"The Secrets of Shining Women" is an interview series that delves into the secrets of women who excel in various fields, including work and home. Our second installment features Rie Tanaka, a former member of the Japanese national gymnastics team, whose spectacular performance at the London Olympics left a lasting impression. She retired from active competition in December 2013 and is now an assistant professor at Nippon Sport Science University, where she is active in a variety of fields, focusing on sports. In the first half of the interview, we glimpsed her positive approach to life, getting through busy days with a smile. --Let's start with your recent activities. What kind of activities are you involved in at Nippon Sport Science University? The Faculty of Child Sports Education (where you serve as an assistant professor) trains kindergarten and elementary school teachers. I hold gymnastics classes at kindergartens and elementary schools across the country, where I teach children the joy of sports. The children respond so enthusiastically, and I'm always overwhelmed by their energy. It's so much fun, rewarding, and energizing. --Your activities have expanded, including TV show anchoring and stage appearances. What recent memorable job have you done? I made a guest appearance on stage with the Samurai Rock Orchestra, led by former gymnast Naoki Ikeya. It was my first time on the balance beam in a year and a half. It was so thrilling... Because it was a performance created by everyone, it felt different from my competitive days, and I was able to approach it with a new feeling. I was happy to hear people say, "It was great to see Eri Tanaka perform after so long." This summer, I also served as the image character for Glico's popular "Calorie Control Ice Cream." Each ice cream contains 80 calories, but it's incredibly delicious. I was deeply moved when I tried it. It uses healthy ingredients like tofu, so it's also recommended for those on a diet. --Is there anything you learned from your competitive days that you still use today? It's important to "love" what you do. For example, when I was competing, I always told myself, "I do gymnastics because I love it. There's something at the end of the hard work." Having a clear on/off switch also helps improve your concentration. --At last year's World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, you won the Longines Prix de Elegance, awarded to the most beautiful performance. What do you think is the secret to staying so elegant?

I always try to stay natural. My father often tells me to "be yourself." Another thing I value is always smiling. I feel that when I smile, those around me smile as well.

--Finally, please tell us about your dreams for the future.

I will be serving as a director of a major gymnastics event to be held in Tokyo in 2020. I will be using my experience as an active athlete until last year to work on improving the environment for athletes. I would be happy if this opportunity encourages many children to enjoy sports, develop friendships, and improve their humanity in the process.

In the second half, "Maintaining a natural, beautiful figure through exercises from her active days," we take a closer look at Tanaka's beauty and fashion.

石間京子