No.11 Naseba Naru

From the time I was 5 or 6 years old, I can remember my mother and
grandmother telling me, “naseba naru”, which means that you can
accomplish what you desire.

When I began to study karate at age 12, I also remember that my
senpai and sesnsei would also tell me, “ naseba naru” when I
wasn’t able to achieve the goal that I strived for. It made me work
that much hardeto succeed.

I came to Hawaii in 1962 and opened my first dojo, “All Japan
KarateDo Wado Kai – Hawaii Branch”, which evolved into
Japan International Karate in 1965. At that time, JIKC had
a total of 200 students.

About 1966, I saw a documentary movie, “Naseba Naru”,
which told the story of the Japanese company, Nichibo Kaizuka’s
women’s volleyball team. The coach of the team was Mr. Daimatsu.
The movie told the true story of how Coach Daimatsu took
a relatively untalented factory women’s volleyball team,
coached them for several years to become the Japanese national
champions.
Not only that but he took this very same team to the Tokyo
Olympics in 1964 and won the Gold Medal! It is an amazingly true
story – he was a truly inspirational coach who lifted the team
to the highest level.
He always told them, “naseba naru.”

I was very inspired by this story and made it my goal to make JIKC
the best and the largest dojo in the U.S. I reached this goal in the
early 70’s when JIKC had the largest number of students in America,
primarily because I truly believed in “naseba naru.”

One doesn’t hear this term, “naseba naru” very often in
contemporary Japan.
To me, this is an indication of a lack of a willingness to work to
the extent to reach a goal which might seem beyond one’s reach.

To find success in life and accomplish one’s goals, you must
remember “naseba naru” to keep the stated goal in sight.
It is too easy to lose sight of goals and become sidetracked,
but remembering “naseba naru” is critical to realization of your
dream.



By Souke Kiyohisa Hirano.

*Translator; Thomas Muraoka
Karate 3dan Since1982