My respected father, former Chinese national team defender Gao Sheng, once belonged to a rival team across the Tamagawa River and competed fiercely with the King of Tokyo. His son, Takahiro KO, bids farewell to the city of Niigata where he spent three years and will don the blue and red starting next season. The man who wants to win more than anyone else harbors even greater ambitions and has made a significant decision. To take another step, or even two, upwards from here.
Q: Please tell us your honest thoughts when you received the offer from Tokyo.
A, I honestly felt happy. I received an offer early on, spoke directly with the strengthening department, and felt a lot of enthusiasm. I was glad because it is a club with history and tradition in the capital.
Q. What was the deciding factor?
A, it really comes down to passion. I truly felt the desire for me to come to Tokyo. Also, I resonated with the club's goals of winning titles from now on. I want to win titles too, and to reach a higher stage, I felt that this was the right timing to accept this offer.
Q. You were also the vice-captain at Albirex Niigata, so I believe it was a team you felt very strongly about. Was there any change in your feelings that led to the decision to leave?
A, I played for three seasons in Niigata. During many matches, I felt that the club truly helped me grow both as a player and as a person. It is the club I have the deepest attachment to so far, but I also had a desire to change my environment once more, to jump into competition from scratch and grow even more. Although I still feel a bit of sadness now, this is a decision I made myself, and I want to give it my all.
Q. What feelings did you value in making this decision, and what are your plans moving forward?
A, it was a decision to grow one or two more levels from here and become a player with a larger scale. At the timing when I came to that thought, I received an offer from Tokyo, and the club's goals and enthusiasm matched.
Q, please tell us about your strong points.
A, I believe that the ability to take the ball away is my greatest strength. Along with that, I think my predictive skills are also a selling point. When asked what kind of player Takahiro KO is, I believe the first thing to express is the ability to take the ball away. I consider that to be my value and weapon as a player. However, in today's era, defensive midfielders are expected to do many things. A player who can take the ball, connect passes from there, and also move forward. I always want to be a stable and intimidating player for the opponent.
Q, What is the area where you have grown the most during your three years in Niigata?
A, in terms of offense. I believe I have improved in build-up play and constantly being involved with the ball. Not only my self-assessment but also evaluations from others around me often say that I have truly grown.
Q: You played with the captain's armband at Gamba Osaka U-23 and Niigata. How do you want to contribute your leadership and organizational skills?
A, I personally don't think I'm very suited to being a captain (laughs). However, when I was with Gamba Osaka U-23, the coach Tsune-san (Tsuneyasu MIYAMOTO, current Executive Director of the Japan Football Association) gave me the captain's armband, and both Renofa Yamaguchi FC, where I was on loan, and Niigata also gave me the opportunity to play as captain. I don't think I'm suited to being a captain myself, and honestly, I'm not sure if I'm the kind of player who can lead the team. But I do have a really strong desire to grow, to help the team win, and not to lose to the opponent. I keep that in mind during regular practice, and I think that shows in my play.
Q: Since your time at Funabashi Municipal High School, you have been expected to step up from the J3 League to the J1 League. Looking back on your career, how do you perceive your journey?
A, there were many difficult times. Especially after graduating from high school and joining G Osaka, I played for the U-23 team, but it was very tough. My classmates from Ichiritsu Funabashi High School, Daiki SUGIOKA and Teruki HARA, were doing well, and Daiki KANEKO also left Kanagawa University after one year and joined Shonan Bellmare. Each of them was active on the J1 League stage and was also selected for the age-group national teams. While everyone was moving forward, I felt like I was the only one being left behind, and I was frustrated. At G Osaka, I played in just under 20 J1 League matches, but at that time, I really lacked confidence in myself while playing.
I wanted to change myself, so I went on a loan to Yamaguchi, seeking a place to thrive in Niigata, which was in the J2 League at the time. I thought, 'I just have to keep going,' so I felt that I needed to play more matches to improve and truly grow. After coming to Niigata, we won the J2 League last season and were promoted to the J1 League. This season was my first in the J1 League in a while, and compared to my time at G Osaka, I really felt confident that I could complete the season. I believe the results of my continued efforts are showing now.
Q. Please tell us what supported you during difficult times.
A, I cherished the words of Mr. Ryuzo Asaoka, the coach of Ichiritsu Funabashi High School. "Keep working seriously; if you do it seriously, someone will definitely be watching." I was told this, and I had no choice but to do my best with that in mind. Those words are very significant to me.
Q: What impression did you have of Tokyo?
