The first chapter of his soccer career quietly came to an end when he was left out of the Japan national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia tournament. Even so, until 24 hours before the first match against Colombia, where player replacements due to injury were possible, he continued running alone at Kodaira Ground. It was a fitting closure, characteristic of his dedicated pursuit.
And in the 2019 season of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, which marked the beginning of the second chapter, they came closer than ever to winning the championship. He vowed this on the podium where he scored his first goal of the season.
"Let's win the championship!"
A man's goals and dreams are pared down as he ages, and he no longer desires much. Only that remains, and he continues to pursue it even now.
"I just want to experience winning the championship."
If you support the red and blue, you should know him. The name of such a stubborn man, and the turbulent career of Masato MORISHIGE, who continues to stand on the pitch of Ajinomoto Stadium as an active player even past the age of 39──.
"I don't ask for anything else. Tokyo winning the league championship is the ultimate goal, and there are various things that need to be done for that. But there's no need to put such detailed matters into words. I want to win the championship. That's all. However, it's no good if only I think that way, and we must have players worthy of that goal. If each person demonstrates their strength within their respective roles, the championship will naturally come into view."
Even though we wished for it, it had never been achieved until now. However, with the transition to the autumn-spring season and the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League, we have come closer to the pledge made that day.
"Putting aside things like the half-season or the regulations of this tournament, I have always wanted Tokyo to be competing for the championship, to keep winning, and to have this kind of atmosphere and scenery. I have always believed that Tokyo must be that way. The team is starting to become worthy of that. Since I have often watched from the outside this season, I have been thinking even more that Tokyo has to be like this."
However, it was not myself who led the team maintaining good form. Sei MUROYA and Kento HASHIMOTO, who competed for the championship together 7 years ago, returned from Europe. As new leaders, they have been supporting the blue and red in this tournament.
"Without a doubt, they are the core of the current team. Without those two, we wouldn't be able to compete for the championship. They gained experience at FC Tokyo when they were young, saw various scenes overseas and with the national team, and then returned to Tokyo. Watching them again, I realize that experience is essential to winning the championship."
Furthermore, Alexander SCHOLZ joined last June to take the long-held position of center back. Younger rivals such as Hayato Inamura, who aims to "defeat Morishige," and Rio OMORI have also emerged. The squad is filled with talented players, and this special tournament has seen him spending days warming the bench since the opening. Additionally, on March 4th during practice, he suffered a left hamstring muscle tear and temporarily had to leave the front line.
"Scholz, Ina, and Rio are also good players, so while watching the match, I re-recognized their strengths, and in that moment, I had the feeling of 'I want to be like them,' but then I got injured. Since then, I focused more on my rehabilitation than on frustration, and at the same time, the team had been in good condition for a long time, so I wasn't in a big hurry. On the contrary, if the team's condition had been bad, I think I would have been more anxious."
The team steadily accumulated points during Morishige's absence and has been competing for the top spot in the Regional League Ground EAST Group with last season's league champions Kashima Antlers.
When I recovered from the injury and returned to the lineup, frustration began to well up inside me. Adding fuel to that small fire, it flared up fiercely with a blaze.
"The desire to play in matches has strongly emerged. After all, I am a player who has grown through competition, and I have believed that this has been a factor that has elevated me. At this age, a fire has been reignited within me. Instead of using my age as an excuse and giving up, a competitive spirit has emerged to make up for it once again. I feel very fortunate to be in such an environment now."
Waiting for the right time, never stopping. Just like that day──.
On April 24, in Sec. 12 against Mito Hollyhock, he was on the bench and made his first appearance of the season as a substitute from the 43rd minute of the second half. Amid a series of must-win matches, the team lost 0-3 in Sec. 15 against JEF United Ichihara Chiba. As the gap to the top-ranked Kashima widened, in the crucial match against Verdy that followed, coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI entrusted the defensive restructuring to the player wearing number 3.
