Haikyuu Magazine— Kozume Kenma: Special Interview
Streamer, trader, pro gamer… An influencer with many faces.
As always, I'm still learning, so my translations may not always be 100% accurate! This is all of the text from the page, so repeat info from earlier in the series is included.
Translation note: The honorific "-shi" is used here, which may be unfamiliar to some readers; It's similar to -san, though somewhat more respectful and mainly used in TV, news, and interviews.
Profile:
Born: October 16th
Tokyo Native. Nekoma High School Graduate.
Position during active years: Setter.
After graduating, started a business during university.
His active participation on YouTube and in the pro gaming community has earned him a high level of popularity.
Image Caption: The Bouncing Ball Logo on Hinata-senshu's Trunks. [Kozume-shi's] reason for the sponsorship contract was simple: "I have the money."
Image Caption: Kodzuken has gained worldwide recognition as a streamer and pro-gamer. For example, he has fans in places as far away as Brazil.
“But if you get boring, I’ll drop you.”
In a suburb a little out of the way from the city center, there’s a well-established traditional Japanese-style house. In one room, turned to the mic in the middle of a stream, sits the very popular YouTuber Kodzuken, AKA Kozume Kenma.
Kenma: “A lot of people say it’s surprising, but is it really so strange? It’s spacious, so you can fit a lot, and there’s not a lot of people around, so it’s pretty quiet… Well, I guess it’s a bit of a pain that it turned into my friends’ hangout spot.”
Kozume-shi was also a player who participated in Spring Nationals during his active years. He said he continues to stay in touch with his high-school teammates even now.
Kenma: “Even though I don’t invite them, they go out of their way to show up at my house and watch TV or have dinner… I don’t really mind, though. And, well, I mean.. the food that Fukunaga* [*Fukunaga Shouhei-san, the comedian, was one of Kozume’s high school teammates] makes for us is pretty great.
Kozume-shi is also a former teammate and childhood friend of the Volleyball Association’s Kuroo Tetsurou.
Kenma: “Kuro* [Kuroo Tetsurou] and I meet up to hang out every now and then. It looks like he's been busy lately going all over the place, but we both live in Tokyo, so… it’s alright. He makes me help him plan collaboration projects from time to time.”
Speaking of Kozume-shi, his activities as a pro-gamer are still fresh in our minds. When he was 26 years old, he and his pro team set a record in the world’s Best Four. After that, he withdrew from the team and retired, to the sadness of many.
Kenma: “I had plenty of fun, and decided that I've had my fill of playing games competitively. As for now, playing games on stream is just right for me.”
Video game streaming is also one kind of thing that's popular on Kodzuken's channel. The genres he streams are first person shooters, third person shooters, and horror games in general, such as survival horror. The truth is, I’m also a fan of his channel.
Also look out for the sponsorship contract with Hinata-senshu!!!
Kozume-shi, you founded Bouncing Ball Co. when you were a college student, and have been active in the professional gaming community, trading, and streaming since then. Where do you get that driving force from?
Kenma: “I get the feeling that I’m always looking for something I find interesting… The sponsorship contract with Shouyou (*Hinata Shouyou Senshu) interests me too, so that’s the reason we still continue with it.”
In your high school days, your relationship with Hinata-senshu was that of rivals who fought a fierce battle. Even now, it seems your relationship is just that of good friends.
Kenma: “Shouyou is always ‘new,’ so I never get tired of watching him. Sometimes, we play online games together, but his actions are unreadable as ever, so it’s fun. Ah… we stream too, from time to time, so check it out, yeah?"
It’s a relief to hear from this point on, this uneven (?) combo's relationship will continue without changing. You can also expect new volleyball-related projects in the future.
(T/N: The question mark was included in the original document.)
Image Caption: There are a lot of fans who didn't know that KODZUKEN used to be a volleyball player. The stream where he played beach volleyball with Hinata-senshu remains a popular video on his channel.
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