A striker with infinite potential looks ahead to the future with promotion to the top team
FW 55 Divine OTANI
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?
In the 2024 season, Divine OTANI made a powerful heading shot in Hiroshima, leaving a strong impact. About a season and a half after scoring his first official match goal at the age of 17 while belonging to FC Tokyo U-18, he has officially been promoted to the top team and has begun his professional career. The striker with infinite potential envisions his own career map and the immediate goals he is aiming for.
That man is out of the ordinary──.
Divine OTANI, who holds infinite potential, has opened the door to the professional world. A glimpse of his overwhelming physical ability and talent was proven by the goal he scored in the second leg of the J.League YBC Levain Cup Playoff Round against Sanfrecce Hiroshima two seasons ago.
Such a bottomless striker suddenly realized he had become a professional at a certain moment.
"At that time, I also felt like a customer. But now, I think the way I am seen is different, as a member of the team. Until now, when I participated in the top team's practice, I used the U-18 locker room, but since January this year, I have started using the top team's locker room, and I felt once again that I have become a professional."
Otani, who speaks with fresh awareness and responsibility as a professional, says, "I have no intention of losing to anyone in ball retention up front using my physical strength." With extraordinary jumping ability and speed, he also showed plays during the practice match at the Okinawa Itoman camp that caused murmurs from the stands.
On the other hand, he said, "We need to fix the inconsistency and the ups and downs in our play. Communication is essential to demonstrate my abilities. I'm not particularly good at it, but I want to talk to various people to perform well." He is facing these challenges head-on.
"Top players have fewer ups and downs. I also saw up close how veteran players come earlier than anyone else to stretch. I want to learn those routine works from now on. Also, during the practice match against Vissel Kobe on the last day of camp, Shuichi GONDA gave me advice saying, 'Your movements are big and easy to read, so if you review your shots and make your movements smaller, you'll score more goals.' I want to practice that more."
The career plan envisioned beyond learning and awareness is: "This season, I aim to play in as many matches as possible and ideally secure a starting position from the opening of the 2026/27 season. Eventually, I want to challenge myself overseas."
In the process, the goal is to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in two countries, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, one year from now. There are already rivals from the same generation who have ventured overseas, and he also expresses a strong sense of urgency, saying, "At this rate, I won't be able to go to the U-20 World Cup."
"If I can perform well in the U-20 World Cup, which is my goal, it will naturally lead to the Los Angeles Olympics the following year. I want to shine in Tokyo and first make it there. Tokyo has many wonderful players, but I am confident that my own strengths and weapons will be effective among them. When I feel negative, I can't play well. I believe that if I can always maintain a positive mindset, there will be at least some opportunities."
No one can see the bottom of his potential. To leap from Aoaka to the world, the extraordinary Divine OTANI continues to face his own talent.
When you reach beyond that profound depth, a goal scorer who will astonish the world is born. Such a story of growth is about to begin in blue and red.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
