It has been a quiet accumulation of time. He has already achieved a total of 438 J1 matches, ranking 16th all-time. With just 12 more matches, he will be close to becoming the 14th player in history to reach 450 J1 matches. By the end of this season, his career in professional football will have reached half of his life. Masato MORISHIGE said, "Time has passed so quickly," reflecting on it.
The 18th year of the professional league coincided with the 30th anniversary of the J-League. A soccer boy who experienced the excitement of the league's inception reflects, "I used to collect player cards and wore training shoes with illustrations of mascots." The popularity of soccer was reignited during the World Cup held in Qatar at the end of last year. The momentum to regain that excitement from back then is definitely rising. As a player nurtured by this league, I express it in these words.
"After the World Cup, the desire to promote the J-League has become stronger. In order for Tokyo to grow bigger, we need to put more effort into increasing our exposure. The J-League feels like a natural part of my daily life because I have played for a long time. However, when I look at it from a broader perspective after the World Cup, I still feel that it hasn't become a part of the culture in this country yet. We need to make it so that wearing a uniform in the city is seen as cool. That's why we must send out various messages from the capital, Tokyo, to energize the league. The players from Tokyo also need to take on the responsibility of enhancing the branding and status of the J-League."
As the opening of that memorable year approaches, the team's longest-serving captain in his 14th year has spent his days unchanged. However, there were also days that were different from the usual.
"The young players and veterans have been communicating more enthusiastically than ever before, and I can say it was a good camp, including the atmosphere of the team. There were many things to learn from the young players, and the young ones were able to learn from those who have been playing in Tokyo until now, so I think there was a good synergy. It's fun to talk to those young players, and they're kind of cute, you know?"
Energetic young players make strong appeals, and in response, veterans showcase their own abilities. This daily routine was repeated in Okinawa and Miyazaki. In the second year of Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's regime, the team aims to maintain a good position established from last season and challenge the continuation and evolution of possession-based positional play. While reviewing the team's evolving challenges and achievements, they also express their sense of progress and areas for improvement.
"It is important to focus on the match in front of us and not make excuses. Because we have an environment where we can share opinions to build this soccer, it is crucial for everyone to face this challenge together without running away in order to win. Everyone shares the desire to win, and players who are not currently on the field will naturally come forward. However, instead of complaining and stepping outside, players who are not on the field should be able to say, 'Alright, let's work hard to get on the field.' I believe that is one of the strengths of our current team."
And before the opening, there was a phrase that remained vividly in my memory, accompanied by a strange sense of discomfort because it was unfamiliar. Morishige certainly said, "I'm excited." Since the COVID-19 pandemic, while there have been limited relaxations of restrictions, cheering with voices has been prohibited in principle. Finally, this will return to normal starting this year.
"I have always loved Tokyo, but I feel like I love it even more now in my 14th year here. It might be because I've been here for so long, but I have a strong attachment. I want to achieve results with this team, and I feel happy to be part of this team more than ever in the last couple of years. The feeling that we exist because of our fans and supporters hasn't changed since the beginning of the pandemic. However, I have forgotten what the atmosphere of vocal support was like. There are players who haven't experienced that. Many players don't know the atmosphere of Tokyo's stadium. Just imagining that atmosphere and the joy of singing 'Yuruneva' together after a win naturally boosts my motivation. I think it will definitely give me goosebumps. I hope the things that have been building up until now explode in a good direction. I think it will feel fresher, and what used to be taken for granted will become a motivation. In that sense, I can only look forward to it, and I'm excited."
That phrase, of course, relates to the big goal. "The only goal we aim for together is the league title." That amazing atmosphere is returning to Ajinomoto. Morishige said, "Of course, it's exciting, right?"
Morishige, in an effort to keep the promise made at Ajinomoto in the 2019 season, has once again expressed his desire to "win" this season without giving up. I learned from my mom's neighbor, a tea-drinking friend, that "a man who doesn't know when to give up is disliked." However, despite being such a stubborn man, the number of people who like him has been increasing year by year. I hope that this man, who has spent half his life as a professional, can prove it to correct those ladies from that day. If you don't give up, your wishes will eventually come true.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
