We Are Tomodachi Spring / Summer 2017

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25I entered the world of wheelchair racing at the age of 10. This is my first visit to Tokyo, to compete in the marathon. I have for many years relied on the engineering excellence of Japan’s OX sports wheelchairs to carry me to the finish line.  These products are of very good quality. They keep developing their race chairs. Every year they bring out something new. Some brands have had the same style for years, the same design, but not theirs. They always have something new, such as new materials, and they’re always trying to make their race chairs lighter, but still stable.Racing means a lot to me. It’s my passion. Very early, I had some big goals, big dreams of winning a gold medal at the Paralympics. I like wheelchair racing—actually, I love it—for its speed. It’s dynamic. It’s powerful. And I really like the tactical part of the sport. You have to think about how you race.It’s so great to see the Olympic and Paralympic Games already being publicized even though there are still three and a half years to go. You see the signs all around Tokyo. I was happy to see the posters displaying the logo of both the Paralympics and Olympics. I think that’s very special— it’s not featuring the Olympic Games with just a little bit about the Paralympic Games. The two are treated equally. That’s very positive.Rolling to Victory with Japanese Engineering Excellence35302520151050Atlanta（1996）Nagano（1998）Sydney（2000）Athens（2004）Beijing（2008）London（2012）Sochi（2014）Rio de Janeiro（2016）2921052844212114113667118400■Gold ■Silver ■Bronze1. The WeeGO sports wheelchair is made in two sizes, combining stylishness with the ruggedness to withstand harsh competitive use. Wheelchair tennis gold medalist Shingo Kunieda serves as an advisor for development. 2. OX Engineering has worked with top para-athletes from Japan and other countries, including Kunieda and Swiss wheelchair racer Marcel Hug. Since the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics it has provided wheelchairs to para-athletes at both the summer and winter Paralympic Games.Olympic medals of para-athletes supported by OX EngineeringSwiss wheelchair racer Marcel Hug, an Olympic gold medal and world title-winning para-athlete, visited Japan this February to take part in Tokyo Marathon 2017.21