89-year-old Japanese Man Has No Plans to Stop Surfing

89-year-old Japanese Man Has No Plans to Stop Surfing

In the early part of his life, Seiichi Sano was a busy business owner. Later in life, he took on other difficult activities. At the age of 80, he climbed Mount¹ Fuji, Japan's highest mountain. Soon after, he started surfing.

Sano turns 90 later this year. After being recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest male to surf, he's considering trying other activities.

"Maybe I'll try bouldering," he said, suggesting he might do it first in a gym. "Outside it might be a bit dangerous."

But maybe he will just stick with what he knows.

"I think it would be interesting to try to surf until I'm 100," Sano said. "I think I take better care of myself when I have goals like this. Even now, I take better care of myself than I did before."

Sano lives in a place about 20 minutes from Yokohama. He gets out most weekends on the black-sand beach near Enoshima. It is the small island that held sailing² competitions during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games that took place in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sano said he got the idea to try surfing from a worker at his local bank. The man's skin was always tan³ and he did not look like a usual banker. His secret, he said, was surfing. So, Sano found a teacher.

"I don't consider myself an old man," he said in his wet suit, board standing⁴ next to him. "I have never thought of myself as an old person. I always feel that I can still move forward. I can still do it. I can still enjoy it."

Sano joined hundreds of other surfers recently at Enoshima. All the surfers were younger, of course. Several young students who also work with Sano's surf teacher, 46-year-old Kazuto Shimizu, talked about Sano.

"I think age doesn't matter in surfing," 12-year-old Iroha Shimabukuro said.

Added⁵ her twin sister, Fuka: "He's more like a family member regardless⁶ of age."

"I think he's amazing," said their younger brother, Shua.

Rokka Saito, the other young surfer in the group of four, summed it up. "I respect him," she said.

"To be honest, I was surprised by his age," said Shimizu, Sano's surfing teacher. "I was most worried that he would get injured⁷. I did not know how fit he was, physically⁸."

Sano still runs a business that supplies wood to building companies. He works⁹ 9-to-5 at the job. Surfing eases¹⁰ tension¹¹ for him.

Sano joked about surfing in the delayed¹² Tokyo Games, held just under two years ago.

"I was hoping to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, not as a competitor¹³ but as an old-age demonstrator," he said.

Sano regularly¹⁴ does a complete set of stretching exercises before going out. When he stands, he's straight as his board — though at 1.65 meters, far shorter.

"People often say that surfing is life, itself," he said. "If I describe it in one word, I think it really applies to me right now."

Words in This Story

surfing – n. the activity of riding waves on a special board

bouldering – n. a kind of free climbing practiced on indoor walls or outdoor rock formations¹⁵

sailing – n. the sport or activity of traveling on water in a sailboat

tan – adj. having skin that has been made darker by the sun's rays

wet suit –n. rubber clothing that is worn¹⁶ by swimmers and divers¹⁷ to keep their bodies warm

demonstrator – n. a person who shows other people how something is done

1 mount   

n.山峰，乘用马，框，衬纸；vi.增长，骑上（马）；vt.提升，爬上，装备

参考例句：

• Their debts continued to mount up.他们的债务不断增加。
• She is the first woman who steps on the top of Mount Jolmo Lungma.她是第一个登上珠穆朗玛峰的女人。

2 sailing   

n.航行，航海术，启航

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• The operation was plain sailing.手术进行得顺利。

3 tan   

n.鞣制革，黄褐色；adj.黄褐色的，鞣皮的；vt.晒黑，鞣(革)，鞭打；vi.晒成棕褐色

参考例句：

• She had gotten a good tan after the holiday at the sea.在海边度假之后，她的皮肤晒得黑黑的。
• His arms and legs had a dark tan.他的手臂和腿晒得黑黑的。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 added   

adj.更多的，附加的，额外的

参考例句：

• They have added a new scene at the beginning.在开头他们又增加了一场戏。
• The pop music added to our enjoyment of the film.片中的流行音乐使我们对这部电影更加喜爱。

6 regardless   

adj.不留心的，不注意的；不管，不顾；adv.无论如何，不管怎样

参考例句：

• I protested,but she carried on regardless.我极力反对，但她仍一意孤行。
• I shall go regardless of the weather.无论天气好坏我都要去。

7 injured   

adj.受伤的

参考例句：

• Our best defender is injured and won't be able to play today.我们最佳的防守员受伤了，今天不能参加比赛。
• The injured men have been dug out of the snow.受伤人员从雪中被挖了出来。

8 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

9 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

10 eases   

安心( ease的名词复数 )； 无病无痛； （限制的）放松； 容易

参考例句：

• Centaury eases cough, bronchitis, inflammation of liver and eye. 咳嗽、支气管炎、肝脏及眼睛发炎有抑制功效。
• When the crisis eases and confidence returns, valuations are bound to recover. 当危机缓解、信心恢复，市值必将反弹。

11 tension   

n.(紧张)状态；拉(绷)紧；张力，拉力

参考例句：

• I could feel the tension in the room. 我可以感觉到房间里的紧张气氛。
• Relaxaion is better than tension. 缓和比紧张好。

12 delayed   

adj.延时的，定时的v.（使）耽搁，延误( delay的过去式和过去分词 )；推迟；使延期；使延迟

参考例句：

• Deliveries of mail could be delayed because of cost-cutting. 由于削减成本，邮件的递送可能会延迟。
• The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed. 最可能的解释是他的飞机晚点了。

13 competitor   

n.竞争者；对手；比赛者

参考例句：

• The first prize was awarded to the youngest competitor.一等奖授给了最年轻的比赛者。
• After defeat of the new competitor,the prices can rise again.新的竞争者被击败之后，价格就会重新上升。

14 regularly   

adv.有规则地，一丝不苟地，正式地

参考例句：

• Check the engine oil level regularly.要时常检查机油量。
• We meet regularly to discuss business.我们定期会面讨论事务。

15 formations   

n.形成( formation的名词复数 )；构成；形成物；编队

参考例句：

• Clouds are formations of condensed water vapour. 云是由凝聚的水蒸气构成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• New word formations have not regularity. 新词的构成没有规律。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 worn   

adj.用旧的，疲倦的；vbl.wear的过去分词

参考例句：

• The child's trousers have worn through at the knees.孩子裤子的膝盖处磨破了。
• My shoes are worn out.我的鞋子穿坏了。

17 divers   

adj.不同的；种种的

参考例句：

• He chose divers of them,who were asked to accompany him.他选择他们当中的几个人，要他们和他作伴。
• Two divers work together while a standby diver remains on the surface.两名潜水员协同工作，同时有一名候补潜水员留在水面上。