When I hear FC Tokyo U-18, many scenes come to mind.
What comes to mind is Kentaro SHIGEMATSU (currently of Gainare Tottori).
The striker, who exuded the fierce atmosphere of a tiger aiming solely for goals, openly expressed dissatisfaction with a decision made during a match and was about to confront the referee. Teammates desperately tried to intervene. From the bench, coach Hisao KURAMATA (at the time) shouted words of admonition, while supporters cried out in near screams, "Kentaro! Stop it!" Of course, this behavior may not have been considered acceptable, but reflecting on it now, that overflowing energy seemed to fully meet the qualities needed to become a professional soccer player.
What comes to mind is Kento HASHIMOTO (currently at SD Huesca/Spain). Originally a forward, he was converted to a defensive midfielder during his second year of high school. In the midfield, he had powerful "seniors" like Yoshinori MUTO (currently at Vissel Kobe) and Yoji SASAKI (currently at Kataller Toyama), and he fully utilized his ability to win the ball, quickly securing a regular spot. While contributing as a key player to two national runner-up finishes in the Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Youth and the J Youth Cup, he grew into one of the top defensive midfielders of his generation. Later, he also challenged himself as a center-back at Roasso Kumamoto, but his attitude of facing the current environment with sincerity and full effort can certainly be said to be suited for a professional soccer player.
What comes to mind is Rei HIRAKAWA (currently of Roasso Kumamoto). It was during a match forced to endure poor pitch conditions. While his teammates struggled with the ball, he effortlessly controlled it as if magnets were attached to his cleats, repeating his usual performance. It's a bit of an old story, but it reminded me of Hidetoshi TAKEDA, who, during the era of coach Philippe Troussier, was the only one calmly competing against world-class opponents in a match where the Japan national team suffered a complete defeat to the French team on a muddy pitch. Although he couldn't achieve the desired results in Tokyo, he has been thriving like a fish in water since joining Kumamoto on a full transfer last season. In other words, he undoubtedly possesses the solid technique to survive in this world as a professional soccer player.
In the 2023 season in Tokyo, there are 10 players from the academy. Additionally, this spring, Soma ANZAI, who is from U-15 Fukagawa and currently attending Waseda University, has been confirmed for the 2025 season, bringing the total number to one more.
The management vision that the club has set for this season is 'Tokyo is Exciting.' As a football club based in the capital, it declares that it will become an entertainment choice for the people of Tokyo. This determination and commitment are being demonstrated both internally and externally.
The current U-18 coach, Takashi OKUHARA, is the first player to wear the number 10 for Tokyo. The history that the blue and red have followed perfectly overlaps with the path this man has walked. His words, as a legend who is now nurturing young talent with both kindness and strictness, left a deep impression.
"After all, in this capital, since the slogan 'A team that excites Tokyo' has emerged, we are considering how to embody that even in the U-18. The fans want to support that team and invest in it, so simply saying 'I will do my best' may not be enough to continue as a part of Tokyo. For example, there are players who can attract fans with their dedicated presence, and there are players who can draw fans in with incredible acrobatic shots. I think figuring out how to make players who can get fans to buy uniforms is going to be a significant part of the new path the club is taking."
The memories mentioned at the beginning are directly connected to "what kind of appearance can attract customers." If it's Shigematsu, it's the energy filled with aggressiveness. If it's Hashimoto, it's the straightforwardness to accept the environment in front of him. And if it's Hirakawa, it's the unbelievable technique. This is also equal to the essence of what weapons a professional soccer player will use to live on.
Conversely, I believe that the academy graduates who are currently making a name for themselves in the top team have undoubtedly had some 'something' that hinted at them being able to get their uniforms since their high school days, and experiencing the process of that being unleashed has been a great asset for me.
Kashif BANGNAGANDE's left-footed kick was outstanding. However, I remember that his overly gentle personality sometimes worked against him, and there were periods when he couldn't unleash his hidden potential. When he became a senior in the U-18 team, the then-coach Tadashi NAKAMURA appointed him as captain.
Around May of that year, when I spoke to him, he said with a downcast expression, "I don't really seem like a captain within the team, and I'm still not very used to it." Even so, while playing in J3 with the U-23 team, he managed to fulfill the role of a captain, which didn't suit him, and by the end of the season, it was clear that he carried a more defined confidence, evident from his presence on the pitch, and his level of play had certainly improved.
Now he has climbed up to the Japan national team, but the cute smile he shows at times has not changed at all since high school. For example, the noticeable hairstyles like cornrows and silver hair must be putting pressure on himself. I can't help but look forward to how far this kind-hearted lefty will soar from now on.
Naoki KUMATA had an aura that suggested he was about to do something remarkable. However, during his time in the U-18, those around him struggled to fully grasp his character, and even when he occasionally played in matches, he did not achieve visible results. In his second year, he started in a match against Aomori Yamada High School, which had won three championships at the high school level, but he ended the game without leaving any impact, experiencing an indescribable humiliation himself.
As we approached the promotion to the third year, Kumada, whom we saw during the spring expedition to Gunma, was clearly undergoing some changes. When I shared my impressions with Coach Okahara, he revealed, "He's still walking a tightrope, so there’s a chance he might not be here next week due to the competition. A lot happened this week, but he didn’t shy away from practice and made it to this weekend's match."
The details are unclear. However, Kumada on that day did not run away and said, 'I made it to this match.' The numbers he left in the 2022 season of the PREMIST EAST, which started a month later, were 19 goals in 19 matches. Among those was an incredible overhead kick. He also gained the trust of his teammates, and it seemed that he shared emotions with them much more frequently. Given his extremely shy personality, it is easy to imagine that he may not yet be fully expressing himself even in the top team, but if he can overcome that barrier, he will likely continue to score goals in the professional world in no time.
In order for Tokyo to embody 'Tokyo's Enthusiasm', it is essential for players from the academy to become 'players who can have their uniforms bought'. Not to mention Shuto ABE, who scored in the Tamagawa Classico at the Japan National Stadium, Tsubasa TERAYAMA and Kanta DOI, who experienced being captains during their U-18 days, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA and Seiji KIMURA, who have gained experience at other clubs, Leon NOZAWA, and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, whose dribbling skills are becoming recognized, as well as Renta HIGASHI, who is likely facing the challenges of turning professional, are all keenly aiming for their breakthrough moment.
The talent that is supposed to proudly carry the blue and red is steadily budding in Kodaira. There is no doubt that it is the privilege of the supporters to watch over the time needed for them to bloom the beautiful flowers of their own that they already possess in the professional world.
Text by Masashi Tsuchiya (Football Writer)
