open area in the forest.
Sometimes I spend time there, doing nothing,
but then I remember, “I want to surf!”, and go back to the ocean.
Until now, I did not have friends at Hiroo High School who also surf,
but there is someone who wants to try this year,
so I am really looking forward to it.
Currently, there is a surfing club at Hiroo High School with just me as its member.
I hope even just 1 more person joins before I graduate,
and experience the amazingness of Hiroo through surfing.
7-4Toward the Olympics in 2020
Aiming to become a professional
after graduating from high school
Try for the Olympics in Tokyo!
The closest goal is to become a professional surfer
after I graduate from high school.
I want to practice hard this year, and get top marks in competitions.
While surfing remains as a candidate for an official event
in 2020 Olympics in Tokyo,
it has not been decided yet,
so I think my first step is to become a professional surfer.
My best performance in 2015 were 3rd place at the National Surfing Competition
and winning the competition held in Miyazaki.
But I am not satisfied with my performance yet.
I am training in Hiroo under great wave conditions and environment.
As a result, I have been troubled by the poor conditions during competition elsewhere.
Even in such cases, there is a moment when a great wave comes.
When that happens, since I have more experience catching good waves in Hiroo,
I think I have better a chance of successfully completing a great move.
I used to think my sisters as rivals.
But now, they are professional surfers that I respect, and a goal that I aim to pass.
