Q: What led to your decision to transfer?
I was very attracted to Tokyo. I thought I could grow again by coming here, and I decided to take on the challenge.
Q: What was your impression of Tokyo from the outside?
A, their counterattacks are extremely powerful. We played against them in the opening match, and they have solid defense and can work hard. I think they are a team with very high individual abilities.
Q, I think the part where I grew up in Kawasaki was very significant.
It was one and a half years in A, but I was able to grow a lot, and it was more intense than just one and a half years. Without exaggeration, it was one and a half years deeper than what I learned in my entire soccer life, and it was a time that changed my life.
Q: Conversely, has the learning you gained made you more eager to apply it in matches?
A, I had confidence that I was truly growing, but during that time, I was frustrated for a long time because I couldn't seize the opportunities for myself. Then, I received a wonderful opportunity from Tokyo, and my strong desire to take on the challenge led me to decide to transfer.
Q: I think you are a player who can handle various positions, but where do you want to compete?
I want to compete as an anchor or inside half.
Q: In the competition for positions, there are players like Aoki and Higashi as anchors. What points can you emphasize to stand out compared to them?
A, not losing in one-on-one battles, taking the lead in the midfield as the central player, and utilizing physical strength and power are important. However, I have not been able to score goals or produce visible results in matches so far, so I want to be able to do that here in Tokyo.
Q: What would you like to be called by fans and supporters?
A, please use "Kouki".
Q: You chose the number 35. Is there a reason for that?
A, I have a family LINE group, and when I asked there which jersey number would be good, my younger sister said "Saikou" (meaning "the best"), so I decided on number 35.
Q: You mentioned that moving the ball is your strength. Does that mean you are confident in your ball control?
A, earlier I said that the past year and a half has been more intense than most of my football life, and truly, I have spent that much time with the ball and have worked hard. There are still areas I can refine further, but I am confident.
Q: Was there anything you felt you needed to learn after joining the training in Tokyo?
Regarding positioning, all teams are particular about this aspect. The coach mentioned that it is very important to decide where to stand by observing the opponent, so I was constantly thinking about this during today's practice. I believe there are also expectations from the coach, so I hope to carefully listen and coordinate well with those requirements.
Q: What is the atmosphere like in Tokyo?
A, it has a very welcoming and homely atmosphere that makes it easy to fit in. Even during today's practice, whenever there was good play from the whole team, everyone would get excited together, creating a strong sense of unity within the team, which I thought was really great.
Q: Please tell us your enthusiasm for Tokyo again.
The reason I decided to come to Tokyo is to be able to combine my strengths with the growth I have achieved so far, so I want to firmly take on that challenge.