"Everything clicked perfectly, both emotionally and physically. That's why there was no anxiety."
The first start of the season was against Tokyo V. However, there was "no surprise" at the intensity filling Ajinomoto Stadium or the fierce battles for the ball. More than that, Morishige was even more fired up, and next to him was a uniquely passionate presence in Japan. He spoke with his usual dimple on his cheek.
"The passion to channel the frustration of the past six months, and the feeling of 'Let's do this' together with Yuto NAGATOMO upon returning. There was someone even more passionate than that match on my left side, and having been exposed to even greater passion, I was not surprised. Standing on the pitch, I once again felt the joy of playing in a match. It's all about getting on the field. You never know the result until you try. But once the match started, I was determined, and no matter the outcome, I had confidence that if I did what I was supposed to do, it would be fine. From the outside, I knew that Tokyo is not a team to suffer consecutive losses, so in a way, I was able to approach it calmly."
In the 10th minute, he delivered a long feed with his left foot to Nagatomo running up the left side, and in the 35th minute, he caused a stir in the stadium with his signature kick feint.
In the 4th minute of the second half, from a direct free kick on the left side, he threatened the goal with a header from a cross by Ryunosuke SATO. He showed characteristic plays throughout and, after giving his all in what he needed to do, passed the baton to Inamura in the 41st minute of the same half.
At the moment when Motoki NAGAKURA's dramatic goal was scored in the second half's additional time with the score tied at 1-1, Morishige also jumped out from the bench and was the last to join the circle of joy formed behind the home goal.
"As expected, it's Mikiki, haha. He really comes through. I was reminded once again that he is a wonderful player."
With 2 matches remaining, the point difference with Kashima is 4. We are hanging by a thread. Come to think of it, it was the same in the 2019 season. In Sec. 32 against Shonan Bellmare, in the 4th minute of second-half additional time with a likely defeat at 0-1, Morishige's dramatic goal kept the hope alive.
"It was the same in the 2019 season, but dropping even one match puts us in a very tough situation. In the battle for the championship, the last five matches or so are indispensable. It is important that the possibility remains until the very end, and that we compete for the title until the last moment. Most of the members who experienced that are no longer here, but during this half-season championship fight, when we look back, that moment will stand out as a turning point. No matter which way it goes, there are things you can only gain by competing for the championship. We don’t know the outcome yet, but this experience will definitely become an asset for the club. For the last two matches, it will depend on others, but if we can do our best and then wait, that would be ideal."
In the 21st professional season, there are still unseen sights. However, that picture is drawn clearly without any haze. It is said to be a grand finale climbing to the summit, standing on the same pitch as the red and blue number 10 who has not had playing opportunities so far this season.
"Of course, in the end, I believe that guy will come through. Keigo HIGASHI, Yuto, and I are all lumped together and seen as 'old men.' Among us, Keigo and I have known each other the longest. We've been through good times together and supported each other through tough situations. Including Keigo's personality, his straightforward feelings toward soccer, and his demeanor, I really want to lift the trophy with just the two of us. I want Yuto to go to the World Cup and send us a photo of him raising that trophy."
Even if I envision it that way, I know better than anyone that "life is surprisingly unfair." The career of a competitor who hates losing, wearing blue and red, is approaching the countdown to its final act. Our relationship has reached its 17th year, counting carefully on my fingers. With the length of time, the number of stories we've shared has also increased. Most of them are a history filled with bitter defeats. I've seen many times the figure pounding their fist on the pitch in frustration and trembling with anger.
Even so, no matter if someone laughs at me for being stubborn, I have bitten my lip, lifted my heavy body, and continued to take a fighting stance. Because that is the way of life of the man we all know well, Masato MORISHIGE.
So, that's it. The smile of a handsome man with a hint of bitterness and the phrase "Let's win the championship" are now echoing deeply in my heart, repeating over and over.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
