Former World Athletics Beautiful Representative Kinukawa Ai’s Hellish Days Until Becoming a Top Cosplayer
“If my first life was as a track athlete, my second life is as a cosplayer. In my upcoming third life, I want to do things that only I can do, combining the first and second lives.”
This is spoken by Renya, a cosplayer who fully embodies characters from the road racing anime ‘Yowamushi Pedal’. Renya has been selected as the Best Costume winner for two consecutive years, boasting a following of over 20,000 on X (formerly Twitter).
Renya’s real name is Kinukawa Ai (34). Some readers may have been surprised upon hearing this name. Kinukawa is also a renowned athlete who has represented Japan twice in the World Athletics Championships (Osaka in ’07 and Daegu, Korea in ’11). Known for her charming smile, she has captivated many fans as the beautiful track athlete. However, Kinukawa had concealed her identity as cosplayer Renya for nearly 10 years. In an interview with Sports Hochi on May 7th, she finally confessed her true identity. Kinukawa will now share the hardships of her early life as she begins her third phase, in her own words.
“Since kindergarten, I’ve always been fast on my feet. I consistently placed first in elementary school sports festivals. However, the reason I started track and field seriously from middle school was because I wanted to lose weight. Even though my height (approximately 155cm) hasn’t changed much since then, I was about 10kg heavier. I joined the track team with the idea that running might help me lose weight and wear cute clothes.”
The unknown man exclaimed, “Oh, wow!”
Kinukawa consistently achieved good results in various competitions thanks to her natural talents. At the same time, her natural personality often amused fans. During the All-Japan Junior High School Championships in her third year of middle school, she led the race from the beginning, but lost the lead with a guts pose just before the finish line and ended up in second place. Such endearing moments defined Kinukawa, who had a fateful encounter during her middle school years.
“At one event, an unfamiliar older man approached me saying, ‘Oh, wow.’ I was running with a rare high-hipped Tsuuma stride like Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes. The man seemed to notice and reportedly remarked to those around him, ‘She might become a runner who can compete internationally.’ That older man was Takao Watanabe, the renowned coach from Sendai Ikuei High School in Miyagi Prefecture.”
At the recommendation of Coach Watanabe, Kinukawa enrolled in Sendai Ikuei High School. Watanabe referred to Kinukawa as a lightweight car with a turbo engine (fragile) and developed her without excessive training. His coaching method suited her perfectly, and in her second year of high school, she won a section prize in the high school ekiden relay. In her third year, she placed third in the 10,000 meters at the Japan Championships. In the same year, she participated in the World Athletics Championships as the only high school girl and finished 14th in the 10,000 meters. However:
“After graduating from high school and joining Mizuno, a sports goods manufacturer, I aimed to represent Japan at the Beijing Olympics held in August 2008. However, just before that, I developed unexplained health problems. I suffered from stress fractures in my legs and repeated injuries – every time one healed, another occurred.
I also had viral illnesses and severe dizziness, which impaired my balance so much that I couldn’t walk properly. It was difficult not only to become an Olympic representative but even to lead a normal life. I spent every day in a hellish state of anxiety.”
Kinukawa finally began to recover physically, but struggled to regain her motivation. Two tragic events in 2011 provided the impetus she needed.
“One was the devastating East Japan Earthquake that struck my alma mater in the Tohoku region. The other was the death of Samuel Wanjiru, the Kenyan-born gold medalist in the men’s marathon at the Beijing Olympics. Wanjiru passed away in an accident in May 2011 at just 24 years old. Wanjiru was a senior I admired who studied at Sendai Ikuei and ran alongside me.
Takao Watanabe, who had continued to mentor me since high school, said that I was the only one of his students who could make it internationally. It was from then that I resumed serious running. Thinking about the people of Sendai affected by the East Japan Earthquake and Wanjiru, my determination to inherit their spirits grew stronger and turned into strength.”
Under the dedicated guidance of her mentor, Mr. Watanabe, Kinukawa achieved a comeback. In June 2011, she won the 5000m event at the Japanese Athletics Championships with a personal best. Later that year, in November, she was selected as a representative of Japan at the World Athletics Championships held in Daegu, South Korea. However, her days of glory were short-lived. In the [sequel], I would like to introduce Kinukawa’s struggles during her rock-bottom period after retirement, and her journey towards embracing her second life as a cosplayer.
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Ai Kinugawa was born on August 7, 1989 in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture. Born in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture. A track and field athlete who has attracted attention since her days at Sendai Ikuei High School. She has participated in the World Championships in Athletics twice. Her cheerful character attracts many fans. She is also active as a cosplayer under the name Renya.
PHOTO： Hiroyuki Komatsu
