Small, Slow But Steady (Keiko, me wo sumasete / ケイコ 目を澄ませて)

Happinet Phantom Studios

The Asahi Shimbun Company

for the 60th anniversary of the Nagoya Broadcasting Network

SMALL, SLOW BUT STEADY

Tokyo, December 2020

One, two, three...

Hi.

Keiko Ogawa was born in Tokyo's Arakawa neighbourhood.

She was born with sensorineural hearing loss,

and has no hearing in either ear.

In 2019, she became a licensed professional boxer,

winning her first fight with a knock-out, 1 minute 52 seconds into round one.

Can we do mitt combinations?

Start off light.

Focus on your weight.

Bye!

Thursday, December 24: 10km road,

2 rounds rope, 3 rounds shadow,

worked on new combinations.

Good evening.

- Press record. - Okay.

I'm leaving now.

- Have you got everything? - Yeah, I'm good.

Where's the rent?

This is short. When will you get the rest?

Sorry, I'll pay it all next month.

Take care.

Drop in and see us sometime.

Who's quitting now?

The Yamada brothers.

December Training Schedule

Hello.

Just a second, please.

Did the guest leave a watch here?

Have you found a watch?

Got it!

That's good.

- Can we start? - Yes.

As long as you hear the sound, keep pressing.

When you no longer hear it, take your finger off.

Starting now...

And this one?

That's... on the right?

Okay, then.

And this?

That one is... on the right.

I see.

Now try the other eye.

Yes.

What about this one?

That one is...

on the left?

Could you wait here, please?

Thanks.

I've been exposed to a lot of radiation.

Look, look! The lottery.

1.2 billion!

Does anyone really win the lottery?

Of course they do, look!

How do you know it's not a con?

It's amazing!

1.2 billion?

Amazing, amazing!

Hello.

Do you have a loyalty card?

A loyalty card?

If you get a loyalty card, you can save a lot of money.

Thank you very much.

Hello!

We are in a state of emergency.

Only leave the home if it is absolutely necessary.

Wear a mask and wash your hands regularly.

Watch out!

Pick it up!

Pick it up!

Look what you did, you ill-mannered lout!

Here, have a seat.

Slow down. Take your time.

In the middle, gently.

Do it slowly.

Yes. Slower... slower.

That's it.

Slowly.

That's it, that's it!

Hey, concentrate.

Thanks, I'm off.

Goodnight.

Don't catch cold.

Goodnight.

Thanks, bye.

Takaya.

Yes?

Come here a sec.

That's right.

One, two, hook, two,

weaving, uppercut.

That's it.

How did you put on two kilos?

You've got a fight coming up.

You should be ashamed!

You're your own worst enemy.

January 15 2021

Keiko Ogawa vs. Honoka Kano Last round

Calm down!

It's the last, don't chicken out!

Go forward.

Attack.

Good, good.

Get stuck in!

Slipped!

Stop!

Box.

Keep your guard up!

Time's running out!

I'll film it.

I have the judges' scores.

Judges Takashi Matsuo and Kei Tsuchiya:

39 to 37.

Judge Aren Kato: 38 to 38.

The winner by a 2-0 decision...

in the blue corner, Keiko Ogawa!

Thank you.

Boss.

Keiko's mother is here.

Congratulations on the win.

I can't believe she can fight in the ring like that.

It's all thanks to everyone at the gym.

Thank you so much.

It's all her own doing.

She got a bit beaten up today.

Treat her to something nice to eat.

Keiko is this way.

Thank you.

A big smile, please!

And another one!

Let's have a smile! Smile!

A smile, okay?

Did you take these?

No, Mum did.

She says she couldn't eat a thing before your fight.

Terrible photos, aren't they?

After the fight, did she say anything about me?

You should ask her yourself.

Your opponent went straight to the hospital after the fight.

Thanks for talking to me.

No, thank you.

Let's start, then.

I hear this is the oldest gym still operating in Japan.

It opened after the war, in 1945.

My father started it.

This area of Tokyo wasn't too badly damaged by the air raids.

I took over from my father.

But it won't keep going after me.

I don't have any children.

When did you first meet Ms Ogawa?

It must have been about two years ago.

As she's a girl,

I thought it was for losing weight or her health.

That sort of thing, you know?

But she was really enthusiastic.

She already had the basics of boxing,

but was rough round the edges.

She came in almost every day,

and trained as hard as any man.

So...

I asked her if maybe she wanted to turn pro.

And she said yes.

It was the first time I'd heard her voice.

"Yes."

Isn't being deaf a serious disadvantage?

Well, it's fatal really.

She can't hear the referee or the bell.

She can't hear her seconds.

It couldn't be more dangerous.

They wouldn't even let her have a training fight at her previous gym.

You can understand them.

What are some of the challenges she faces in training?

Keiko has good eyes.

She watches intently.

It takes a bit of time,

but that's not really a problem.

A good eye.

Why do you think Ms Ogawa took up boxing?

That's a good question.

She was bullied as a child and got into trouble because of that.

That's what her mother told me.

She had a rough time in high school, even hitting a teacher.

That could be it,

so she'd win any fights she got into.

But no, I don't really think so.

You know, when you're boxing, your head empties out.

We call it "nothingness".

I I guess that feels good to her.

Was Ms Ogawa able to turn pro

because of some special talent?

I don't think she has a particular talent.

She's small, she has no reach,

she's not fast enough.

How can I put it?

She has a big heart.