40.5 translation- Higa, tennis club information (p.192-193)
Translation of the information on the Higa Chuu tennis club from 40.5. Includes information like their training schedule, the number of club members, and the like.
Corrections appreciated, as usual. Credit goes to Pickle Press for the scans (and to snipergys , who uploaded them). The next pages will probably be a bit slower in coming after Shiranui and Aragaki's bios (I'm currently working on the rest of the bio pages), so sorry in advance. ;
[p.192]
Gathering under a flag that says 'to the Nationals!', the unusually-skilled group talented in martial arts.
They grasped a ticket to the Nationals with tenacity and group effort!
A nationals-participating school with an earnest wish makes its appearance from Okinawa, which has been stopped at the Kyuushuu prefecturals for the past 26 years! That is Higa Chuu, a group of martial arts who incorporate movements from Okinawan bujutsu into their tennis. Although the level of each member’s physical ability also leaves an impression, the strong feeling of ‘showing Okinawa’s strength to the Nationals’ has become the origin of their group effort and explosive power.
Data: Tennis club data
Captain / Eishirou Kite (3rd year)
Vice-captain / Yuujirou Kai (3rd year)
Accountant / Hiroshi Chinen (3rd year)
Advisor / Harumi Saotome
Full number of members: 24
Higa Topics 1
All players are experienced in Okinawan martial arts!
The basis on which Higa’s style of tennis is established is Okinawan martial arts. Amongst other things, all the regulars can use the ‘Shukuchihou’, a quick movement in which it doesn’t initially look as though they’ve moved, as a basic way of moving.
Higa Topics 2
Efficiently snatching away victory with a precise indication from the bench!
Although you tend to be captivated by the players' individual abilities, Higa's clever bench work is also a cause of their strength. The calm yet precise signal that captain Kite sends continues to bring the team their most efficient victory!
[p.193]
[picture of Higa] Motivation, combined with a high sense of purpose, boosts up the players to new levels!
* In the afternoon, they run for 20km along the coastline dragging tires. The first years also have to give the coach a massage! [1]
[1] : ...
The first look at it!! A week in Higa Chuu's tennis club!!
Monday: Second and third years, match form training. First years, racquet swinging and fetching balls
Tuesday: Improving strong points, skills to conquer weak points
Wednesday: Seaside asceticism
Thursday: 50km long distance run (those who drop out face one month's cleaning duty and nothing but practice swings)
Friday: Training at an old-style martial arts dojo
Saturday: Seaside asceticism and racquet swinging
Sunday: Morning- training at an old-style martial arts dojo; afternoon- match form training
< Training Memo >
Seaside asceticism:
- Dodge ten stones dropped from a cliff x 5 sets
- Using 20 kilo weights, dive for three minutes x 5 times [2]
- Cross broken glass bottles using the Shukuchihou x 5 times
[2] : The counter used is 'hon', which is usually used for books and 'long cylindrical things' (like pencils). I... didn't quite get what it meant here, so I used 'times'. If anyone can correct it, please say. |D
Training at an old-style martial arts dojo:
- Compete against owners of real swords with racquets x 3 people
- Balance above kenzan [3] with bare feet for five minutes x three times
- Blow out 50 candles with wind pressure in one go x 100 sets
[3] : A kenzan is the base used in ikebana (Japanese flower arranging). It's pretty heavy, with lots of small spikes to stick the flowers and the like on.
Higa’s training menu is one that makes you go ‘is this tennis training?!’, with one surprise after another. But when you look at its contents in detail, you should notice that, whichever special training is called ‘following Higa’s style of tennis’, they all point to an objective.
[Close up!!
An unreasonably Spartan training camp!]
A summer training camp known ‘seven days of hell’ was held. Only those who could bear it were selected as regulars.
[Bringing attention to the design!! Higa regular wear check!]
Embodying valour, its close-fitting design is its defining trait. Both regulars and semi-regulars wear it.
- The inner layer is sleeveless
Their trousers are basically unrestrictive. When it gets chilly, they put on their jersey over the top.
- The foundation colour is purple
Purple is Higa’s image colour. The jersey is two-toned in purple and white.
- The character 'ka' on the chest
The character ‘ka’, carrying the meaning of victory and auspicious events, shines proudly on the chest.
[Club member introduction!!]
Eishirou Kite-kun (3rd year)
Willing to dirty his hands for the sake of the club, he is an advocate of victory’s supremacy. He is also a skilled manager who excels at analysis.
[A word from the advisor (coach)!]
Higa Chuu tennis club advisor
Harumi Saotome
If you do as I say, you’ll win for sure! Don’t brazenly talk back to me, you damn brats!
[The club members' revelations!!]
Eyewitness accounts of one day in the clubroom!!
Rin: 'Eishirou, anything but cultivating gouya in the back of the clubroom, please'
Kite: 'Kai-kun, if you chatter pointlessly in the middle of practice, I’ll make you eat the gouya I’ve harvested'