A, I also received coaching from Coach Kenta HASEGAWA (currently the coach of Nagoya Grampus) during my first professional season at G Osaka. The image I have is strongly tied to the season after Kenta became the coach in Tokyo, giving the impression of a fighting team. In recent years, the style of soccer seems to have changed a bit, but there are many outstanding players who represent Japan, and I think it is a major club.
Q. After playing two matches this season, what impression did you get?
A, there is a strong impression that there are many players with strong individual skills in each position. The intensity of play was also high, and this season, Niigata had one draw and one loss against Tokyo, giving the impression that they couldn't secure a win.
Q. Tokyo has been a club undergoing major transformations over the past two seasons. You are about to immerse yourself in that environment, but do you have a desire to enjoy these changes?
A, that is a rewarding and enjoyable part. I believe the style and policy are currently undergoing changes. At this stage, I imagine playing while making the most of my own strengths and past experiences. I want to effectively adjust my strengths to the team's tactics in Tokyo.
Q. Are there any players who left an impression on you during the match or players you would like to talk to?
A, Teruhito NAKAGAWA scored goals in the first half of this season's league. He has won MVP and titles at Yokohama F.Marinos and is a wonderful player who has also been selected for the Japan national team. Teruhito NAKAGAWA also came from Kawasaki Frontale's academy, and since I also played up to junior youth, we have that in common, so I would like to talk with him.
Q. How do you feel about Tokyo's soccer style?
A, we faced each other in the J1 League this season as well, but when you were managing Montedio Yamagata, I really had the impression that it was tough to play against you. The transitions are quick, and rather than a solid defense and quick counterattack style, I think you play a style that keeps possession of the ball relatively well. However, when we faced Tokyo this season, I understood that you were challenging that style, but it also felt a bit congested. When we talked after receiving the offer, you said you want to develop that kind of soccer going forward, and I want to bring out my strengths while moving the ball firmly in that style.
Q: Are there any players currently in Tokyo with whom you have a close relationship?
A, he really isn't here (bitter laugh). Keita YAMASHITA played together with us for half a season in Yamaguchi. I have acquaintances on other teams, but when Tokyo came to Big Swan, I didn't know anyone, so I didn't talk to anyone (laugh).
Q, please tell us about Ko's father. You mentioned the reason you started playing soccer and also named someone you respect; what kind of person are they, and how did you learn soccer from them?
A is the person who taught me soccer and gave me soccer. If you look him up, you will find out that he was a professional soccer player and also played for the Chinese national team. People who knew him back then said he was truly an amazing player. Unfortunately, I never got to see him play live, but when we used to kick the ball together in the park during elementary and middle school, his skills were really impressive. His positions were center back and defensive midfielder, and he was tall and physically strong. His technique was excellent, and coaches who knew my father from back then say he was truly a wonderful player, so I respect him a lot.
Q. Did you discuss the transfer to Tokyo?
A, of course I did. They told me it was great. I heard that during the Fujitsu days, they played against Tokyo Gas, the predecessor of Tokyo, and at that time, they said a foreign player broke their nose (laughs). I’ve forgotten the name though...
Q. Could it be Amaral?
A, yes, that's the player. He was saying that his nose was broken.
Q. How do you feel about wearing the uniform of a club across the Tamagawa River, rather than Kawasaki like your father?
Since I was in Kawasaki's junior youth team, I used to go to Todoroki Stadium to watch the Tamagawa Clasico. It’s a match with a large crowd, and back then I was supporting Kawasaki, so I’m sure I was booing (laughs). However, it’s been many years since I left Kawasaki, and now I want to stand on that stage and compete as a Tokyo player.
Q. This season marks Takashi's own challenge to return to the J1 League, and I believe his football career is finally starting to see the light again. What kind of year do you want to make 2024?
A, in Tokyo, my new home, the environment has changed and the competition starts from scratch. I want to express myself from the start and also take over the position. I want to be at the center, play in many matches, and make my presence felt both offensively and defensively as an individual. I want Tokyo fans, supporters, and J.League opponents to say that Takahiro KO is the defensive midfielder for Tokyo. If that can be achieved, my desire to challenge for the team’s goal of winning the title is strong.
Q. Please tell us your impression of Ajinomoto Stadium and the fans and supporters in Tokyo.
A, even while playing, I felt the fans and supporters were really present, and it was a wonderful atmosphere. I got the impression of the passion from everyone in Tokyo.
Q. Now, please give a message to the fans and supporters in Tokyo.
A, I am very much looking forward to wearing Tokyo's uniform and playing at Ajinomoto Stadium from the 2024 season. I am a player who is very hungry for victory myself, so I want to express that through my play. Please give us your passionate support. Let's fight together!
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
