TOHRU Sasaki still rows on an Olympic course at home in Tokyo, although he has dropped some speed since coming to Ballarat in 1956 as part of the Japanese team.
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Now in his 80s, Mr Sasaki is competing at the World Rowing Masters Regatta this week and doing a “row past” with five of his former teammates from 1956.
Besides the rowing (Japan was knocked out in the semi-final of the eights), Mr Sasaki said the food was a real change for the team during the original event.
“In Japan, ice cream was not popular, so (in Ballarat) we ate lots of ice cream, and lots of meat,” he said.
“We all put on weight, and our boat sunk in the water! Our coach ordered us to run to practise, from the Olympic Village, there and back.”
The Japanese crew proved the surprise package of the Olympic heats, despite their sudden weight gain.
A report in The Courier on the first heat said: “The small, light crew surprised the French and Czechs with their consistent and fast rate of stroking.”
They fell flat in the semi-finals however, coming last as strong winds worked in favour of their bigger-bodied opponents.
The team was made up of rowers from Keio University in Tokyo, who won the all-Japan championship in 1956.
Mr Sasaki returned to Ballarat in 2002 for the previous masters event.
“We brought 10 cherry blossom trees in 2002. When we heard it would be held here (again), we came back to see the cherry blossoms,” he said.
Even though it is too early for the blossoms, Mr Sasaki said he was happy to have made it at all after the team conversation last time.
“When the invitation came (in 2002), we had a heated discussion, and I said this would be the last time we could come here,” he said with a smile.
Health problems have kept two team members away, and the cox and number four have both died.
The program for the masters is lighter than 10 years ago, although three of the men – including Mr Sasaki – will be competing as well as doing the row past.
“One has a pacemaker, so he is only doing the practice row,” he said.
Mr Sasaki said the only repercussion of a lifetime with the oars was some back pain, but joked about the real danger now. “The hardest part about training now is pulling the boat out of the water,” he said.
He couldn’t give it up, he said, because he was still so passionate about it.
“It is a very attractive sport. It takes intelligence, touch and timing,” he said.
“Rowing is the ideal lifestyle sport. It works all kinds of muscles.”
Mr Sasaki also said he was happy to see Lake Wendouree back to its former glory.
“When we heard the lake had dried up, we felt sorry we couldn’t row here any more. We were pleased to hear it’s back.”
alex.hamer@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Masters regatta a boon for Ballarat, Opinion, page 15
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