Q. Could you please tell us how you currently feel about returning to FC Tokyo, where you started your professional career?
A, by a fortunate connection, I have been appointed as the Global Business Strategy Advisor for FC Tokyo this time. After being involved as a JFA/J.League Special Designated Player since the 2008 season and playing in Tokyo for about 9 years, I transferred to Vissel Kobe, Sagan Tosu, and Yokohama FC. Currently, I am the coach of Auckland United FC's U-23 and U-17 teams in New Zealand.
Although Japan and New Zealand are far apart, I feel a connection in being able to work again with everyone at FC Tokyo, where I started my professional career, in a role different from that of a soccer player. I am excited and also a bit nervous about how I can contribute to the club, what kind of chemistry I can create, and what I can do differently from the players.
Q. Having experienced many clubs, what kind of club is FC Tokyo to you, Mr. Takahashi?
A, I have strong feelings for each club I have been a part of, but FC Tokyo is where I started my professional career. It began with participating in practice during my student days, and even after practice, I spent a lot of time at Kodaira Ground talking extensively with the club's business staff about the club, myself, and the club's direction. Not only on the pitch but also off the pitch, I had deep experiences with many people including club staff, players, the development department, business staff, local community members, and government officials. It feels like a family-like bond at the core of my heart, an inseparable presence.
Q. What image do you have of the role of Global Business Strategy Advisor, and what do you want to accomplish in this role?
There are two main points. The first is inbound. As the number of foreign tourists visiting Tokyo continues to increase, I want to support enhancing the club's revenue, value, and appeal by having them watch FC Tokyo matches and become fans and supporters. Living in New Zealand gives me a unique perspective to convey the differences in Japanese values and culture, and I hope to help promote the greatness of Japan to the world. Currently, meetings are mainly held online, but when I return to Japan, I want to participate directly in events and meetings to engage more deeply.
The second point is international exchange. I want to serve as a bridge between the children I coach in New Zealand and the players of FC Tokyo's academy. I believe that by having the serious and perceptive Japanese children interact with overseas children who clearly express their thoughts and have rich emotional expressions, they can stimulate and learn from each other. I also have experience from a previous Japan tour with Auckland United FC, where we played a practice match against FC Tokyo's academy. Building on that, I want to create memorable international exchange opportunities for young players from both countries.
Q. Specifically, what do you think can be done regarding inbound?
A, although it has only been a short time since my appointment, I believe it is essential to devise ways to firmly convey FC Tokyo's value and appeal in English. I want to consider what kind of exposure methods are most suitable. The word 'Tokyo' has a higher global recognition than people living in Tokyo might think. Living in New Zealand, the image of Japan is strongly associated with 'Tokyo,' and I want to leverage that name value to concretely advance efforts that enrich and expand FC Tokyo's value.
Q. What is the image of FC Tokyo from overseas?
A, I live in New Zealand, and as a premise, professional Japanese clubs are not very well known, and the reality is that very few people know about FC Tokyo. Rugby remains deeply popular in New Zealand, but in recent years, interest in soccer has also been growing. However, due to historical ties with the UK, many children support the Premier League, and when asked "Which team do you support?", names like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United come up. Among these, awareness of the Japanese professional league and FC Tokyo is still low, so I hope it becomes recognized not only in New Zealand but also in various regions such as Asia, Europe, Oceania, and South America.
Q. What are the attractions of soccer and the country in the New Zealand and Australia regions?
A, First, people are very easygoing and don't worry about small things, so they don't pay much attention to such details. They clearly express what they think, but there are no hard feelings afterward. The culture of forgiving others or switching to a "it can't be helped" mindset is very attractive. Also, they highly value time with family and have a clear distinction between work and personal time.
New Zealand is a country of immigrants, where people of diverse nationalities coexist. In children's classes, there are various nationalities such as Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Chilean, and Korean. Within this, there is a culture of accepting diversity and living cooperatively. In terms of soccer, the quickness, ball control, and game-reading ability that Japanese players possess stand out here, so I think it is an environment where they are easily recognized as football players.
Q. Mr. Takahashi, what is your impression of the current FC Tokyo in terms of football?
A, I watched the last home game of last season live. Although the match did not have a significant impact on the standings, the second half saw an increase in attempts toward the goal, allowing us to enjoy an open style of play. For fans and supporters, last season might have been frustrating as the team could not reach the top ranks again. However, this season, under the management of Rikizo MATSUHASHI, the number of times involved in goal-scoring opportunities and the number of runs into the penalty area have increased, making it quite exciting, I feel.
Q. You played together with Masato MORISHIGE, Yuto NAGATOMO, and Keigo HIGASHI, who are still on the team now, right?
Nagatomo played together with me since the special designation in the 2008 season, and we also played together on the Japan national team afterward. Morishige is the same age as me, and we have played together for a long time. I also remember talking about winning titles, and I consider him a good rival. Higashi also wears the number 10, and I feel that FC Tokyo remains strong because of these three. Seeing the veteran players working hard was very encouraging for me, even as someone who was a player until last season. Additionally, I played with Kim Seung-gyu in Kobe, and goalkeeper coach Shota YAMASHITA was my university classmate. Including the members of the strengthening department, there are still many familiar people.
Q, Please give a message to the fans and supporters who are happy about Mr. Takahashi's return.
A, Saying 'I'm home' is a bit embarrassing... but I am truly happy to be able to be involved once again with the club, fans, and supporters who have taken care of me like this. From my inexperienced student days, I was supported by many people, received encouragement and constructive criticism, and had various experiences that have shaped who I am today and also became the reason I challenged myself in New Zealand.
The experience of learning from others and conveying that knowledge to people has led to my second career as a coach. Being able to be involved with FC Tokyo in a new role different from that of a player or coach is truly a matter of fate. What I once thought "It would be nice to be involved someday" has come true, and I feel deeply moved by life once again. Although I have not yet accomplished anything significant, I am happy to be able to be involved again like this.
Q. When you return to Japan, will you also do commentary (Mr. Takahide) again?
If given the opportunity, I will provide honest and straightforward comments (laughs).
