About Toyo University Alumni Report:Tadahiro Murai(President and CEO, Athlete Standard Inc.)

President and CEO, Athlete Standard Inc.
Tadahiro Murai

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1998, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Sociology graduate Murai belonged to the Hockey Division of the Ice Skating Club as a student and built the foundation of Toyo’s success on the rink by leading the team to victory at the inter-college tournament from his second year. After graduating, he continued his career as an athlete at Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. and was chosen to represent Japan at World University Games. Subsequently, Murai played for the H.C Nikko Ice Bucks before retiring to become the team’s coach. Murai is currently involved in several businesses, including a company he founded for athlete development and career support, working as a coach, operating a sports school for children, and holding lectures.

A second career that came into vision through an eventful life as a sportsman.

I am from Hokkaido, and I took up ice hockey when I was a fourth-grader in elementary school when a friend invited me to play. I wasn’t as good as the other kids as I started later than them, but when I was a sixth-grader, I trained and did weight training every day with my friend and coach. The hard work paid off and our team won the final two regional tournaments. This was a formative experience in teaching me that a fixation on the process will produce results. From high school, I set my sights on becoming a professional. I trained with a constant awareness of what I lacked and what areas I should focus on. After entering university, I gave training my all from the first year, and I had the strong conviction to “change this team and return it to its former glory!” As a result, we won back-to-back inter-college tournaments (which eventually turned into a run of six consecutive tournament victories). I became captain in my fourth year, and we won the triple crown for the first time in Toyo’s history. I am so grateful to have met my teammates with whom I worked together to make history and the coaches and staff who provided me with the environment where I could achieve my ambitions. Toyo achieved the spectacular feat of winning the triple crown undefeated this academic year. This is a fantastic result, and I feel honored to be part of the foundation of this history.
After graduation, I started my professional career at Furukawa Electric. My plan was to give it my all as a player, then to become a manager as a company employee after my playing career was over. This was the career plan I had envisioned. However, everything changed just as I was on the cusp of participating in a professional game that I had waited so long for. We were told that the team was going to be disbanded. My whole world disappeared suddenly. If you can imagine your school or company suddenly disappearing, this is what this shock felt like to me. I could have transferred to a different team, but in my early twenties, I wanted to take on challenges even if there was a risk involved. I did not want to have any regrets, so I did everything to preserve the team as a club team by fundraising and gathering sponsors. Thanks to support from many people, including fans and companies, we were able to restart the team as the H.C Nikko Ice Bucks (currently: H.C. Tochigi Nikko Ice Bucks), the first club team in Japan. “Nothing is impossible. You can do anything if you put your mind to it.” This is a mindset that I hold close to my heart, and it originates from these experiences.

What is important is the process of how you work to get results and reach your goal.

After my retirement and a spell as coach of the H.C Tochigi Nikko Ice Bucks, I started a company that develops athletes and provides them with career support. I also provide sports coaching for teams and schools. One of my programs is “Dual Career*” support for athletes. This program focuses on how athletes can make use of three competencies they developed during their time as an athlete in their next career. The three competencies are self-reflection, communication with others, and identifying and solving problems. Focused on this, we work to support the career development of athletes at universities and other institutions.
I have always said that “rather than being proud of becoming an athlete, it is important to have pride in the accumulated effort and the process that enabled you to become an athlete.” One time, I was supporting a certain professional athlete, and they had a company they wanted to work at after retirement. So, to achieve this target, I encouraged them to systematically work on the tasks we had set out and write precisely in fine detail their reason for wanting to work at that company and what they wanted to achieve there. As a result of highlighting this process during their interview, they were able to get the job. I was happy that the company recognized the athlete’s process and effort in reaching their target, such as planning and taking action. The process of repeated trial and error and taking positive action until you reach your goal is most important, and this is a skill that can be developed through competing as an athlete. I also believe that this will create a foundation that will support people throughout their lives. This is not limited to athletes.
People often tell me they do not know what they want to do. I tell them that they should focus on generating self-awareness. Philosophy is one of the pillars of education at Toyo University. If people objectively think deeply about themselves without preconceptions, they will realize what they want to do. What have you done until now? What do you like? What do you value? It is also good to ask people close to you, such as family and friends, about what kind of person you are. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Students should identify their strengths by interacting with people and taking on a wide range of experiences. Then I want them to aim for their next stage by believing in their potential.