At first, I used to go back to my hometown of Tokyo, which took two hours one way, during the off season. But when I started to think "this is what Niigata is like" in the cold of the snowy region, I fell in love with that city. 
In 2014, Kei Koizumi joined Albirex Niigata from Kashiwa High School affiliated with Ryutsu Keizai University. He had two options, either going to university or becoming a professional player, but he decided to pursue the latter, saying "I wanted to challenge myself if I could go pro."
"It was my first time living away from home, so I initially felt homesick. It takes about 2 hours one way on the bullet train from Niigata to Tokyo. I would go back home every time I had a break to hang out with my friends from my hometown and high school. But as time passed, I started to like the city of Niigata more and more. Even the cold weather, towards the end, I started to feel like this is what Niigata is like. I lived in the dormitory for 2 years, and then lived alone for another 2 years, but the food was delicious and I also liked the city of Niigata."
At the age of 18, I left my parents' home for the first time and started my career from a place where I knew nothing. Looking back at the four years I spent in Niigata, I can only laugh at my own beginnings.
"Aren't you pumped up? Although I've become more mellow now, when I see young people these days, I think to myself, 'I was wild back then'."
Koizumi scratched his head and continued, "Well, how should I put it?" as he returned the question with a sword in hand.
"Every time we played a game, he was the type of player who would fight with the opponent. Even off the pitch, he was still young. He would often..."
If I had not returned, I would have been sent somewhere else. At that time, I think I was really blessed with great seniors and coaches.
I couldn't help but laugh at the story of such a "great player's great debut match". It was the J1 League Sec. 5 match against Cerezo Osaka on March 29, 2014. Just 10 days before that, he had made his first start in an official match against Tokushima Vortis in the Nabisco Cup Group League Sec. 1 and played the full game. Koizumi, who started on the bench, thought to himself while watching the game, "It doesn't look like I'll get a chance to play today."
As I was getting carried away, my name was suddenly called. I stood on the pitch as a right-side half in place of Atsumi Tanaka in the 15th minute. A few minutes later, a Niigata player was fouled on the left side and got into an argument with the opponent player. Koizumi was too excited and lost control of himself. By the time he realized it, he had run to the opposite side and was biting all the players he saw.
"After that, I was scolded by the Cerezo players. It was such an intense debut match (bitter smile). I still remember it and now I can't even imagine it. I was biting back at players of Japan national team level, saying "Who are you?" Even in my debut match. It was the complete opposite of now, I was just a clueless idiot. Tokyo now also has a lot of young players, but I think they are better than me."
Even though he was a somewhat dangerous player, Niigata's teammates, staff, and supporters warmly welcomed him. He was taken care of and loved by Kenji Kawamata, who said, "He was wild, but I was taken care of." He lived in the dormitory with players of the same generation, such as Musashi Suzuki, Ken Matsubara, Kazuki Kozuka, and Michael James Fitzgerald. "I am truly grateful." He made a smooth start, playing in 26 league games in his first year. However, he was scolded by then coach Masaaki Yanagishita almost every day.
"Maybe it was good that I played with my instincts without thinking about anything after graduating from high school. However, I was scolded every day. I was taught that if I couldn't fight, I couldn't play in the game. I was told a lot of technical things, but it was about the ball and fighting base. The coach said, 'If you can't do the fundamental things, you won't play in the game.' I think that part is still connected to who I am now."
Koizumi, who had just started climbing the professional ladder, was taught the strict etiquette of the competitive world by coach Yanagishita. He also met the players who would later shape himself in Niigata. He said he was amazed when he saw Leo Silva play for the first time. He described his impression at the time as being so shocked.
"It was quite amazing. They often say 'monster', but playing next to them, I realized that they truly are monsters."
I admired the number 8 who worked hard in both attack and defense with a cool face. While looking at him, I gritted my teeth many times during the game, thinking "I can't show a tough face like that at 18, 19 years old."
"He was a very serious person with a good character, and a Brazilian player who was very Japanese-like. If there is someone like this in the same position, I can't miss this opportunity."
Thinking that way, I followed behind him anyway. Every day, I caught a Portuguese interpreter and asked him everything I wanted to know. When talking about Koizumi's current state, Leo Silva became an indispensable player. He had such a big influence.
"The way of stealing the ball is very unique, even in places where ordinary Japanese people would not put their feet, they put their feet out and steal the ball. I was taught that way and consciousness. After that, I was told over and over again how to use my hands. Every time I missed the ball or didn't pick up the second ball, I was scolded."
Leo SILVA, who is a bit mischievous, took the lead in taking care of Koizumi, who is serious about soccer, without making a single unpleasant face.
