──1You signed a professional contract ahead of schedule. What are your thoughts on that?
The first thing I feel strongly is gratitude. I am very thankful to the Waseda University staff and my peers who accepted my desire to take on the challenge a year earlier, and I am also grateful to FC Tokyo for creating this system.
──How do you feel? Are you excited or feeling pressure?
Of course, I don't know what will happen in the future, but I have made up my mind and decided in my own way, so I am excited. I have the determination to give it my all.
──I believe that the background of this decision is the experience of having played on the pitch as a specially designated player last season.
Without a doubt, if it weren't for those four matches, this decision would not have been made. Even as a student, I was allowed to step onto a professional pitch and gained an invaluable experience. It’s not just about the level, but also the fact that so many fans and supporters were there, and each player was so intense — I had rarely experienced matches with that kind of tension. Experiencing the atmosphere of that stadium made me strongly want to compete here more.
──When did you specifically start to feel that way?
Last season, I was allowed to do rehabilitation for my injury at Kodaira Ground continuously. Although I couldn't participate in practice, I experienced daily life in a professional environment, and by being at this level of daily life, I realized I could grow. I began to think that I wanted to compete here next season. However, at that time, I was a player for Waseda University's soccer club, and my feelings for Waseda never disappeared. Even so, after returning from injury, I truly fought for Waseda until the very end aiming for promotion to Division 1 of the Kanto University League, but that did not come true. When comparing fighting in Division 2 next season and competing in Tokyo, I consulted with various people including my parents, organized my feelings and made up my mind. At first, I spoke with Waseda, and then I spoke with Tokyo.
──Was it the biggest decision of your life?
It's outstanding. Since I rarely made decisions on my own when I was little, I think this is the biggest decision I've made in my life.
──During my junior youth days, I was part of FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa, but is it correct to say that I have "returned to Tokyo"?
To be honest, I neither felt "I absolutely want to return to Tokyo" nor "I dislike Tokyo." I was thinking about it in a neutral way. However, after participating in the camp, I decided considering that the environment here is wonderful and (geographically) it allows me to balance with Waseda. That was my initial feeling, but when I actually joined, I started to feel like I had "come back." I believe I have stronger feelings for this club than other players, and since this club has really taken care of me, I want to give back. When I was in junior high school, I visited Ajinomoto many times, so the moment I stood on the pitch in the Levain Cup match against Gamba Osaka was a special feeling.
──There is also Kuryu MATSUKI, who is a junior from Aomori Yamada High School.
I'm not as concerned as people around me say (laughs). But, although we have time off, we've been working together for two years and understand each other well. In the professional league, Kuse has much more experience, so he is a reliable presence. Well, I think you can tell just by looking at our usual relationship, it's such a flat relationship that I sometimes feel like the junior (laughs). Of course, I have strong feelings about it, so I would be happy if we could stand on the pitch and fight together.
──Finally, the first year of the professional season begins.
I believe I have fresh energy, so I hope to boost the team's momentum in the competitive aspects. My strength lies in running and fighting for the team, so I want to actively contribute to matches by showing my strengths, such as covering for teammates when they are struggling. Last season, I had injuries, so my goal this season is to be involved in matches as much as possible and to fight through the entire season.
──The right side is a battleground with many rivals for both wingers and full-backs.
There are many players worthy of respect, but I believe there are plays that only I can do and express, so I think the most important thing is to appeal through that differentiation. If I appeal in the same way as other players, I won't be able to compete, so I want to showcase my own uniqueness.
──It means making the path you chose the right one.
I think that's exactly right. I chose to go to Aomori Yamada High School and Waseda University on my own, but those decisions were not as significant as this one. There were no opposing opinions, and it ended with my own resolve. However, this time, the decision involved Tokyo as well, and there were people inconvenienced by my quitting the Waseda University Association Football Club midway. There were many opposing opinions. I think that is only natural. That is why I believe I must prove that this choice was the right one.
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golazo)
