Hayato Uematsu – “You’ll be missing out if you don’t use me!” to raise awareness about the Deaflympics!

The World Deaf Football Championship (Deaf Football World Cup) was held in the fall of 2023.
The Japanese national team achieved a runner-up finish for the first time in history.
He was also expected to perform well at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics,
but the commander Hayato Uematsu resigned as director.
The man who led Japan to the top level of the world with his outstanding skills,
how will he be involved in deaf sports in the future?

Sudden notice of resignation as director

―As of March 31, 2024, you have retired from your position as national team director. Please tell us again what happened.

Uematsu　After the World Cup ended on October 7th last year, I had a meeting with the Japan Deaf Football Association. I called out by saying “I think I should have a meeting”, and I thought it would be a good time to submit a written opinion to improve the players’ environment. There were a lot of things we needed to improve even before the World Cup. I submitted my written opinion and the meeting ended with the statement, “I’m looking forward to your written response”. After that, I had no contact at all, and suddenly at the end of January I received an email from the association informing me of my resignation.

―What! You were notified of your resignation through email?

Uematsu　Yes that’s right. This would make it difficult to come to terms with the association, and if we couldn’t communicate, I didn’t have the confidence to protect the players’ environment. After that, I had a chance to speak with the chairman, but his decision remained the same.

―What did you propose in your written opinion?

Uematsu　One thing is that in order to change the players’ environment, it would be better to change the people as an organization. It’s not that I am blaming any particular person, but rather, “we need to change that” as part of our work. There were 11 items in the written opinion, and I submitted it as one of them.
The rest is just an accumulation of small things. For example, like not having enough equipment, things which should be available at training camp, and the importance of overseas expeditions. Some areas were improved, and some were not. The number one issue on site was the inability to have smooth communications.

 

Great to play with the best players

―I hope that various aspects will be improved in the end.

Uematsu　Yes, I hope so. With a new director, I hope things will head in the right direction. Personally, I had a strong desire to create an environment where the athletes could play in the easiest way, so I’d like to see that change.

―What was the reaction when you told the players that you were retiring?

Uematsu　Before the announcement of my retirement, I wrote down my past history, my current feelings, and my gratitude to everyone, and sent it to the players using LINE message. via the captain. There were some players who said, “Maybe I should quit too”, but I said, “That’s not right”, and stopped them. I want them to do their best for the Deaflympics. The other day, the national team was holding a training camp in Miyagi Prefecture, and looking at the photos posted on social media, I was relieved that no one had to quit.

―What was the most memorable experience during your 6 years as director?

Uematsu　It will be the runner-up finish in the World Cup. There are good things and bad things about being a director. In May 2018, the Asian Games (Asia-Pacific Deaf Football Championship) was held in South Korea, where we got second place. A lot has happened since then until the World Cup in October 2023. We have only participated in two international tournaments in six years. Normally there would be more tournaments. There were Hong Kong protests and there was also the coronavirus pandemic. All tournaments held over the past four years have now been cancelled. Normally there would have been about 5 tournaments, but we were only able to participate in 2 of them. For that reason, it was great to be able to play against the best players at the World Cup, and it left a particularly strong impression on me.

“It’s not the miracle of Kuala Lumpur, it’s the bond.”

―What do you think were the factors that helped you finish runner-up in the World Cup?

Uematsu　I explained to the players that I would aim for the top four. We hadn’t participated in any international tournaments, so there was no basis for it. But if we can’t make it to the top four, it will be difficult to win a medal at the Deaflympics. When considering the preparation period leading up to the Deaflympics, they were only able to do training camps in Japan, so they needed to achieve a certain level of results at the World Cup. We had our own way of competing that we had built up over the years, so I think it was great that we were able to apply that to the team during the pre-training camp. I really think it was the strength of the players, and I was able to believe in them too. I’m glad I was able to go with these 23 players.

―What policies did you use to strengthen your team?

Uematsu　There’s not much to say about this.（laughs）We had set a goal of getting to the top four and how we would play as a team, but Deaf football is different from regular football. We will not refer to J-league or Moriyasu Japan. The tournament videos I’ve been watching so far have given me hints, and I wasn’t sure if this was really correct, but I thought I’d give it a try. Repeat trial and error and believe in that competing style. The other thing I did was use my words to motivate the players.

 

―What words did you convey to the players?

Uematsu　(Looking at his smartphone) “International team choose players who can compete, not good players.” Also, since the World Cup was held in Malaysia, I said, “It’s not the miracle of Kuala Lumpur, it’s the bonds.” “We have come this far thanks to the bonds between the 23 players, trainers, coaches, and directors”. I think I am saying something cheesy. “We were able to come this far because of our family, friends, lover, colleagues, and mentors who raised us. Who is the person you all have the strongest bond with? I want you to remember that. People with strong ties support us. Same time and same feelings. Increase friendship and trust to form bonds. As players on the Japanese national team, let’s all look at the scenery that has become our true bond.” By conveying these words, we were able to reach the finals.

 

Achieve 100% awareness of Deaflympics in Shinagawa ward

―What do you think the team needs to do to win at the Deaflympics?

