Promotion to the top team achieved by a comeback
Rewriting the history of the blue and red with a hungry spirit
MF 38 Kio TANAKA
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?
Kio TANAKA, who has been attending Kodaira Ground from FC Tokyo Soccer School Advanced Class and grew up in the blue and red, has achieved his long-cherished promotion to the top team starting this season. The journey turned out to be unexpectedly tough, and while tormented by a sense of crisis, he worked hard to grow and won the "ticket to the natural grass field" in a dramatic comeback. His intense hungry spirit is worth seeing.
On April 19, 2025, FC Tokyo U-18 held their first official match ever at Ajinomoto Stadium. It was the JFA U-18 Soccer Premier League 2025 EAST Sec. 3, where the Blue-Red faced off against Ichiritsu Funabashi High School at their "home ground."
"Next, let's fight together here at Ajinomoto as professionals." Responding to the banner with this message, Kio TANAKA, who scored two goals in this memorable match, has been officially promoted to the top team starting this season. He is set to step onto the coveted natural grass pitch located just across a narrow passage from the artificial turf pitch in Kodaira.
He was not called to the top team's Okinawa camp held before last season's opening, and used that frustration as motivation to build his reputation in the U-18 team, leading to a later comeback promotion. He had been optimistic, thinking he would be called to Okinawa, but was faced with harsh reality, and with about half a year left until July, when the decision on promotion to the top team would be made. He was tormented by a sense of crisis, feeling "this is bad as it is."
However, misfortune turned into fortune. This proved successful. Now, doing what I can do — as a result of simply organizing my way of thinking, I was entrusted with the attacking midfielder position and scored 7 goals in the Premier League. "I create chances and I finish them. That pattern has become stable," he says. Being pushed to the limit helped establish his playing style.
Even after securing promotion to the top team in the summer, Tanaka did not let his guard down. On October 26, in a practice match against Tochigi City, Tanaka, who came on as a substitute in the second half, scored a valuable goal to equalize from a 0-1 deficit. Struggling against Tochigi City's quick transitions between offense and defense, the young and fresh FC Tokyo U-18 players, including Tanaka, showed agility that matched their opponents and pushed the game to a point just one step away from turning it around.
However, after the match, Tanaka's expression was stern as he sat on the balcony at the clubhouse.
"It was good that I was able to score, but what I was really focused on was scoring another goal after that to turn the game around. That is what I regret. After equalizing, I should have immediately taken control of the ball with the mindset of 'Let's go for one more goal,' involving those around me. I've been reflecting on this ever since the game ended."
Even in 2026, when he was welcomed as a member of the top team, Tanaka's expression was firm. As he said, "I just have to make a huge impression at the camp," he delivered on his words during a practice match at the Okinawa Itoman camp. In the season's first training match against Nagoya Grampus, he came on in the third period when the team was down by two goals overall and scored a goal to make a mark in a short playing time. That fighting spirit was reminiscent of the match against Tochigi.G City.
"A desire for goals stronger than anyone else's. I want you to see the attitude and play heading towards the goal." That feeling overturns the disadvantage.
It might be this bundle of hungry spirit that rewrites the history of blue and red.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Masaru Goto (Freelance Writer)
