On a certain day in June, we welcomed professional soccer player Yutaka Michiwaki, who is supported by SUGI BEE GARDEN, to our headquarters for an interview.
Mr. Michiwaki is a professional soccer player from Kumamoto Prefecture. He has been consistently selected for the Japan national team at various age levels from U-16 to U-23, making him a striker with great future potential.
We talked about his thoughts on the sport, his daily condition management, and his goals.

―What prompted you to start playing soccer?
During my kindergarten days, my physical education trainer was also a soccer coach, and it was through their invitation that I started playing soccer. I was tall from a young age, and I often had opportunities to score goals by leveraging that physical advantage, which naturally led me to become deeply involved in soccer. I played as a forward (FW) from the very beginning.

―Have you ever used products from SUGI BEE GARDEN and felt something about them?
I drink "Royal & Amino Protein" before and after practice or matches. I feel that by continuing to take it, my body has become less prone to cramping even after hard training.
Also, since I usually limit my juice intake, I drink "sparkling water + acerola & honey" instead of carbonated drinks. It’s very delicious and I really like it.
I have also been advised by a nutritionist to consume honey, so in the morning I take jelly-type royal jelly, and I use acacia honey in yogurt, while I incorporate manuka honey as a snack or before bed. I keep various types of honey at home, so sometimes senior athletes say to me, "You look professional" or "You’re consuming good stuff" (laughs).

―Have you ever felt down when results don't come?
Being a forward, where scoring is everything, makes it tough during periods without goals. Still, I believe that during times when results are lacking, it is crucial to prioritize building up the basics, such as strength training and practice.

―Please tell us about your future goals.
First, my goal is to achieve results in J2 and to perform again on the J1 stage.
In the future, I also hope to play in Europe once more. Participating in the Olympics in two years and the World Cup in four years are also significant goals.

In the interview, the athlete's impressive demeanor was evident as they shared their experiences of challenging themselves abroad at a young age, while valuing daily efforts and self-management, steadily growing step by step.
After the conversation, they kindly signed autographs and responded with a smile throughout. Thank you very much!

Athlete Michiwaki continues to take on challenges with the aim of performing on the world stage. SUGI BEE GARDEN will continue to support his challenges through honey products, and we sincerely wish for his further success in the future!