Match Information
91st Emperor's Cup All Japan Soccer Championship Final Round
FC Tokyo 4-2 SANGA S
It took time for that wound to become a scab and fall off. However, 12 years later, Masato MORISHIGE says.
"That time was necessary"
In the final match of the 2010 J1 League, we lost 0-2 to Kyoto SANGA F.C., confirming our relegation to the J2 League. Right after the match, I said "I'm sorry" in a faint voice, choking on my words. In that first year after joining, I struggled with my condition due to an injury and accumulated unnecessary fouls from the beginning of the season. As a result, I kept receiving cards and frequently disrupted matches. Throughout the year, I was suspended for four matches, which made me acutely aware of the weight of my responsibilities.
It was the team's start date for the following year. When I was stopped in the media area at Kodaira Ground, I spoke as if I had made up my mind.
"Relegation is my responsibility. I think of myself as the worst player of the year. I ruined the match with my mistakes and caused trouble for the team. I need to grow as a person from here on."
That oath was the beginning. It changed the way I approach soccer and set daily goals for myself. I repeat careful preparation and spend each day diligently. "Humans have weak points. How do we fight and overcome them? I have been doing my best internally." It is through the self-discipline cultivated there that I will later achieve success.
Now that I have become a ruggedly handsome man, I reflect on that day like this.
"I think it was a necessary time to pause and organize my soccer life. Without a doubt, my soccer style was developed after that. Including facing soccer as a player, it became an opportunity to think about daily preparations, care, and what is necessary as a player and make it my own. By achieving success, my correctness was also proven, and I gained confidence that I could do it. From there, it became a positive cycle, where achieving results led to setting new goals."
Victory in the Emperor's Cup right after winning the J2 League. And towards the ACL
And now, here is the main topic of this column. A nostalgic match will be held at the renovated sacred place, National. So, I decided to pull out the footage of the Emperor's Cup Final Round from January 1, 2012, and watch it again after a long time.
Aoiaka won the J2 League in 2011 and achieved their ultimate goal of returning to the J1 League. On New Year's Day the following year, they stood on the pitch at the National. Their opponent for the first championship was, coincidentally, Kyoto, the same team they faced in the final match of the previous year when relegation was confirmed.
The Final Round of the first J2 match after the establishment of the J-League is about to begin. I was first surprised by the commentator Kenta HASEGAWA, and I felt nostalgic seeing so many familiar faces in the footage aside from the players. Before the match, the familiar chant of "National~ National~ Our National~♪" echoed from the stands.
In the 13th minute of the first half, we allowed Kyoto to take the lead, creating an unpleasant flow of "Is this how it will be after conceding first?" However, two minutes later, Yasuyuki KONNO equalized from a set piece, quickly bringing the match back to square one.
"It was because we continued to feel regret that even when we fell behind, we were able to bring home the victory without giving in."
Then, after a video of the earthquake information that occurred during the match is shown, the broadcast resumes. Immediately after that, Tatsuya YAZAWA is brought down in the opponent's territory, earning a direct free kick. The distance to the goal is 30 meters. A call for Morishige rises from the stands. Naohiro ISHIKAWA stands next to the ball that has been set, and the two exchange a brief conversation.
"I was good at no-spin shots. I mentioned that it would be easier to kick if it was slightly moved, so I asked if they could nudge it a bit to the right front. Since there was some distance, there was no chance for Nao to aim. So I thought, 'I'll give it a shot, even if it's a gamble.'"
Having turned professional from Hiroshima Minami, he had a strong attachment to the National, which was also the sacred place of high school soccer.
"It wasn't a team that competed for championships nationwide, so it was a place that felt like a dream within a dream. I admired it, but I thought it was a distant existence that was out of reach."
On that dream stage, Morishige swung his right foot vigorously. The bones on the top of his foot are larger than those of others, and "if it hits the protruding part, a knuckleball will fly." The intense strike, described by the commentator as "the ball swerved as if riding on the Morishige call echoing from behind," was sucked into the goal without any spin.
After taking the lead with this super goal, Lucas then pulled away from Kyoto with an impressive two goals. The chants of "Ole" that echoed every time the passes connected, and the many support songs that still linger in my ears. All of it was part of good memories. When the final whistle blew, I exchanged smiles and hugs with my teammates.
"After struggling for two years, not only did we win the J2, but we were also able to win the Emperor's Cup. It was my first title in the Emperor's Cup as well. I'm glad that we could celebrate with the fans and supporters after all the hardships we've been through."
After the awards ceremony, Morishige appeared in the mixed zone and sat down on the stairs after finishing the press interview. When asked, "Did you have that kind of shot?" he smiled and replied, "I did." Perhaps it was because he was able to give a reward to the fans and supporters who felt sad, as it was their first trip to the AFC Champions League (ACL). Relief was evident on his face. I can't forget that expression. When I conveyed this, he said, "You're quite cheeky."
"At that time, we were able to compete against Asian teams not as representatives but as a club in the J-League. I learned how enjoyable and exciting that could be. The players, staff, and fans/supporters all experienced it together. I think that was significant."
The rematch at the National Stadium in 10 years and "Tokyo's current football"
After 10 years, the two teams will face each other at the National. Morishige missed the Gamba Osaka match on April 29, which was the first J1 League match held at the new Japan National Stadium, due to injury. This time, standing on the pitch at the National will be since the Final Round of the 2020 season YBC Levain Cup.
"Tokyo is strong when it comes to festivals. When motivation is high, I've felt that this team is strong for over ten years. I don't know if that's good or bad, but during those important matches or festivals, the winning rate is high."
Twelve years ago, I called myself the one responsible for the relegation to J2, filled with a sense of guilt. I will never forget the throbbing pain of that day's wound. Jokingly, I say that I have been trying to do it without being found out, but I still spend my days with meticulous preparation just like before. With the length of the years accumulated, many memories shared have also increased.
"I grew up in Tokyo. The fans and supporters who have always cheered for me have watched over me in both good times and bad. I feel that it's time to achieve something. I can't just sit back and relax. Showing my fighting spirit as a player will benefit the team and allow those watching to feel something. I don't want to forget that. Additionally, I want to express the football that Tokyo is currently working on."
I'm not the type to openly talk about love. But when asked, I say, "Tokyo love? I have more than anyone else. I've proven that over these 13 years." Furthermore, when pressed with, "Have we become mutually in love?" the answer, "I don't really know..." left an aftertaste filled with, "There are things left undone."
The title of the Emperor's Cup that Morishige won for the first time in his career with Tokyo became a catalyst for opening the path to Asia. There were matches that brought pain and matches that provided salvation. This is how the relationship with the blue and red deepened. The impact of soccer on life is not insignificant. He knows this from personal experience.
So, how is soccer in Tokyo right now?
"I think I want to do more and more, and I believe it's football that I find enjoyable. I'm the kind of person who can't continue if it's not fun. There is happiness in being able to do something enjoyable. But it's not just about having fun. It's fun because we win. I want to continue to prepare well so that I can enjoy it for as long as possible. The ball? I still want to kick it, right?"
Sometimes, I think I created an intimidating atmosphere by getting too absorbed in my daily life and focusing too much on myself. But I've changed. Recently, the words "together" that I hadn't spoken before have started to appear more frequently in my comments. The scars I've accumulated and the scabs that have peeled away are not just one; this is how a 35-year-old thinks about the simple joys of soccer. The phrase "I want to enjoy it for as long as possible" also sounded like it included "with everyone."
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
