It all started when a boy envisioned a dream
The desire to “fly the vast sky freely” was originally lit in Yoshi Muroya as a little boy.
As he grew up, Yoshi was totally blown away by the ultimate maneuvering skills of the world’s top-notch pilots at the “Breitling World Cup,” which he happened to come across at the age of 22. This was when his desire to “fly the vast sky freely” turned into a sure dream of himself “acquiring the world’s best maneuvering skills.”
Aspiring to acquire the world’s best maneuvering skills
Since Japan had no experience in aerobatic competition, Yoshi had to challenge this unknown world blindly. Eventually, he managed to obtain a plane despite having no information, funding or experience. But then, days passed without being able to even fly the machine, as Yoshi simply couldn’t afford to buy fuel.
Yoshi’s frustration mounted as there was no training environment in Japan. He confronted the pain of being unable to achieve any results, let alone continue flying.
Despite such countless obstacles, Yoshi couldn’t possibly give up his dream.
Continuing his steady, untiring efforts supported by his passion to acquire the “world’s best maneuvering skills,” Yoshi finally comes across a great chance: In 2008, he was named the Red Bull Air Race pilot, the first Asian and Japanese to be appointed such position. Finally in 2016, Yoshi came to win the Red Bull Air Race World Championship held in his homeland, Japan.
The untiring power to continue forever
Winning the world championship title and listed among the world’s top pilots, Yoshi is aware through his many years of experience that he is far from being a gifted pilot. As the Zen phrase tells that “a constant trickle of water can even drill through a rock,” Yoshi was well aware that the only way forward was to work step by step every day towards his one-and-only dream, maintaining his passion and continuing his strenuous efforts over months, years and decades. If anything, such intent day-to-day effort was Yoshi’s talent, which took him to the top of the world.
A one-degree postural sway determines the winner in an aerobatic flight, or the 0.01-second difference in case of an air race. In order to narrow such gap as much as he can, Yoshi hones his flight skill every day. Such challenge of self-pursuit may not be shared with others and perhaps perceived as an egocentric behavior. Yet, Yoshi believes that another new world of true meaning will unfold before his eyes, if he heightens his potential to make a breakthrough. In pursuit of such goal, Yoshi continues to challenge his limit every day without giving up.
Yoshi has always been working towards the goal of “acquiring the world’s best maneuvering skills.” Over the past 25 years, he has heightened his flight skill to fly freely in the vast sky by operating his plane according to his will as if becoming a part of his machine. Despite being in an exceptionally disadvantageous environment of Japan including the lack of coaches and a poor practicing environment, Yoshi continued to enter numerous world championships, always bearing his never withering dream in his heart.
Evolution beyond the dream
The roadmap to the top of the world was incredibly long, and Yoshi spent many years without any title. But as he progressed step by step, he finally won his long-cherished top position at the 2016 Red Bull Air Race World Championship, held in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Standing at the center podium, Yoshi’s 25-year dream finally came true. He hasn’t stopped there, however, and is now challenging to become the annual champion by pursuing better maneuvering skills and extending his own personal boundary beyond the current limit.
Creating a better future to pass on to the next generation
Yoshi’s another big dream is to create an environment that nurtures a challenging spirit. When he worked towards the goal of “acquiring the world’s best maneuvering skills,” he had to climb over many steep walls. As such, Yoshi finds a need to imagine the future some decades away, create a long-term vision, and establish and preserve a required environment. In order to eliminate any handicap that may exist at the start line and help the next generation take a positive leap forward, Yoshi became the deputy director of the Fukushima Flight Association NPO in 2003, and is now working vigorously to create a sports-led community and consolidate the environment.
The synergistic effect and possibilities towards the future
Yoshi also fully supports the “Japan National Aerobatic Championship” official competition held in Japan since 2009. He offers his expertise and know-how, and also cooperates to improve the competition environment and to promote safety in Japan. He also proactively participates in projects aiming to dispel bad reputations on Fukushima after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and provide support towards the future of children. In order to pay back the tremendous support he had gained until today by contributing to the next generation, Yoshi continues his multifaceted activities that promote aerial culture and create a bright future for children.
少水常流如穿石