There is a special time with the singers of the Blue and Red song.
The armband on my left arm and the number 10 on my back, which I was entrusted with from this year, feel a bit heavy.
However, the moment I hear 'You’ll never walk alone,' I feel like 'I am not alone.'
Beyond the time of dreams――.
Keigo HIGASHI and the Tokyo family move in step, continuing to walk together.
Aiming for the first J1 League championship.
A Touchstone to Confirm Our Resolve
Keigo HIGASHI's football career can probably be divided into two parts. Until last year was the first half, and from this year onward is supposed to be the second half. He has been showing such dramatic changes.
Perhaps it was inevitable. Before the start of this season, he was appointed as the successor to the number 10 jersey by Yohei KAJIYAMA, who retired at the end of last season, and was entrusted with the captain's armband by manager Kenta HASEGAWA. Taking on two heavy responsibilities at once, Higashi said, "Honestly, it's heavy," and continued.
"I have... a lot of anxiety (laughs). But I want to keep growing together with this team. I hope that becomes a positive pressure. Killing two birds with one stone? I hope so."
When asked about the duties he must fulfill as captain and the new number 10, he said, "If I say I want to change FC Tokyo, that's a bit different," pausing for a moment. "What is it..." He scratched his head, then nodded and said, "I want to make Tokyo stronger. I want to win in Tokyo. Yes, that's it, after all."
Entering his seventh year with the club, he had become the second longest-serving player after Masato MORISHIGE.
"There are only a few players left who were members when I joined this team. In that sense, I think the players who remain here have strong feelings."
Fixing his wandering gaze on a single point, he spoke of only one goal. This is surely proof that he has firmly inherited the feelings of predecessors who left halfway through their ambitions.
"There’s no choice but to win the league now. When familiar players like Naotake HANYU and Naohiro ISHIKAWA retired, I seriously started thinking, ‘What if I end like this?’ I thought I would regret it. I don’t want to finish without winning any titles and never having played a single match for the Japan national team. Just like I was, feelings are passed on. The stronger our feelings are now, the more the players who join later will be pulled along and share the same feelings."
Starting this season with the desire to "win," the team steadily accumulated victories from the J1 League opening and was leading at the top after the 25th round. Ahead lies an unprecedented title race. There are of course anxieties. In fact, only the manager, Kotaro OMORI, Daiki NIWA, Oh Jeseok, and Yojiro TAKAHAGI have experience winning the league in the team.
That’s why Higashi felt the need for a touchstone to test the strength of the determination to win, something to throw himself against or rub against. He asked the fans and supporters for that. That idea was absolutely right. Every time he hears “that song” after a match, it makes him think, “More and more,” “Not yet.”
"When we win and listen to Yuruneba, it makes me want to try harder again. I want to stand there again, sing together more. Seeing that scene makes even the players not in the lineup think, ‘I want to stand there too.’ I think it’s a time when feelings rise that much."
The Captain's Secret "Scheme"
The truth is, we still don't quite understand what obstacles stand in the way of winning the championship. Going forward, we might face pressures we've never felt before, or come to know fear. However, as a visible barrier, we are currently forced to contend with an unprecedented irregular schedule.
Due to the Rugby World Cup 2019 Japan tournament, after the Sec. 23 J1 League match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on August 17, we will leave our home ground, Ajinomoto Stadium, for about three months. From there, eight away games will follow.
"Because there are many unknowns, we all have to overcome them together. Truly, the cheers from fans and supporters give us strength, and I believe being at the top is thanks to them. I want as many fans and supporters as possible to come to the away games as well."
Whether at home or away, the now routine 'beginning,' 'middle,' and 'end' firmly exist. Even on away grounds, the group of blue and red fans gathered behind the goal welcomes us with the Yuruneva chorus, and the players respond by seizing victory. Then, together, we 'walk with hope,' gathering energy for the next challenge.
"Every time we get closer to the championship, I think it becomes energy multiplied many times over. As it spreads more, it should become a grand chorus throughout the entire stadium. I hope this becomes a new history and takes deeper root. I want children to sing it too. Someday, I hope it will be recognized as equal to Tokyo by anyone who hears it."
About half a year has passed since he was appointed captain, and it has become a familiar sight to see him leading the team onto the pitch. He is 29 years old this year. The second half of his football career, now past the midpoint, has become more vibrant. The passion and sincerity in the words recorded in the interview notes have increased day by day. He continues to grow even more fond of football and FC Tokyo.
"In these six months, I’ve had more opportunities to talk with younger players, and sometimes I struggle with how to communicate. I still can’t say anything too authoritative. If I don’t lead from the front, I won’t be able to say what I want to say. For that reason, I have to firmly show the 'now.' No matter how much past achievement you have, words from a player who neglects the present won’t resonate with anyone. It’s tough because there’s more to think about, but if that leads to growth, I have to keep doing it."
There’s nothing like sharing a plan you’ve come up with to create a sense of camaraderie. If you’re going to do something interesting, it’s boring to do it alone—you have to do it together with everyone. That’s also what makes FC Tokyo unique.
And the captain has a secret "scheme."
"When we win the championship, I will definitely pull Kenta to that place. He'll probably say, 'I'm fine,' (bitter laugh). But that's the captain's job."
◇Keigo HIGASHI Profile
text by Kohei Baba
photo by Kenichi Arai, Masahito Sasaki