"I tried to steal everything from Leo. So, I often went out to eat with him, and when I played next to him, I was often scolded. Leo was definitely the one who raised me. If Leo was a player who only played well in games without practicing properly, he might have thought that he only needed to play games. But seeing Leo's figure made me realize that I could perform well in games by working hard in practice. That's why I learned once again that practice is important."
After 3 years together since his debut, Leo SILVA left the team, and the player who learned everything took over the number 8. Koizumi, who said he had "no particular attachment" to the jersey number, only thought so at this time, both before and after.
"I always wanted to wear the number 8. I don't usually think about things like that, but Leo's presence made me feel that way. He was such a big presence for me."
In the 2017 season, wearing the number 8, which was his final year at Niigata, he struggled from the beginning and was relegated to J2 league for the first time since their promotion to J1 league in 2004, without waiting for the final match. For Koizumi, who had also served as vice captain from this year, he said, "There were various conflicts," and continued.
"I have a desire to aim higher, and seeing players of my generation who are in the national team or playing overseas made me hesitate and struggle. That's why I decided to transfer to Kashiwa Reysol."
Even after leaving Niigata, there was a lingering feeling in my heart. Before I knew it, Koizumi was naturally checking the results of every match.
"I struggled to get back up after I made a mistake. At that time, there were also members who were doing it together, so it was complicated or rather, I felt sorry... I also played in the game as a vice captain. There were also games where I wore the captain's armband several times. There were many times when I thought I could have done better, I could have done more."
After transferring to Kashiwa, I also experienced relegation to the J2 league the following season and keenly felt that "life is not that easy". After some time, Niigata won the J2 league in the 2022 season and achieved promotion to the J1 league for the first time in 6 years.
"Even though I had been playing in J2 after being dropped, I still felt a sense of guilt for playing in J1. So, the feeling of relief was bigger than the feeling of happiness."
Koizumi has built up his career and continues to play in Tokyo, his fifth team since Niigata. And on the 29th, he will face his former team for the first time. There are only a few players left from when we played together. However, I know that same passion remains unchanged.
"I still have the impression of Niigata supporters, and I remember when they supported me when I was injured. The region of Niigata is supporting Albirex. The players also felt the presence of the supporters, and I think they will remember me. I am looking forward to showing them how hard I am working when we meet again. It is my responsibility to show them that I am playing well because it is the team where I made my debut. The members who were with me at that time also often mentioned the importance of the supporters when talking about Niigata. I feel the same way."
The joy of creating my own chant for the first time, and the gratitude for those who supported me, remains the same as it was on that day. That's why the words continue.
"I honestly don't know if it's booing or applause. Since I've fallen and transferred, I understand that there are people who don't think highly of me in this world. However, even if I have various thoughts, I think I have no choice but to play for Tokyo when I step onto the pitch. Still, I think there are supporters who are personally cheering for me in Niigata, so I want to show my gratitude to them through my play. I have no choice but to stand on the pitch and do my best."
Celebrating my 10th year as a professional this season. "Looking back, it went by so fast," but "I've also experienced relegation to J2 twice. There were times when I couldn't even make it to the bench or play in matches, and when you calculate the number of games I've played, there are definitely more losses than wins. Looking back on all of that, it may not have turned out exactly as I had imagined." As for what I hope for in the future, it's not that much.
"(Nagatomo) Yuto and (Masato) Morishige are players who can play at the top level until they are 36 or 37 years old, but I am not that kind of player. After turning 30, I can't run as much and have to change my playing style to maintain balance. I don't like that. If that's the case, I think it's better to quit. When you face reality like that, your career can end in the blink of an eye. That's why I want to win more than achieving personal goals. If we win, I can clearly say that the time I couldn't play in games and the time we were relegated were good experiences. If we win, I can't just say it was a good experience. Only when we win can I say those words." 
That's probably why there's no obsession with winning. Koizumi's frequent words, "Honestly, I think it's okay to win," resonate with that.
"What surprised me at first was the passion of the supporters and the strong connection to the local community. It made me realize how amazing being a professional is. Niigata was the place that laid the foundation for me, when I had just graduated high school and didn't know anything."
The "dangerous player" who used to bite on the pitch is now called "Aniki" who doesn't speak. However, there is one thing that he will never give up. He will never admit that he can no longer do what he has cultivated in the first place of his career. "Kei Koizumi who can't run", he says. It was in Niigata where he learned everything.
The reason he runs, which he has accumulated, still moves him. Ever-changing trends――. He firmly discerns what can be changed and what cannot be changed. It is in this way of living that Kei KOIZUMI's masculinity oozes.
Text by Yohhei Baba (Freelance Writer)
