Growing up in blue and red since elementary school. The center-back, who is expected to be the future of the club, has been promoted from FC Tokyo U-18 to the top team. In the 2024 season, although still belonging to U-18, he is registered as a second player and made his top team debut in the Emperor's Cup in June. He felt a strong sense of responsibility to fight in the blue and red uniform at Ajinomoto Stadium. Shuto NAGANO expressed his desire to compete for a starting position from his first year in the top team. We spoke with the young defender about his journey to promotion and his current feelings as he aims to challenge from Asia to the world wearing the national flag.
──Congratulations on your promotion to the top team. First, please tell us how you felt when you heard the good news.
Thank you very much. I was honestly very happy. I have thought that it is not easy to rise to the top team at a club in Tokyo. I have truly worked hard aiming to become a professional as a dream until now, so I was really happy.
I have been going to Kodaira since I was in elementary school.
Since the 5th grade of elementary school, I have been practicing as a member of the club in the Kodaira course of the FC Tokyo Soccer School Advanced Class. I was truly nurtured by the academy for a long time, so I am really happy to have been able to turn professional with this club.
──I was in the same Advanced Class as Ryunosuke SATO back then.
That's right. The U-15 team was divided into Musashi and Fukagawa, but being able to play soccer professionally together with players who have practiced together since elementary school is truly moving.
──Including your self-introduction, what kind of player do you think you are?
A characteristic is aggressively going to win the ball in one-on-one situations, and I believe that is a weapon that I won't lose to others.
──When I heard from the staff involved during his academy days, they mentioned that he had said he "liked defense" since elementary school. Such players are quite rare, so those who coached him at the time were impressed.
Normally, people tend to focus on players who are good at attacking, but I enjoyed taking the ball away from skilled players. I have played by devising ways to steal the ball myself. The moment when I actually managed to take the ball by thinking like that was the most enjoyable moment for me.
──I heard that you also attended the Japan School of Boca Juniors (Argentina).
I attended Boca's school continuously from around the third grade of elementary school until I graduated from elementary school. There, I learned various things such as the intense style of play and defensive techniques typical of Argentina, and I feel that the skills I acquired there are still useful to me now.
──At that time, I also heard stories that people actually went to Argentina.
When I moved up from 5th to 6th grade in elementary school, I had the opportunity to actually go to Argentina through Boca's project and play soccer with Boca players of the same age and players from other Argentine teams locally. Experiencing the intensity of South American play and the soccer environment firsthand at such a young age was truly a valuable experience. I was also able to watch a match at Boca's top team's stadium and feel the passion for soccer. I still vividly remember the scene where fans, supporters, and all the players united and got excited together.
──Did you experience "La Bombonera (the home stadium of Boca Juniors)"?
It was truly amazing. I still remember it vividly. Fans and supporters were climbing the fences, and smoke from flares was billowing everywhere. Boca scored about three goals, and no joke, the stadium was shaking. The rumbling was so intense that everyone, regardless of their seat location, was genuinely joyful and ecstatic. I got goosebumps all over my body.
──That original experience is... amazing.
This was a project where we went as a team from Boca's Japan School, with considerations for the environment and safety, and since the players I usually train with were also going, my parents told me, "You should give it a try." I believe that my liking for intense play was influenced, at least in part, by the valuable experiences I had in Argentina. At the Japan School, we received direct coaching from local coaches, so their coaching methods were different from those of Japanese coaches, with a unique overseas approach that passionately spoke to the players themselves. It might have been a bit different from others. It was a special experience. The mindset for competition was something we were taught from practice, and even now, I always play with a strong awareness of competition and a determination to never lose.
──What was the time like during the 6 years of middle and high school wearing blue and red?
I feel that I have grown a lot over these six years. I don't think I was an outstanding player when I was in elementary school, and even at FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa, where there were many skilled players around me, I was not at all like them. Since my elementary school team was not very strong, joining Fukagawa was the first time I realized the standards around me, and from there, I believe I was able to improve by competing and striving alongside those talented players.
──Do you have any memories from your three years in junior high school?
At Fukagawa, I believe I was developed as a person not only in terms of play but also in important aspects such as diet. In soccer, when I was in the 3rd grade, I consciously tried to lead those around me, but until then, I was not very good at speaking out. I think that is one area where I was able to grow thanks to the guidance of Coach Masato OTA.
──Please tell us if there is anything that has left an impression since FC Tokyo U-18's promotion.
Since entering high school, I believe things beyond my expectations happened one after another. I was able to play in matches immediately after moving up to U-18, and for the first time, I was called up to the age-group national team. In terms of encounters, I learned a lot from Mr. Takashi Okuhara, and practicing every day with Kanta DOI, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, Naoki KUMATA (currently on a developmental loan to Iwaki FC), and Renta HIGASHI (on a developmental loan to Giravanz Kitakyushu starting from the 2025 season), who are all active professionals, greatly contributed to my personal growth.
