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  • Men's Goalball
    Paris Paralympics Gold Medalist

Yuji Taguchi

PROFILE

Yuji Taguchi

Affiliation: Leifras Co., Ltd.
Date of Birth: February 16, 1991
Hometown: Hiroshima, Japan

He was born with a congenital vision impairment, and around the age of 10, he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa.
He obtained a cooking license from a culinary school in Osaka and worked as a chef in Tokyo.
After working for 4 years, he left his job due to the limitations of his eyesight.
He then joined the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, where he discovered goalball.
Following his bronze medal at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Championship, he won another bronze at the 2019 Asia-Pacific Championship.
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, he represented Japan as part of the men's team.
Despite leaving the national team in March 2022, he returned in 2023 as a designated strengthening player and
won a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Currently, in addition to his athletic career, he works to promote the sport and an inclusive society through lectures, sports experience events, and blind training sessions.

Career Highlights

2017 Participated in the Malmo Intercup
2017 Bronze medal at the Asia-Pacific Championship (Bangkok, Thailand)
2019 Bronze medal at the Asia-Pacific Championship (Chiba, Japan)
2021 5th place at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
2024 Gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Public Speaking and Training Activities

Theme: Living with a Disability and Facing Challenges

He was born with a congenital vision impairment.
Despite this, he dedicated himself to kendo during his school years, like his able-bodied peers, achieving strong results.
At one point, he aspired to be a chef, and his skills were even featured on the TBS cooking show Chubo Desuyo!
From his encounter with goalball, a sport for athletes with vision impairment, to his experiences of competing in the Paralympics, he will share his positive mindset and perspective, where he doesn't see his disability as a hindrance, through lectures and hands-on experiences.

  • Goalball can be experienced in a simplified format without professional equipment.
  • Online lectures are also available.

Theme: Blind Training Through Goalball

This unique hands-on training program allows participants to explore an "invisible world" and offers a different perspective, which can also be applied to business training.
When communicating without sight, it's important to be creative with how to convey messages and have consideration toward others. Relying less on sight can lead to new insights.
Learning from Taguchi's personal experiences as a person with visual impairments, as well as the correct assistance methods, will help deepen participants' understanding of diversity.

Inquiries about athlete lectures
or appearances

INTERVIEW

What led you to join Leifras, and what do you do in your current role?

I had a desire to take on new challenges through sports, and I connected with the company's philosophy.
Now, I focus on training and hosting experience-based goalball activities and lectures at elementary schools.

What does goalball mean to you?

It's an intense sport, often called "a martial art without sight," but I think it has made me truly appreciate the importance of communication.
I want to share its appeal to as many people as possible.

What is a phrase that's important to you and why?

"The boughs that bear most hang lowest."
No matter what kind of person I become, I think that staying humble and always being grateful for the support of those around me is essential for my growth.

What is your source of motivation?

The support of those who cheer me on, my family, and my teammates who share the same aspirations are what keep me going.

Could you share a final message?

Since joining Leifras Co., Ltd. in 2017, I've gained various experiences (interactions with employees, experience-based activities, and lectures).
I think the most valuable thing I learned was the power of communication.
This is something I could only learn at Leifras, and I hope to continue sharing and gaining experiences and knowledge through sports to keep growing as an individual.
Thank you for your continued support.