'More Nervous Than in a Game' Seahorses Mikawa's Yudai Nishida Visits a School for the First Time! Encouraging Dreams Based on His Experience: 'You Can Do It!'

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On Thursday, June 4, 2026, Yudai Nishida (#19) visited Okazaki Municipal Midorigaoka Elementary School.

Nishida was greeted with loud cheers and applause as he entered, and the event began in a warm atmosphere.

Although it was his first school visit, Nishida admitted, 'I'm more nervous than in a game,' but he gradually relaxed thanks to the welcoming students.

In his 'Dream Lecture,' he shared a message based on his own experiences.

Nishida told the students: 'When you are working toward your dreams, if you think, "It's impossible" or "I can't do it," things won't go well. It is important to visualize yourself succeeding and keep working hard every day. Don't give up on the dreams you have now; I hope you achieve them.' The students listened intently.

Following the lecture, Nishida demonstrated his skills and participated in a 5-on-5 basketball game with students from the school's basketball team.

The venue was filled with excitement by Nishida's brilliant plays. In particular, when he successfully performed a solo alley-oop dunk, the cheers were as loud as at a home game, and the students watched in awe, enjoying the play.

The visit concluded with high-fives with all the students. They called out, 'Thank you!', 'I'll come to cheer at the game!', and 'Do your best on the national team!', making it a time filled with smiles. For the children, it was a valuable experience to learn the importance of continuing to challenge themselves toward their dreams and to interact directly with a professional player.

Through the Seahorses Mikawa sustainability project 'Be With,' we will continue to promote 'town building,' 'people development,' and 'community building,' which we value, and continue to work on initiatives that lead to regional revitalization.