Uematsu　What I want to cherish is a relationship of trust. I want them to believe in their friends. Tactics aren’t that high of a priority for me. In order to enhance teamwork, I focused on determining what is the focus of communication. Many deaf football players are hard of hearing, and many learn sign language later. Only 7 or 8 of the 23 members have graduated from schools for the deaf. Most of the players went to schools for the hearing, so they all have different ways of communicating. Therefore, the director must clearly indicate what the focus should be. I focused on sign language. We should all work together to teach people who can’t use sign language. That is also communication. It is the players who compete, and on the pitch they have to make their own judgments and decisions. I would like them to do their part properly in this regard.

―How do you think you would like to be involved with Deaf football and Deaf Sports in the future?

Uematsu　Personally, I would like to support the Deaflympics as a whole from now on. My hometown is Shinagawa ward, and I keep saying, “I want to achieve 100% awareness of Deaflympics in Shinagawa ward”. I even told the Shinagawa ward mayor and ward assembly. So how can we achieve 100% awareness of Deaflympics in Shinagawa ward. First of all, I’m planning to give lectures at all elementary schools and junior high schools in Shinagawa Ward. Also, I plan to hold a trial session for Deaf football. Our goal is to realize a cohesive society through the Deaflympics. To that end, learn communication through deaf football. It’s good to have a variety of people. Everyone has different ways of communicating. The same goes for LGBTQ people and people with disabilities. I ask the children who participated in the trial session, “What do you think could be added to make it more fun?” Children have more ideas than adults. “If we include this rule, we can get everyone more involved. It will be more inclusive”. I would like to do something like this in Shinagawa Ward.

―You are also spreading the word about the training program including sign language interpreters on social media launched by the Japanese Federation of the Deaf.

Uematsu　Yes. Japanese Federation of the Deaf started recruiting people to serve as relay support including sign language commentators, sign language announcers, and sign language interpreters, and began training. I applied for the training as a commentator with specialized knowledge of deaf football. And the Japanese Federation of the Deaf asked me to bring in more commentators. That’s why I spread the word on SNS. I would like to continue to actively work as a bridge between sports and deaf people.

What kind of world do we want to see after the Deaflympics?

―From your perspective, how do you feel about the level of penetration of the Deaflympics?

Uematsu　Among the local governments in Tokyo, the ones that seem to be doing their best to raise awareness about the Deaflympics are Shinagawa, Shibuya, Adachi, and Suginami.
I’m sorry if there are more activities that I don’t know about. I think it’s quite difficult to allocate residents’ taxes to sports. However, I think it would be nice if we could allocate a little more budget for Deaflympics awareness and get people interested in sports and the Deaflympics, and I think it would be great if we could help local governments with what they are planning to do. Are there any jobs the Tokyo Metropolitan Government can provide to me? Please include this in the article, “You will miss out if you don’t use me!”

―I got it! Listening to your story, I can feel your side as an educator. You have four children yourself, how do you want them to grow up?

Uematsu　I want them to do whatever they want. My parents had that policy too. My fourth son was just born just last year, and my eldest son and second son are twins. My eldest son attends football and running classes, and my second son attends football and core-training classes. Also he does skateboarding. My third son has started attending a football school and is also learning English, swimming, and gymnastics. It seems like they’re doing it because they want to do it, so I think it’s okay not to limit it for now. In terms of football, the period from kindergarten to second grade in elementary school is the pre-golden age. This is a preparatory period for building neural pathways, so I would like to have them do a lot of things during that time.

―What are you looking forward to at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics?

Uematsu　I would like people to watch the games and get a sense of what kind of world they want to live in after the Deaflympics are over. While players with hearing disabilities are competing, how can hearing staff and persons concerned provide support, and how can both parties interact and exchange information? Each sport has its own visual information. This is not just in sports. Is it really okay to have facilities like this in everyday life, such as at home, convenience stores, and supermarkets? I don’t think it should be created through discussions only among people who can hear. Although the Deaflympics is a competition for deaf athletes, it is not judged solely on the basis of the deaf people, and of course we will try not to be biased.
What will come out of a tournament created together with people who can hear? I think that’s part of the fun of watching the games. That’s what I want everyone to feel.

―Finally, do you have a message for our readers who are looking forward to the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics?

Uematsu　First of all, I want people to get into sports that they are interested in.I hope they can find their favorite player from there. Sign language is one way to cheer, but I think it would be a good idea to have a place where deaf people and hearing people cheer together. You get more closer to the players in the Deaflympics compared to the Olympics and Paralympics. I think there are many opportunities to meet the players even at convenience stores. I want everyone, including the players, to experience that kind of opportunity. I would also like to support the Deaflympics!

Hayato Uematsu / Born in Tokyo
Deaf football coach

Born in Shinagawa ward in 1982. The representative and coach of the “Sign Football Shinagawa” school. Belongs to NS TOOL Co., Ltd.
Born with a hearing impairment, he was selected to represent Japan in Deaf Futsal in 2010 and is active in international tournaments. After that, he served as team coach and director for the Japanese national team, and achieved his best result ever by finishing runner-up at the World Deaf Football Championship (Deaf Football World Cup).
Currently, as a youth football coach, he instructs and manages the “Sign Football Shinagawa” school, and is also actively engaged in activities such as holding lectures to raise awareness about the Deaflympics and realize a cohesive society.

X：@uema_deaf
Instagram：h.uema

text by Moritaka Ohashi
photographs by Uta Mukuo