The clocks have gone forward this week, bringing another cold, dark winter to an end. Once again we have persevered and made it through. With spring ushering in hope, prosperity and new life, I can’t help but feel cautiously optimistic. Over the last few weeks, I have let myself spiral, become overly negative and cynical. These are not attitudes I want to release into the world. I want to see the good in others, be more passionate, push harder, be able to fall down and rise up stronger. “Never Give Up,” I heard these words while doomscrolling recently. A 35 second video of a man harvesting clams, urging me to try a little bit harder, reminding me that I’m nearly there. It was so bizarre! And yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Motivational speakers do very little for me.They always come off as kind of disingenuous, their advice something scripted and lacking humanity. So what was it about this video that struck me? How could something that I can’t understand without subtitles strike a chord within me? It’s quite simple, he believes in what he is saying, which in turn makes you want to believe in yourself.

Shuzo Matsuoka is a retired professional Tennis player from Japan. At the height of his career in 1992 he ranked #46 in the world and after retiring he became a well-known sports commentator in Japan. In 2006 Matsuoka uploaded his first video series on his official website titled, ‘For You.’Although, his videos never really garnered attention until he posted them on the platform Nico Nico (ニコニコ) which is essentially the Japanese version of YouTube. It didn’t take long for Matsuoka to gain the reputation of being the man who lifted everyone’s spirits. Soon after the videos circulated across Japan, it didn’t take long for video compilations of Matsuoka’s inspirational advice to start popping up on Youtube. Thus, a niche internet legend was born.

There is absolutely no shortage of motivational videos out there. Perhaps there are too many in fact, and with the rise of the ‘Hopecore’ movement on social media you could even argue that the market has become too saturated. So what makes these videos different? Often filmed on a grainy, low quality camera, there is no glossy shiny finish. It’s raw and unedited, as though that was the absolute perfect moment in time to stop and drop that pearl of wisdom or that bit of encouragement. Some of the videos are silly, he feels relatable and more importantly human. When watching him speak his determination and directness shine through and demand attention. He doesn’t sugarcoat and though his encouragement may be harsh at times, it hits. Hard.

After spending a couple of hours researching this guy, absorbing every morsel of information I could, what is the overall takeaway? We must remain resilient, we will overcome obstacles and it is crucial that we remain positive and kind despite hardship.