Mr. Mineichi Takahashi of the Automotive Steel Department has won the right to represent the Kanto region in the powerlifting event and will participate in the "Burning Emotions Kagoshima National Athletic Meet"! The competition will be held at the Okinoerabu Cultural Hall on Okinoerabu Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, for three days from September 22 to September 24, and Mr. Takahashi will participate in the "No-Gear Competition 105kg and Under" on September 24.
　During his high school years, Mr. Takahashi was a member of the baseball club and was training at a local gym when the owner, a world champion bench presser, told him, "What you are lifting now is a Japanese record," and he entered a powerlifting competition. After that, he played on the baseball team for four years in college, and started powerlifting in earnest when he entered the workforce. I usually train at a neighborhood 24-hour gym and a local powerlifting gym (B.T.S.L FITNESS), building up my own strength at the 24-hour gym and training for actual competitions at B.T.S.L FITNESS on a daily basis.
　I am very happy and excited to finally be able to play on the national stage! A lot of people are cheering me on, so to live up to their expectations, I'm aiming to raise my total 710kg to a personal best and qualify for the nationals, and to finish in the top ranks at the National Athletic Meet! I'm very enthusiastic about the competition.