Re Interview

Naoki
Isobe 礒部 直樹

2023.3.31

Continuing to Deliver Dreams, Hope, and Inspiration

Naoki Isobe participated in the Tokyo Olympics as a head coach of the Japanese rifle shooting team. His focus on nurturing as well as strengthening has produced many national team members thus far. Having reigned for many years as Japan’s top rifle shooter, Isobe continues to pursue his dual role as competitor and coach, saying he aims to “deliver dreams, hope, and inspiration through rifle shooting.”

―Many shooters come from all over Japan seeking your guidance. Why is that?

The JOC’s coaching guidelines say that if you stop learning, you need to stop teaching. That principle underpins my own approach to coaching too: I don’t refuse anyone who seeks me out, and I don’t chase after anyone who leaves. After a long time in coaching, I’ve developed the ability to tailor my approach to each individual. Success in competitive rifle shooting hinges on luck and mental toughness as well as uncontrollable factors such as wind and weather, but I aim to prepare my shooters to perform at their best under all conditions. I look for all sorts of ways to guide them to that point, ensuring each word I say has a positive impact. Some shooters lost their way during the pandemic, but the ones with clear long-term goals saw it as a chance to grow, and I think they did grow. Personally, I was able to make more time to do things that I had needed to do, such as time for my own training, and time to spend with my family.

―Tell us frankly about your experience as a head coach at the Tokyo Olympics.

Rifle shooting is a major sport globally, but it’s still not well known in Japan. We had to attract attention by winning medals, and it was disappointing that we couldn’t do so. The one positive thing was that the shooters I coach locally in Oita Prefecture had the opportunity to train together with the Olympic athletes who visited Oita to be coached by me. This experience of working up close with Japan’s top shooters was really valuable. I was able to prompt the young generation of shooters to look toward the world stage.

―What are your goals and vision going forward?

I’d like to take on the world once more as a competitor. To do so, it’s essential to win tournaments within Japan first. I’m preparing myself right now, treating this as my last chance to compete on the world stage. Someday I’ll realize my time is up, but right now, I can see that if I’m able to execute the plan I’ve made for myself as a competitor, my performance will improve. This clear vision is the reason I can’t quit yet: all I feel is my potential. I want to deliver “dreams, hope, and inspiration” through rifle shooting. That goal remains unchanged, and now I’m pursuing it not only as a competitor, but as a coach as well.