Stories that land

Yamaguchi asked a boxing world champion for a handshake

Taketarino Yamaguchi remembers meeting Hideyuki Ohashi, a former member of his high-school boxing club, while watching a bout at Korakuen Hall.

Before the story

Taketarino Yamaguchi (タケタリーノ山口) recalls meeting Hideyuki Ohashi (大橋秀行), who had belonged to the same high-school boxing club and later became a world champion.

One quick handshake

In high school, I boxed at Yokohama High. Hideyuki Ohashi had boxed for the same school club before me, then gone on to become a world champion.

I went to Korakuen Hall to watch a bout one day. Ohashi, already a champion by then, was there watching too. I wanted to shake his hand, so I went over and said, ‘Mr. Ohashi, I was in the Yokohama High boxing club too. Could I shake your hand?’

‘Sure.’ He held out his hand right away.

I thought, ‘Wow. I'm really going to grip it.’ I took his hand firmly—and it felt unexpectedly soft.

Like konnyaku, a jelly-like Japanese food. As yielding as pushing against a hanging curtain. Just... floppy.

I remember going home a little disappointed. Was this really the fist of a world champion?

Illustration of two boxers facing each other in red and blue gloves against a bright green background.

We use AI as part of how we create our articles.

Next story Adachi’s Coworker Offers to Buy a DrinkAt nineteen, Adachi was cleaning a hotel when a coworker offered to buy him a drink. He remembers what became of their short break.
More stories A closed red album tilted against a coral-orange background, with gold-colored Japanese lettering on its cover. A graduation album and a wedding the next dayEarly in his comedy career, a member of Hi-Hi needed a cash gift for a friend’s wedding—and had no usual form of ID. Two illustrated figures beside a gray microphone: one with spiky brown hair and a patterned blue shirt, the other with short dark hair, a white shirt and red tie, against white and bright green. Ten-yen beer and a trip to the restroomA cheap beer offer brought a comedian and his friends together for an evening he remembers vividly. A front-facing, bare-chested illustrated swimmer in a white cap against a solid blue background; a blank outlined rectangle appears on the cap. I thought I had the perfect swimsuit for the waterslideYamamoto went swimming with friends in the brief-cut swimsuit he favored from his school swimming days. All stories
Start here The Boyfriend Sales Pitch A hopeful dater sweetens the pitch with every no. The friend listening won't budge. 3:36 Watch the whole thing (3:36)