July 22 Report
The ninth day of the Hokkaido Shiraoi camp was the first day off given during this camp.
They spent their time in various ways, such as strolling around the Shiraoi Town area, savoring gourmet dishes like fresh seafood and meat and vegetables nurtured by the rich land, or resting at the hotel, each enjoying their time as they wished.
Enjoying the northern land to the fullest and recharging their energy, the team enters the final phase of preparation for the 2026/27 season opener during the remaining three days of the camp.
CAMP VOICE vol.9 Kento HASHIMOTO Player
Q. How do you feel about the progress and challenges of the camp?
A. My condition has been steadily improving, and I have been able to play for a reasonable amount of time in matches. I believe the team has also been building up from the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League, and since there are new things that Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI is asking for, we are currently trying to tackle those.
Q. In the camp's first match against Montedio Yamagata, you also became the starting point for a goal.
A. Since the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Concept League, how to make the most of the left wing's strengths has been one of the major themes for me as the partner. In attack, it is essential to utilize the left wing's qualities, while in defense, the hierarchical relationship is reversed. In the recent practice match against Yamagata, I believe we found one answer, or rather, one correct approach on how to make the most of it.
Q. Are you also feeling a sense of progress regarding the defensive challenges?
A, I believe that as the level rises, more will be demanded. It is also possible that the matches will become more intense, so there are many things that can only be accumulated through actual games. Head Coach Tokizaki has been saying since practice, "Let's pay attention to the details," so I think it will be required to see how well we can defend when the game becomes severe in actual matches.
Q. By increasing the intensity of the high press, differentiating it from the middle block, and building up the details, it seems like the defense will become even more solid.
A, I believe everyone can do it. When it comes to defense, habits become a source of strength. There aren’t many special tactics or surprising methods that catch the opponent off guard in defense. Rather, the fundamental principles are what matter: the goal is in the center, preventing crosses reduces the risk of conceding goals, and winning the ball high up the pitch creates scoring opportunities. These fundamental principles are largely fixed, so it comes down to each player’s awareness, individual ability, and the team’s organizational strength being put to the test. Although there were some goals conceded in the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Concept League, the impression was that they were quite few, and we have reviewed the patterns of conceding goals in meetings. I think it’s necessary to be conscious of this starting from practice.
Q. During the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League period, you were competing for your position with Yuto NAGATOMO. How did you feel about the time you spent then?
A, it was definitely special. As time gradually passed, I found myself accepting that position and situation, and it started to feel normal. However, watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup and seeing Nagatomo standing on that stage and playing, I realized I had been competing against an incredible person, and I also felt a strong sense of my own growth through that experience. I believe Nagatomo dedicated four years for those 15 minutes he played in the match against Sweden. I learned that even after dedicating four years, you might only get 15 minutes on the field or lose in the round of 32—there is a harsh world above. I only knew Nagatomo during the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League period, but by having even a slight glimpse into his actions and way of thinking, I felt deeply that those four years built up for that 15 minutes ended fleetingly, which made me reflect a lot.
I realized that there is a world two or three levels above just playing matches for FC Tokyo. I joined this team with the goal of playing matches for Tokyo and winning the league. I am not satisfied with anything yet, but I strongly felt that if I don’t look beyond that, I will just become a player stuck at that level.
Q, With that in mind, please tell us about your aspirations for this season.
A, first and foremost, I will absolutely win the league. Focusing solely on winning, I know that a long season will have its ups and downs. To become a team worthy of the championship, I want to first avoid injuries and maintain my position throughout the entire year. Moreover, I aim to achieve far better results and performance than in the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League, and not just be a player valued only by my teammates, but become the kind of player that other clubs say, 'Tokyo’s left-back is really good.'
FOCUS ON – Photo of the Day –
'FOCUS ON' selects one photo taken by the official photographer.
On the 9th day of the camp, we selected a photo capturing Yukinori YAMAKAWA, the team equipment manager, and Takuya SATO from the equipment staff working at the lodging.
Behind the scenes staff work tirelessly day and night to ensure that players and staff can spend their time comfortably. Their tasks are diverse, including preparing the training ground, managing equipment, and sorting daily laundry.
Putting love into each and every task, they are spending careful and dedicated days even in Hokkaido Shiraoi Town, their first-ever training camp location.
