Q: Tokyo won the Levain Cup title in the 2020 season. Nagatomo also contributed to winning the same title in the 2009 season. What impact does winning a title have on the team?
A, of course, I think the confidence was significant. We believe we can do it. However, that confidence also needs to be built up; otherwise, we cannot grow as a team or as a club. Gaining even one victory can bring confidence, but it is only through accumulation that true confidence takes root in the team.
Q: I believe there was a tradition and confidence in accumulating titles at the club while playing for Inter Milan. Did you feel that while playing?
A, a team that has always been victorious and a club with a tradition of consistently winning titles has a certain confidence. This confidence is not just among the players but also includes the staff. They are always aiming higher. That’s why they can be strict, and I felt that too. Therefore, I believe we must continue to win and build upon our successes.
Q: Of course, we are aiming for the league title, but Tokyo has also won titles in cup competitions such as the Levain Cup and the Emperor's Cup. Is it important to continue this momentum?
A, of course, winning the league title is important, and I believe its impact is significant, but I think there are things that can only be gained by continuing to win titles, including cup competitions.
Q: This season in the Levain Cup, young players are getting opportunities to play. Do they also need to have the awareness that they are responsible for winning titles, not just for their growth?
AI believe that young players gain opportunities to play and grow in that way, and by gaining confidence, competition within the team is created. In any form, everything leads to the growth of the team and I think it will become an asset for Tokyo.
Q: What are your impressions of the young players who will carry the future of Tokyo?
A, Kuryu MATSUKI, who joined this season, is also a good player.Of course, I hope he plays in Tokyo for a long time, but I think there are also aspirations to play overseas and grow as a player. However, I believe that having a strong desire to grow and playing with that mindset can also serve as motivation.
Q: I think there are cases where players, like Nagatomo, gain experience overseas and then return to contribute back to Tokyo.
A, I think that kind of thing is a wonderful cycle, and it's ideal to have an attachment to the team Tokyo, to pass on the experiences of Tokyo from our youth and the experiences gained abroad to the younger generation, who in turn are inspired and grow.
Q: What is the atmosphere like among the current young players?
A, I think it's okay to be more aggressive. By coming at it actively, you also receive energy and a fighting spirit in return. It's not just about the younger players being aggressive; we also need to be aggressive ourselves. I believe that true strength in a team is born from mutual confrontation. There may be a tendency to try to do things smartly, but I think it's fine to be rough around the edges when you're young. However, you need to have that fighting spirit. It's difficult to develop that later on if you don't have it from the start. A player who can't do it in their 20s won't be able to suddenly have it in their 30s. I hope to see that expressed on the pitch.
