photo: Andre Ringuette/IIHF
She’s not the tallest or the strongest, and she’s not the loudest or the most intimidating. But Rui Ukita has been representing her country internationally for more than a decade. And although she is only 29, she is playing in her fourth Olympics.
“It feels like a long time ago that I played in my first Olympics, yes,” she said with a smile. “But just yesterday I watched the Sochi Olympics and was happy with how I played! It was good motivation and preparation for today. It makes me feel young!”
Ukita played at the Women’s U18 in 2012, Division I, and within two years had helped the team earn promotion to the top level. Soon after playing in that WW18 in 2014, she played at the Olympics, fulfilling a lifelong dream at the tender age of 17.
Back then, she was looking for mentors, women in the dressing room to look up to. Now a veteran, others look up to her, but she is not the kind of vocal leader to necessarily seek out younger players to mentor.
“My personality is not to be so outgoing and to mentor someone,” she explained. “My personality is to do my best, and if any younger players look up to me, I consider it an honour.”
Like many players, Ukita has grown not only to love but to appreciate the game more as time passes. When you are young, you think only of today, but when you get a bit older, you appreciate the past and respect the future. Ukita is no different.
“Sometimes, I feel I have been playing a really long time,” she explains, “and sometimes I feel like I will quit playing hockey. But I really love playing. I think I realized this the most after the last Olympics. Now, I cannot imagine a time when I won't play hockey. But when I think about it, it has been a long time since I first started.”
Ukita’s own journey parallels that of coach Yuji Iizuka. Iizuka’s incredible coaching career has seen him lead all three women’s teams in Japan. He coached the U18 team from 2009 to 2011 and again for two years, 2018-19. His first Olympics was also 2014, and in Women’s Worlds he has been behind the bench for every event since 2008, with three exceptions (2015-17). Ukita admires his dedication and his honesty.
“He trusts us, as athletes, and he focuses on speed and skill and how we play. But even though I have been around a long time, if I am not playing well, he won't play me. So every time I have a shift, I have try my best.”
Success for the Japanese women has been difficult to achieve and can’t be measured just by medals. The team has qualified for the last four Olympics, which is an enormous boost to the program, and it has been in the top pool of the Women’s Worlds every year since 2015 (except 2017). The U18s have been more spotty, moving up and down between the top and I-A. Nevertheless, Ukita believes the program is stronger than ever.
“Overall in our program, we have improved our skills, and our younger players have a better environment and opportunities to help them develop. I think we are headed in the right direction.”
“It feels like a long time ago that I played in my first Olympics, yes,” she said with a smile. “But just yesterday I watched the Sochi Olympics and was happy with how I played! It was good motivation and preparation for today. It makes me feel young!”
Ukita played at the Women’s U18 in 2012, Division I, and within two years had helped the team earn promotion to the top level. Soon after playing in that WW18 in 2014, she played at the Olympics, fulfilling a lifelong dream at the tender age of 17.
Back then, she was looking for mentors, women in the dressing room to look up to. Now a veteran, others look up to her, but she is not the kind of vocal leader to necessarily seek out younger players to mentor.
“My personality is not to be so outgoing and to mentor someone,” she explained. “My personality is to do my best, and if any younger players look up to me, I consider it an honour.”
Like many players, Ukita has grown not only to love but to appreciate the game more as time passes. When you are young, you think only of today, but when you get a bit older, you appreciate the past and respect the future. Ukita is no different.
“Sometimes, I feel I have been playing a really long time,” she explains, “and sometimes I feel like I will quit playing hockey. But I really love playing. I think I realized this the most after the last Olympics. Now, I cannot imagine a time when I won't play hockey. But when I think about it, it has been a long time since I first started.”
Ukita’s own journey parallels that of coach Yuji Iizuka. Iizuka’s incredible coaching career has seen him lead all three women’s teams in Japan. He coached the U18 team from 2009 to 2011 and again for two years, 2018-19. His first Olympics was also 2014, and in Women’s Worlds he has been behind the bench for every event since 2008, with three exceptions (2015-17). Ukita admires his dedication and his honesty.
“He trusts us, as athletes, and he focuses on speed and skill and how we play. But even though I have been around a long time, if I am not playing well, he won't play me. So every time I have a shift, I have try my best.”
Success for the Japanese women has been difficult to achieve and can’t be measured just by medals. The team has qualified for the last four Olympics, which is an enormous boost to the program, and it has been in the top pool of the Women’s Worlds every year since 2015 (except 2017). The U18s have been more spotty, moving up and down between the top and I-A. Nevertheless, Ukita believes the program is stronger than ever.
“Overall in our program, we have improved our skills, and our younger players have a better environment and opportunities to help them develop. I think we are headed in the right direction.”