KAC2023 DDR女性部門 決勝ラウンド(23/11/25) | ぽ (英語) / KAC 2023 DDR Women's Division Final Round (11/25/23) | PO

(前書き: これはこのPO選手のnoteの英語翻訳です。)

My name is PO.

This time I'd like to recap and document the KONAMI Arcade Championship 2023 DanceDanceRevolution Women's Division Final Round that I participated in.

「KONAMI Arcade Championship(2023)」公式サイト

I hope you'll read it to the end.

Final Round

The #2 player in each qualifying group (ANDOCHAN, RABBIT) could select levels 14-15
The #1 player (PO, MSKNP) could select levels 14-17

Song 1: osaka EVOLVED -毎度、おおきに！- (TYPE3) (EXPERT 15) ANDOCHAN's selection

I had little information about ANDOCHAN, but looking at the results of the preliminary round, I saw her scores for varying speed and technique-based songs were extremely high, and so I thought that she'd most likely select songs with strong gimmicks in the finals.

For that reason, I practiced all of osaka EVOLVED -毎度、おおきに！- TYPE1 to TYPE3 very well.

However, the only part in which I couldn't relieve my doubts was recognizing and dealing with the vertical steps mixed with freeze arrows in TYPE3.

I messed up in that very part in the song and lost a lot of points.

Freeze arrows are sometimes more difficult to recognize than regular arrows because the starting point isn't colored for each rhythm and the green color covers a large area of the screen.

What remained was the regret of going into the match with some anxiety, and the frustration of missing out on first place due to a mistake.
However, I think I was able to show off my usual precision.

2nd place, 2 pt. earned (2 pt. total)

Song 2: Better Than Me (EXPERT 15) RABBIT's selection

Better Than Me was the song that I'd anticipated would have the best chance of being selected by RABBIT, so I practiced it until the day before.

However, in the actual match, I was unable to respond well to the late judgements, and finished in second place, one point behind RABBIT.

I was very disappointed in both the first and second songs, but in the third and fourth songs, I changed my mindset to definitely win first place in both songs and win the competition.

2nd place, 2 pt. earned (4 pt. total)

Song 3: ALPACORE (CHALLENGE 17) PO's selection

At first glance, it appears to just be a physically demanding chart, but in fact there are about six parts that are difficult to handle unless you learn the footwork.

Chart strategy notes

Rather than attacking my opponents' weaknesses, I was more conscious of the song choice that would ensure first place for me (i.e., earn 4 pts. ).

1st place, 4 pt. gained (8 pt. total)

Song 4: ΔMAX (CHALLENGE 17) MSKNP's selection

I had anticipated ΔMAX as MSKNP's choice very early on, so I practiced ΔMAX many times from the first credit.

It was very hard for me because my legs hardened at the end of the match, but I was able to stick through without giving up until the end.

1st place, 4 pt. gained (12 pt. total)

MAMURU3 and NOTTY from the APINA VRAMeS DDR team were playing the same lineup as my first practice credit!
I was very grateful for their help in keeping me motivated to practice without the intense warmups and also to have a reference for my score level

I would like to truly thank Apina Ogikubo for all of their support!

Results

I've won two consecutive championships!!

Thoughts

Measures taken

Although I had some idea of what to expect, I basically practiced and prepared with the goal of being able to respond to any song thrown at me out of the approximately 500 available choices.

However, because it's practically impossible to practice all the songs perfectly on a machine in a short period of preparation, I divided each chart into the following three categories and practiced as efficiently as possible.

① Even if I have no muscle memory of it, I can handle it with my own natural strength and really shine.
→ Only review the chart video (ex: ほしのつくりかた EXPERT, Sakura Reflection EXPERT, Be a Hero! EXPERT)
②  If I can't remember the footwork, I won't be able to handle it.
→ After identifying the points on the chart video, play on the machine to confirm. But don't play it a whole lot. (ALPACORE CHALLENGE, Truare! EXPERT, Hunny Bunny EXPERT）
③ There are quirks in the judgments, soflans, gimmicks, etc. that make it difficult to shine.
→After memorizing the BPM changes, etc., play it a bunch of times, and at the very least just get used to it. (ex: 阿波おどり -Awaodori- やっぱり踊りはやめられない EXPERT, ACE FOR ACES EXPERT, Concertino in Blue EXPERT, JOMANDA EXPERT/CHALLENGE)

I think the results of these measures were reflected in my second place in the first and second songs of the finals. I was very happy when the commentator, gahou, described and praised it as "defensive power."

As a female athlete, thereafter

After winning The 10th KAC Women's Division, and up until the beginning of my professional career in BPL S2, I was somewhat conscious of how to bridge the gender gap and how I should behave as a female player.

However, as I competed on an extremely equal footing with male players in BPL and came into direct contact with their overwhelming passion, I naturally became less conscious of my "female" status.

Even in off-season practice, I began to evaluate my scores based on the criterion, "Can I beat all the professional players with this score in a real competition?"

I have a strong sense that I have taken a step forward to the next stage as an athlete standing on the competitive scene.

Conclusion

I have a lot of personal things to work on from the tournament, especially in terms of not being able to perform as well as I'd practiced.

However, I'm honestly very happy to have won.

To everyone who supported me, and to those around me who supported me, thank you so much!

I will continue to work hard and be strong.
I would be delighted if you'll always support me.
Let's meet again!