When I asked him where he remembered when he was little, he told me about this Koiwa Park. The park, symbolized by a blue slide, had basketball courts and some large playground equipment, and was a spacious place for many children to run around on holidays. Ando, who was in kindergarten, also loved to play outside, and he was playing tag here. Although he had a mischievous personality, he already had the sociability that both men and women could play with.

Around this time, the fateful encounter that leads to the present is fulfilled. The trigger was the NBA footage recorded by his mother. There, Michael Jordan and other golden age stars who performed brilliantly opened the door to his basketball life. He must have been promised a path to becoming a professional player from this time, when the first match he saw began with the best play in the world. A child who was fascinated by basketball, he eventually joined a local minibus team and spent 365 days in basketball.
When I asked if there was anything I wanted to tell myself at that time, "The most important thing is to like basketball. Please like it forever.I gave an ale to myself at that time.

For Ando, whose hometown is Koiwa in Edogawa Ward, this riverbed can be said to be a symbol of the local area. When the weather is nice, the lively voices of baseball boys, people who enjoy jogging, and people who take a walk with their pets are everywhere. The promenade on the hill has a good view, and the view of the train crossing the Edo River and the iron bridge in the back gives you a feeling of downtown.
The riverbed, which he has often visited with his family and friends since he was in elementary school when he started playing an active role as a minibus player, is still a standard training spot when he returned to Tokyo after spending his high school days in Miyagi. Running in a familiar place seems to remind me of my original intention when I started playing basketball every time I went.

When I heard what I had been doing since I started playing basketball, I heard thatI like basketball. I've never hated basketball, and I've never wanted to quit, even if it's hard.". Ando has a long and unwavering personality for what he likes. Even now, when he is busy as a professional player, he feels his love for the locals as he visits the locals.

Coffee is responsible for the healing of Ando, who lives a stoic life every day as a player. He says he is looking forward to finding a good cafe after going out to eat out by car or after a walk. Coffee is also black because I don't usually like sweets. It is said that there are about three favorite cafes near Yoyogi Park.This area is in the center of the city but has a calm atmosphere so you can refresh yourself."He told me.
The sound of grinding beans echoing in the store where a relaxing time flows. Time to wait for coffee to drip from freshly ground beans. A rich scent that gradually increases in intensity. All of this gradually relaxes the tense nerves of the fierce men who are constantly seeking victory and competing. Ando's play style, which describes his weapon as "intensity," seems to be able to run hot and violently on the court calmly and accurately only with this quiet off time spent with coffee.
By the way, when I heard the bitter memories of coffee connection, losing at the Kanto tournament when I was in the second year of junior high school held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, which is near here, is a memory like Ando who is particular about victory and hates to lose.