I am very keen not to end up playing nice with them.
Do you feel that you are actually getting healthier by running?
Okamoto:. I feel it. I used to get tired after a full day of work, but since I started running, I naturally have more energy and I feel less tired after work. It also relieves stress. I feel refreshed and refreshed after a long day.
You mentioned earlier that you are currently taking a break from group runs due to the Corona and are running individually. But do you still have a strong desire to run together?
Okamoto:Looking back, I think it's amazing that we had a group run every week. It was quite a lot of work, I think, and it was sobering. We had a running event at the "Forest, Road, Market" the other day, and we all got together for the first time in a year, and everyone's personalities have grown much stronger. Each of us was active outside of the community, and our individual personalities had become stronger. I think this has strengthened the individuality of the community itself, and I feel that it has given us more freedom. So even if we don't get together and run every week, I feel that it is better to do something like an event on a regular basis. I think that this way, everyone's individuality will come to life, and interesting and enjoyable scenery will be created.
. So "COMMON LANDSCAPE" exists like a home to which you can return at any time.
Okamoto:Yes, it is. At first, some people were negative about running, but when we all get together and run, the fun gradually outweighs the negativity. It is often called a "third place," and it really is like that. For me personally, the most rewarding part of running was the friends I made. I could never have continued running alone. After running, we would go to a public bath and have a drink, which was the most enjoyable time of the day. That was the most enjoyable time of my life, because I could come up with interesting ideas. It is hard that I can't do that now.
Okamoto:. But I enjoy it with respect for the sport of running, not in a circle-like manner. I think it is because people around me who support me see that, that I was invited to the event by "Forest, Road, and Market".
As you mentioned earlier, running is for pure expression, and I think the strength and charm of "COMMON LANDSCAPE" lies in the fact that you have maintained such a goal without wavering.
Okamoto:I agree. There are photographers and advertising people in the community, and from my perspective as a barber, there are many people living in a world that I simply do not know. That is very stimulating, and sometimes I am saved through communication with such people. So, it's not just about running.
What are your future goals for COMMON LANDSCAPE?
Okamoto:COMMON LANDSCAPE" belongs to no one, but that doesn't mean anyone can run it. . That balance is the difficult part. When we started out, we began running in search of purer expression, and gradually began to realize that there was a common language. . So we need a desire for expression. . I don't care what the method is, but I want it to be able to function as a community that is rich in diversity of expression, without a strange sense of entitlement.
. As a runner, what personal goals do you have for yourself?
Okamoto:I would like to run a full marathon in an area of interest to me. I'm at about 4 hours right now, and would love to see a sub 3.5 view. I also want to try treerunning. I always run on the road, so running in the mountains is very new to me. There are different ways to run, different gears, and I feel that there is a whole new world out there that I don't know about. While running, you don't have time to think about anything else, and you are in contact with your body. I think this is quite similar to my theme of "health," and I would like to take on this challenge in the near future.
