When you hear FC Tokyo U-18, many scenes come to mind.
What I remember is the figure of Kentaro SHIGEMATSU (currently Gainare Tottori).
The striker, who exuded a fierce tiger-like atmosphere that only aimed for goals, was a high school student. He showed his dissatisfaction with the decision made in a certain game and almost attacked the referee. His teammates desperately tried to stop him. From the bench, coach Hisao KURAMATA (at the time) shouted words of advice, and from the supporters, a voice that sounded like a scream, "Kentaro! Stop it!" could be heard. Of course, his actions may not have been considered appropriate, but looking back now, that overflowing energy was more than enough to become a professional soccer player.
The image that comes to mind is that of Kento HASHIMOTO (currently playing for SD Huesca in Spain). He was originally a forward, but was converted to a defensive midfielder during his second year of high school. Despite having strong "senior" players in the midfield such as Yoshinori MUTO (currently playing for Vissel Kobe) and Yoji SASAKI (currently playing for Kataller Toyama), he was able to fully utilize his ability to win the ball and quickly secure a regular position. As he contributed to two national runner-up titles in the Prince Takamado Cup All Japan Youth Tournament and the J Youth Cup, he grew into one of the top defensive midfielders in his generation. He later also challenged himself as a center back for Roasso Kumamoto, but his attitude of facing the current environment with all his might is truly suited for a professional soccer player.
The memory that comes to mind is the figure of Rei HIRAKAWA (currently Roasso Kumamoto). It was during a certain match where we were forced to play on a terrible pitch condition. While his teammates were struggling to handle the ball, he effortlessly controlled the ball as if it were magnetically attached to his spikes, and repeated his usual performance. It may be an old story, but it was like Hidetoshi TAKEDA during the time of Philippe TROUSSIER as the coach of the Japan national team, who calmly held his own against the French national team on a muddy field and suffered a complete defeat. He may not have achieved the desired results in Tokyo, but since joining Kumamoto on a full transfer last season, he has been moving like a fish in water. In other words, he definitely had the skills to survive in this world as a professional soccer player.
In the 2023 season, there are 10 players from the academy in Tokyo. In addition, this spring, Soma ANZAI, who is from U-15 Fukagawa and currently studying at Waseda University, has been confirmed to join the 2025 season, increasing the number by one more.
The management vision that the club has set for this season is "Tokyo is on fire." As a soccer club based in the capital, we declare that we will become an entertainment chosen by the people of Tokyo. We are showing our determination and resolve both internally and externally.
Takashi OKUHARA, who currently leads the U-18 team, was the first number 10 in Tokyo. The history that the blue and red have followed overlaps perfectly with the path this man has walked. As a legend, Okuhara now gently but firmly nurtures young talent, and his words are deeply impressive.
"Now that the slogan 'to create a team that will excite Tokyo' has come out in this capital, we are thinking about how to embody that in the U-18 team. The fans want to support that team and invest in it, so just saying 'I will do my best' might make it difficult to be a part of Tokyo in the future. For example, there are players who can call in fans with their devoted attitude, and there are players who can call in fans with their amazing acrobatic shots. In the new path that the club is moving forward, I think it will become a very important element for us to figure out how to make players that can 'get fans to buy their uniforms'."
The memories mentioned at the beginning are directly related to "what kind of appearance can attract customers". If it's Rene, it's full of aggressiveness and energy. If it's Hashimoto, it's the openness to accept the environment in front of you. And if it's Hirakawa, it's the unbelievable technique. It is also equal to the root of what weapons to live as a professional soccer player.
Looking back, I think the "something" that will undoubtedly allow academy graduates to buy their uniforms is something that has been hidden since high school, and I feel that I have experienced the process of unleashing it, which is a great asset to me.
Kashif BANGNAGANDE was known for his exceptional left foot kick. However, his gentle personality sometimes backfired and there were times when he couldn't unleash his hidden potential. I remember when he became a senior in the U-18 team, coach Tadashi NAKAMURA at the time appointed him as captain.
Around May of that year, when I asked him about it, he said with a downcast expression, "I don't really feel like a captain on the team, and I'm still not used to it." I still remember that scene well. However, by serving as captain, which was not his usual role, while also playing for the U-23 team in J3, he had gained a clearer sense of confidence by the end of the season. This could be seen from his posture on the pitch, and his level of play had definitely improved.
Now, he has climbed up to the Japan national team, but his cute smile that he shows from time to time has not changed at all since his high school days. For example, his eye-catching hairstyles such as cornrows and silver hair are probably putting pressure on himself. I can't help but look forward to how far this kind-hearted lefty will leap in the future.
Naoki KUMATA had an atmosphere that seemed to cause something to happen. However, in the U-18, those around him couldn't quite grasp his character, and even when he occasionally played in games, he couldn't produce visible results. In his second year, he started in a game against Aomori Yamada High School, who had won the high school age triple crown, but he couldn't leave any impact and ended up experiencing an indescribable humiliation.
Kumada, who was about to advance to his third year, clearly seemed to be changing during the spring Gunma expedition. When I told Coach Okuhara about my impression, he revealed, "He's still walking on a tightrope, so there may not be him next week. There were various things happening this week in the midst of competition. Despite that, he didn't run away from practice and made it to this weekend's game."
Details are uncertain. However, on that day, Kumada did not run away and said, "I made it to this game." The numbers he left behind in the 2022 Premier League EAST, which started a month later, were 19 goals in 19 games. Among them is a ridiculous overhead kick goal. He also gained the trust of his teammates and it seemed that he shared emotions with his teammates more often. From his extremely shy personality, it is easy to imagine that he has not yet been able to fully express himself even in the top team, but if he overcomes that barrier, he will quickly continue to score goals in the professional world.
In order for Tokyo to embody the passion of "Tokyo is Enthusiastic", it is an absolute condition for academy-trained players to become "players who can buy uniforms". Shuto ABE, who also scored a goal in the Tama River Clasico at the Japan National Stadium, as well as Tsubasa TERAYAMA and Kanta DOI, who have experienced being captain in the U-18 age group, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA and Seiji KIMURA, who have gained experience at other clubs, Leon NOZAWA, who is gaining recognition for his dribbling skills, and Renta HIGASHI, who is likely facing the challenge of becoming a professional, are all eagerly awaiting their breakthrough moment.
The talent that should proudly carry the blue and red is steadily blooming in the land of Odaira. There is no doubt that it is the privilege of supporters to watch over the time needed for them to make the beautiful flower of "something of their own" that they already possess bloom in the professional world.
Text by Masashi Tsuchiya (Football Writer)
