Returning to Aoaka with experience and confidence from the J3 League
A major challenge chosen for growth
DF 50 Renta HIGASHI
Introducing all the Blue-Red warriors participating in the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League 2026 season in 'PLAYERS FILE 2026.' What kind of thoughts do the players hold, and with what determination are they preparing to face the special half-season tournament and the year ahead?
Renta HIGASHI, who played 12 matches for Giravanz Kitakyushu and gained confidence as a center back, has returned to the Red and Blue from a development-type loan transfer. He faces the fierce competition for positions and takes on the challenge to foster his own growth. After recovering from a serious injury and improving his condition, he is determined to continue his football career on his own feet once again.
After being promoted to the top team at FC Tokyo, the greatest hardship was the rupture of the left anterior cruciate ligament and damage to the left knee posterolateral corner support structure. After a long absence of the left leg, he returned in August 2024, and during the process of improving his condition in actual matches, he decided on a development-type loan transfer to Giravanz Kitakyushu. "It's a challenge to gain match experience. I chose it myself," said Renta HIGASHI without hesitation.
The battle in the Meiji Yasuda J3 League, returning after two seasons since playing for SC Sagamihara in the 2023 season. There were completely different trends compared to the J1 League, and there was much to learn from the battles on a stage that could be called a different world.
"Soccer is completely different in the J1 League, J2 League, and J3 League. I think J1 has moments where the pace calms down a bit, but J3 really has a very fast pace. The transition from attack to defense when receiving a counterattack is quick and aggressive, so I thought J3 might be the most interesting for the fans to watch. There are also many long balls and more physical battles, so it's a completely different league from J1."
For Higashi, who desires competition as a center back, the J3 League, where the final line is often exposed to the opponent's attacks while being numerically disadvantaged, became a true place of "training." "Compared to the J1 League, the number of times we are attacked is incredibly high. Each time, we have to continue to respond in the best way possible, so I felt it was very difficult," he said, while also expressing confidence, "Dealing with long balls is my strength, so I was able to show quite a difference there." He grew through the physically demanding matches in the J3 League and returned to Kodaira.
There is no doubt that he has gained confidence. While he has returned to Tokyo, some may think it would be better to continue gaining experience in Kitakyushu. However, he decided that absorbing the strengths of players like Masato MORISHIGE and Alexander SCHOLZ in their environment was also necessary for his growth. Rather than continuing the same kind of training, he resolved to adopt a different perspective. That was the determination behind his return to the Red and Blue.
"I don't know if this choice was the right one. But I want to get involved in matches even a little in Tokyo and take a starting spot from the strong players. Achieving even one of those things would be a huge confidence boost. I made this choice as a challenge for growth."
In the practice match at the Okinawa Itoman camp, the energetic young players caught the eye, and Higashi was one of them. "I am desperately trying to make an impression," he said, looking forward, with a flushed face from sweating, and a sparkling gaze full of passion for soccer.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Masaru Goto (Freelance Writer)