──When I was a first-year high school student, I was playing with a very strong-willed third-year student.
Well, yes. At first, I was a bit nervous (laughs). But as I practiced together and got to play in matches, I think I was able to gain recognition from those around me. Also, the third-year students kindly spoke to me, which helped me fit in well.
Are there players you aim for in the top team?
Player Doi has always played together with me, and since our positions are close, he is a senior I truly respect. When I was a first-year high school student, I was always watching his play and was able to learn a lot. Although he can be a bit absent-minded off the pitch (laughs). He is very kind and was also a senior who was really easy to talk to, so I am very grateful.
──At FC Tokyo U-18, while we were making steady progress, I experienced a significant injury last year. Given that I was someone who could have easily been promoted alongside player Sato last summer, I must have been carrying some regret.
To be honest, during my second year of high school, I continuously suffered injuries and felt that I was somewhat falling behind players like Sato and other peers of the same age, so I honestly felt very frustrated. However, I also believe there were things I gained precisely because of those injuries. During the rehabilitation period, I was able to focus properly on building my body, so in that sense, it was a meaningful time.
──Next season, battles await from the AFC U-20 Asian Cup to the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Beyond that, there is also the Los Angeles Olympics. As one who experienced disappointment at last year's FIFA U-17 World Cup after returning from injury, I believe there is a desire to seek revenge on the world.
1A year ago, I experienced the most frustrating moment of my life, and I truly want to return to this stage. Next season, that opportunity will come again, but first, I need to make an impression in the professional world; it won't be easy to reach that point. Therefore, I want to focus on how much I can appeal within the team. As we move into the Olympic generation, it will become a place where only players who excel in the top level of the J1 League or overseas leagues will be selected. For me, it depends on how early I can play as a central player in Tokyo. I want to approach it with the mindset of competing for a starting position from my first year.
──The factor that helped me recover from what can be said to be the most frustrating experience of my life.
To be honest, the presence of my teammates was very important. I was feeling down for a while, but they encouraged me half-jokingly and treated me with a bright attitude when I was feeling low, which really saved me.
──In the final year of the academy, this season has been a life of moving between the top team and U-18. What have you gained from that experience?
Participating in practice with the top team was truly a special experience. It was a completely different environment from the U-18 team, with many high-level players, and even a single practice session offered a lot to learn. Those moments were precious and became truly wonderful times for me.
──In the 2nd Round of the Emperor's Cup held in June, I made my top debut in the match against V-Varen Nagasaki. How did you feel the moment you stepped onto the pitch?
I was really nervous. When I played in the match, I felt, "This is the world of professionals," but at the same time, I also felt, "I want to play on this pitch more," so I thought I have to work even harder.
──It was my top team debut at Ajinomoto Stadium. The view from the stands and the view from the pitch were completely different.
As a professional member, I once again felt the responsibility that comes with standing on the pitch at Ajinomoto Stadium, supported by fans and supporters. When I was cheering from the stadium seats, I always wanted the team to win no matter what, so wearing the blue and red uniform means I must always fight with all my might. I deeply felt the responsibility of standing on the pitch.
──Starting next season, I will have to compete for positions with Masato MORISHIGE and players like Dohi, who is also a senior from the academy. What are your thoughts on that competition?
1Just because it's my first year doesn't mean I can passively follow someone else; I believe that if I spend my time like that, I will end up wasting a year. I want to show proactivity regardless of the age difference with my seniors, and I want to play actively from before the season starts so that I can be recognized by the coach, staff, and my teammates. However, I understand that even if I perform well in practice, there may be times when I can't play in the matches or things don't go as I wish, which is part of the professional world. Honestly, I do feel anxious, but I am very excited about how much I can achieve in that environment and how I can turn the situation around when I can't play.
Four players from the same graduating class, including Sato, have been promoted to the top team. In the future, there will likely be players who meet again as professionals after going through university. What kind of presence do those teammates have?
I believe I wouldn't be who I am today without the members I have played with so far. We have challenged and inspired each other while working together in Tokyo. I want to play soccer together again, and I hope we can reunite in this professional world someday.
──Finally, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
I want to demonstrate my strengths in one-on-one duels and build-up play so that fans and supporters can recognize me. To become a central player for this team, effort is essential. I will do my best to compete firmly in the professional world from now on. Thank you for your support.
♢Shuto NAGANO Profile
Date of Birth: April 15, 2006
Height/Weight: 182cm/77kg
Hometown: Nerima, Tokyo
Career: FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa → FC Tokyo U-18
Representative history: U-16 Japan national team, U-17 Japan national team, U-18 Japan national team
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
