Eyes on the Future Sky! | YouTuber Katsu Torigoe Continues to Challenge with Muscular Dystrophy

*Information confirmed on February 20, 2026, with some updates to the latest information.

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

There was a time when he continued to hide 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 journey on YouTube, aiming to become "someone to be admired."

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 when you were young?

Torigoe: Before my illness was diagnosed, I was bright and often playful. I liked talking with friends and was relatively chatty.

Matsumura: You started feeling discomfort in your body in the early years of elementary school, right?

Torigoe: Yes. My legs would hurt a lot. But at the time, I didn't realize it was different from others; I thought everyone felt that way. It was in sixth grade that I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.

Matsumura: How did you feel when you found out about your illness?

Torigoe: Before knowing about the illness, adults around me didn't understand, often thinking I was being "difficult." During soccer, when I couldn't run due to pain, they thought I was "slacking off." That was tough. Eventually, I was scolded by the coach, told to go home, and I quit.

When I was diagnosed with "muscular dystrophy" in sixth grade, I finally understood that "the pain was due to the illness." Also, I strongly felt for the first time that "I have to give up on things I want to do because of my illness."

1-2. Adolescent Struggles and Days of Hiding the Illness

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

Torigoe: Yes. Not being able to do sports became a source of inferiority, and I lost confidence. I still vividly remember being laughed at by girls during gym class. Since then, I've become uncomfortable talking to girls.

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

Torigoe: Yes. I would tell myself, "Even if you're good at sports, it won't help in the future," and I worked hard, thinking I'd succeed through studying and prove them wrong. That rebellious spirit became my driving force. But that experience is also part of what makes me who I am today.

2. A Turning Point at 30

2-1. Finally Opening Up About the Illness

Matsumura: It was a turning point when you were asked at around 30, "How do you want to live from now on?"

Torigoe: At that time, I had no answer. I was always confined by the illness, thinking, "I can't do sports, so I should study," or "I can't do physical labor, so I should 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, I had an epiphany. One day, it just "came to me." I thought, "Maybe there's a reason I was born with this illness." It felt like a closed door had opened. It was as if I had opened Pandora's box, and it left a strong impression on me.

Matsumura: It sounds like a fateful moment.

Torigoe: Yes. At that moment, my mindset changed 180 degrees. I decided, "Instead of hiding my illness, I'll live openly." From there, my challenges expanded, including trying paragliding and starting to share my journey 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, Shuu Yazawa from E-Smiley, who co-founded Torisuma with me) suggested,

"Your sharing is full of passion and really great, so 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." I receive feedback like, "I'm glad to meet others with the same illness," and "It's nice not having to explain the illness from scratch." I also feel the same joy and relief, and it has helped me improve my "speaking skills" and "facilitation skills."

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

Torigoe: Yes. During the time I hid 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 self from childhood.

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

Torigoe: Yes. Although I lost confidence because of my illness, opening up about it allowed me to shine as my true self again. Now, I want to continue challenging myself authentically.

3. A World Expanded by Using an Electric Wheelchair

Matsumura: Did you have any resistance to using an electric wheelchair?

Torigoe: Since I had accepted my illness, I had little resistance. Rather, I thought, "Just going out in an electric wheelchair has value." By using it, I could see the barriers in society, and just sharing that has meaning.

Matsumura: I see. Using an electric wheelchair changed your perspective on society.

Torigoe: Yes. When I was walking, I was always focused on "not falling," with no time to enjoy the scenery. But with an electric wheelchair, I can move safely and talk with people while moving.

Since it's an electric wheelchair, one hand is free. It makes it easier to go out to various places.

Matsumura: The electric wheelchair became something that expanded your range of activities.

Torigoe: Exactly. I see the wheelchair not as a "symbol of what I can't do," but as a "tool for participating in society." Also, when I'm in a wheelchair, it gives people in the city a chance to get used to seeing wheelchairs, and it makes barriers visible everywhere. That's why just going out in a wheelchair is meaningful.

4. Challenges for the Future: Flying in the Sky and Reaching Space

Matsumura: What challenges do you want to take on in the future?

Torigoe: My main goal is "to get a pilot's license for a Cessna and fly myself." Ultimately, I genuinely want to "go to space." I've even applied for President Maezawa's space project.

Matsumura: That's quite an ambitious dream.

Torigoe: Yes, but I believe dreams don't start unless you talk about them. That's why I want to keep sharing. In fact, talking about this dream makes me feel "excited for the first time in a while."

Matsumura: I can feel your excitement.

Torigoe: Additionally, I have another somewhat amusing dream or project, which is "Tori-chan becoming a Bachelor in a year," aiming to find an ideal partner and get married. If there's ever a Bachelor version for people with disabilities, I'd love to be on it (laughs). I think taking on such challenges, even if they seem playful, is very much in line with who I am.

Matsumura: It's very much like you to talk about both grand dreams and humorous ambitions.

Torigoe: Yes. I believe both dreams and projects are connected. Being a cool version of myself and creating a wonderful partnership, by pursuing my dreams, I can become someone else's dream or goal. I want to continue living my life authentically, "living in the now."

5. A Message to the Readers