Hiroshi Okamoto
Professor
Department of Advanced Materials Science

When I was younger, I played various sports, but as the years passed, I stopped. Now, as I’ve grown older, doctors have increasingly advised me to start exercising again. Last year, therefore, I started treadmill workouts at a gym. Since I tend to be enthusiastic, I lost about 7 kilograms, and now I weigh about the same as when I was a graduate student.

One day, I noticed that some of my laboratory’s students occasionally play tennis. Though I had been worrying about getting injured and decided not to play anymore, or I should say, I could not play tennis again, I hit upon the idea that I might be able to play tennis because I had been running a lot.

After graduating from the University of Tokyo, I worked for 10 years at the Institute for Molecular Science (IMS) in Okazaki City and at the Research Institute for Scientific Measurements (RISM), Tohoku University. Both institutions had tennis courts, and I had good colleagues and seniors who coached me in tennis. I had not played tennis seriously before, but I was trained and participated in matches outside the institutes. However, after I returned to the University of Tokyo, my environment changed completely, and so for 25 years, I had not used my tennis racket.

I found my old rackets, but the grips were worn and did not appear usable. I chose two of my favorites and went to the racket shop I used to go to long ago. I talked to an old man in the shop about my situation. He suggested that I use a modern racket that is lighter and better than those I had, although he did say he could mend my old rackets if I wanted him to. I followed the old man’s advice and decided to buy one.

He recommended a light Babolat of 285 g, which was about 50 g lighter than the one I showed him. Then, we decided on strings and discussed the tension. I showed him the sticker on my old racket that read “57 pounds”—I used to use strings at a rather high tension. To my surprise, he said, “Yeah, it used to be like that, but the standard of your new racket is 48.” The guy was concerned about this Rip Van Winkle standing before him and enthusiastically updated my tennis knowledge. I later learned that “the old man” was a famous person who often appeared in the media.

Six months have passed since I began playing tennis again with my students. Although I cannot hit balls satisfactorily yet, I have found a coach who encourages me and made new friends through tennis. I am gradually getting out of the “Rip Van Winkle situation.” With today’s advanced racket, the feeling of hitting the ball and the flight of the ball is different compared with an old racket. Not only rackets but also the player’s ideal form has changed. People often record their playing with smartphones and try to improve their form. This is a new style of practice. Time went by.

However, the fun of tennis, where rally means communication, has not changed. If I had not taken up tennis at that time, I might never have played it again. I am grateful to my students for giving me the opportunity to get back into tennis. Now that I have a little more courage, I am thinking about what to try next!