Eyes on the Future: Soaring High! | YouTuber Katsuo Torigoe's Journey with Muscular Dystrophy

*Information was verified and partially updated on February 20, 2026.*

Katsu Torigoe, who developed muscular dystrophy in childhood, gradually found it difficult to walk.

There was a time when he hid his illness and lost confidence.

However, at the age of 30, he realized, "There are things I can do precisely because of my illness," and made a significant life change. Currently, he is actively sharing his story on YouTube, aiming to become "someone people look up to."

1. Who is Katsu Torigoe?

1-1. The Discomfort Felt in Childhood and the Path to Diagnosis

[Interviewer (Writer): Matsumura / Interviewee: Katsu Torigoe]

Matsumura: What kind of child were you?

Torigoe: Before my illness was diagnosed, I was a bright and playful type. I loved talking with friends and was relatively chatty.

Matsumura: You mentioned feeling discomfort in your body during early elementary school.

Torigoe: Yes. I often had severe leg pain. But at the time, I didn't realize it was different from others; I thought everyone felt that way. It wasn't until sixth grade that I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.

Matsumura: How did you feel when you learned about your illness?

Torigoe: Before the diagnosis, I was often misunderstood by adults as being "selfish" because they didn't understand. Even during soccer practice, when I couldn't run due to pain, I was accused of "slacking off." That was tough. Eventually, I was scolded by the coach and told to leave, which led me to quit.

When I was diagnosed with "muscular dystrophy" in sixth grade, I finally understood that the pain was due to my illness. It was also the moment I strongly felt that I had to give up on things I wanted to do because of my illness.

1-2. The Struggles of Adolescence and Hiding the Illness

Matsumura: You hid your illness during middle and high school, right?

Torigoe: Yes. Not being able to participate in sports led to feelings of inferiority and loss of confidence. I vividly remember being laughed at by girls during gym class, which made me shy away from talking to them.

Matsumura: Did you focus on studying as a reaction to that?

Torigoe: Yes. I told myself, "Even if you're good at sports, it won't help in the future," and I worked hard to succeed academically and prove myself. I think that rebellious spirit was my driving force. But that experience also connects to who I am today.

2. A Turning Point at Age 30

2‐1. Finally Opening Up About His Illness

Matsumura: Around the age of 30, being asked "How do you want to live from now on?" became a turning point for you.

Torigoe: At that time, I had no answer. I was always confined by my illness, thinking, "I can't do sports, so I'll study," or "I can't do physical labor, so I'll find another path." I had never thought about how I wanted to live beyond that.

Matsumura: How did you start to change?

Torigoe: About three months later, one day, it just "came to me." I thought, "Maybe there's a reason I was born with this illness." It felt like a door that had been closed was suddenly opened. It was such a strong impression that I liken it to opening Pandora's box.

Matsumura: It sounds like a truly fateful moment.

Torigoe: Yes. In that moment, my mindset changed 180 degrees. I decided, "Instead of hiding my illness, I'll live openly." From there, my challenges expanded, and I even tried paragliding and started sharing on YouTube.

2‐2. YouTube "Torisuma" and Roundtable Discussions | Connections Born from Sharing

Matsumura: How did you start your sharing activities?

Torigoe: Initially, I was just writing and posting on social media, with no intention of doing YouTube. But someone (currently, Yasuhiro Yazawa from Esmiley, who is building Torisuma with me) suggested,

"Your sharing is passionate and great, why not try sharing on YouTube?"

So I started in 2019. Once I tried it, I found it suited me more than I expected and was enjoyable.

Matsumura: That's how "Torisuma" began. You also run roundtable discussions with others who have the same illness, right?

Torigoe: Yes. Unlike YouTube, I wanted to create a "safe space to talk." People have told me they're happy to meet others with the same illness and appreciate not having to explain everything from scratch. I also feel the same joy and reassurance, and it has helped me improve my "speaking skills" and "facilitation skills."

Matsumura: You mentioned that starting YouTube reminded you of your childhood self, who loved to stand out and talk.

Torigoe: Yes. During the time I was hiding my illness, that trait was completely overshadowed. But after I started sharing, I remembered, "I really do love speaking in front of people." It felt like I was reclaiming my true childhood self.

Matsumura: It's quite impactful to regain a lost sparkle.

Torigoe: Yes. Although I lost confidence because of my illness, by being open about it, I was able to let my true self shine again. Now, I want to keep challenging myself in my own way.

3. The World Expanded by Using an Electric Wheelchair