Q: Please tell us your honest thoughts on becoming a professional soccer player.
A, I am honestly happy because it has been my dream since I was little. I am very proud to be able to start my professional soccer career at Tokyo, a club I love and have been supported by since the first year of junior high school.
Q. How was the promotion to the top team communicated to player Kobayashi?
There was a player interview for FC Tokyo U-18, and I was told there that "the promotion has been decided." My mother, who was present at the interview, was also very happy, and I felt a strong passion myself. I have been participating in training with the top team since my first year of high school, and since I had strong feelings about the promotion, I was very happy.
Q: You participated in the top team's camp for two consecutive seasons. How did it feel?
In my first season participating as a high school freshman, I was just desperate to keep up with those around me and could only focus on stopping shots. This season, I had a bit more composure and was able to reflect my own thoughts in my play. Because I participated in the camp for two consecutive seasons, I was able to truly feel my growth. Of course, there were mistakes, but since the camp involves daily practice, I focused on repeating what I couldn't do and playing with my own thinking.
Q. Please tell us the parts where you felt you could compete against professional players and the parts where you felt there was a gap.
A, first of all, I felt that stopping shots was an area where I could hold my own. The top team players have excellent situational judgment and the experience to respond instantly, so I want to gain more experience and grow further.
Q. Was there any player who left a particularly strong impression on you?
A, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA. He is three years older than me and from a close generation, but he showed an overwhelming difference in physical ability and shot-stopping skills, which was very inspiring.
Q: Nozawa was also selected for the Japan national team members who will participate on New Year's Day.
A, I truly think it's wonderful. Since my career path has some similarities with Nozawa's, when I heard that he joined the Japan national team, I strongly felt that I want to keep up and reach that level myself.
Q: Previously, you mentioned being impressed by the "posture" of Yuto NAGATOMO and Kuryu MATSUKI.
A, Nagatomo was very aware of the whole team, and when the team's atmosphere was not good, he raised his voice and lifted the overall mood to the point where each person around him had a positive attitude, which was surprising. Matsuki was already interacting normally with professional players even in his first year after high school, and he was competitive in terms of play, so he left a strong impression.
Q: Please tell us about the characteristics of your play and your selling points.
A, I am good at dynamic play. I excel in shot-stopping, handling high balls, and dealing with crosses, so I want you to pay attention to these areas.
Q. Please tell us what inspired you to become a goalkeeper.
A, I was originally tall, so I played as a goalkeeper in casual soccer games. When someone took a shot and I saved it, seeing the opponent get frustrated made me feel, "Being a keeper is fun." Later, encouraged by my coach, I started playing as a goalkeeper seriously around the time I moved from 4th to 5th grade in elementary school. I really enjoyed stopping shots. At first, it was painful and scary, but gradually those feelings disappeared, and I came to enjoy the thrill of saving shots.
Q. What kind of image did you originally have of Tokyo?
A, I have been watching Tokyo's matches since I was in elementary school, and on my days off, I went to Ajinomoto Stadium many times with my friends. Of course, at that time, I never thought I would play for Tokyo, and I thought, "This club is far from me."
Q, Looking back now, how would you describe the three years you spent at FC Tokyo U-15 Musashi during your junior high school days?
A, I was blessed with very good members. My same-age teammate Keisuke NAKAMURA (Shizuoka Gakuen High School) and the seniors were all great, and everyone was a good rival. Playing with everyone for three years laid the foundation for me as a goalkeeper.
Q: What is your relationship with player Nakamura, who was mentioned?
A is a close friend and a rival. Just because we get along well doesn't mean we are complacent; when playing soccer, we compete with each other, give each other advice, share various things including the goalkeeper's way of thinking, and have grown together through mutual improvement.
Q: With Nakamura choosing Verdy as his path after graduating high school, I can't help but expect a new "story" to unfold.
A, that's right. With Verdy's return to J1, I want to quickly show everyone me and Nakamura playing on the J1 stage, and I want to work hard and grow so that I can reach that level as soon as possible.
Q: What was the three years spent at FC Tokyo U-18 during your high school days like for you, Kobayashi?
In the U-18 category, the level of goalkeepers was also very high. There were players one year older like Sota NISHIYAMA and Nanase NORO, two years older like Yu KASHIMA, and one year younger like Wataru GOTO. I was especially conscious of my peer Asahi SAITO. In the first half of my third year, I was allowed to play in matches ahead of SAITO and GOTO, so I felt a great sense of responsibility. SAITO is also a very good goalkeeper and the player I respect the most. GOTO excels in shot-stopping ability and kicking power, so just like in U-15 Musashi, I believe I was able to improve my skills and abilities as a goalkeeper in an environment with excellent human relationships.
Q: This season, with the long-term absence of captain Daichi Okazaki, I think there were many opportunities to wear the captain's armband. What kind of position were you aware of?
When player Okazaki was sidelined for a long time, I decided to unite the team and lead it until Okazaki returned. It was my first time taking on the role of captain, and there were times when I didn't know what to do, but since I'm not bad at communicating, I aimed to steer the team in a positive direction by talking both on and off the pitch.
Q: This summer, during the club youth championship, the team became the national runner-up, but I believe Kobayashi had a hard time getting playing opportunities. What kind of experience did that tournament provide for you?
A, it was the first national tournament in my generation, and while it was very enjoyable, it was also the most frustrating tournament at the same time. Of course, I wanted to play in the matches and lead the team to victory, but under the judgment of Coach Takashi OKUHARA, I was on the bench and thought about "doing everything I can even if I start on the bench and how to steer the team in a positive direction" and "how to help the team win." Especially regarding encouraging others and the roles I performed on the bench, I can say I did everything I could in this tournament, so I have no regrets. As a player, I didn't get to play in the matches, so while I'm happy we won, my desire to "play in the matches" was strong.
Q: The goalkeeper is the only position that can have one player on the pitch. How do you think this season's experience will benefit you going forward?
I believe that not being able to play in matches for A and U-18 is not a negative thing at all, but rather a positive one. I felt that not playing in matches does not mean I am not growing. Even in the top team, I might not get many opportunities to play at first, but I want to gain experience while getting used to the professional pace, and keep striving every day with the mindset to always aim for a starting position.
Q: What are your goals for your first season as a professional?
A, Tokyo's goalkeepers are highly skilled, so I think about how I can express myself, absorb the good qualities of my seniors, and want to get involved in matches. From the first season, I aim to steadily compete for a position.
Q: What kind of place can you imagine reaching as a football player?
A, the other day, Nozawa was selected for the Japan national team, and seeing that made me even more determined to join the Japan national team. I also understand that I need to perform well in Tokyo to achieve that. I want to give my all to make an impression from the training camp onward.
Q: What kind of play do you imagine yourself doing at Ajinomoto Stadium with fans and supporters present?
A, I dream of saving the team with my specialty in shot-stopping and making a guts pose.
Q: Many fans and supporters come to the FC Tokyo U-18 matches, and I always have the impression that they provide passionate support.
A, despite being supported by the Premier League all along, felt responsible for not being able to win easily. While we ourselves wanted to somehow meet the expectations of our fans and supporters, the source of our strength to strive for victory was everyone's cheers. Especially at the national summer tournament, it was precisely because the fans and supporters were cheering for us that we were able to achieve that result, and we are very grateful.
Q: Finally, please give a message to the fans and supporters of Tokyo.
A, not only to the fans and supporters who have been cheering for me until now, but also to everyone who will support me as I join the top team, I will do my best to showcase my specialty in shot-stopping in official matches of the top team and show that I can help the team win. Please cheer for me.
Text by Masashi Tsuchiya (Football Writer)
