It has been 10 years since I first pointed a recorder at Keigo HIGASHI.
At that time, in 2012, he wore the number 10 at the London Olympics and contributed to reaching the Semifinal Round, enjoying a smooth sailing career.
"I wonder if I will join the Japan national team and eventually go overseas."
I believed that without a doubt. It was during such a time that I decided to transfer from Omiya Ardija to FC Tokyo for the second time in my career.
Since the 2013 season, he has worn the blue and red and has been one of the players I have heard many stories about. However, although it has become a laughing matter now, he was initially very cautious and often spoke softly during interviews. At that time, he may have intentionally tried to appear tough.
"The media, the people around me, everything seemed like an enemy. Maybe I was just that sharp, even though it wasn't true (bitter smile)"
Perhaps that's why, even now when I tell jokes loudly, there remains a trace of the delicate essence from those days. Over the past decade, a lot has changed. People might call that growth.
In May of the year he transferred, he was first selected for the Japan national team. However, he did not get to play in that match, and his career became distant from the national team thereafter.
In August of the 2014 season, he suffered a long-term injury for the first time after turning professional, a muscle strain in his right thigh. The diagnosis indicated a recovery period of about 6 to 8 weeks. Although he made his return as scheduled two months later, he continued to come off the bench for the remainder of the season, having lost his starting position.
"For the first time, I thought this isn't going to work as it is."
At that time, I was stopped by Bruno Conca, who was the coach back then, saying, "Can I have a moment?"
"Keigo works so hard during the matches, why doesn't he put in the same effort during daily practice?"
I was struck in a painful spot, and I was at a loss for words. Since that day, I have tried to change the way I spend my days.
Originally, I wasn't the type to be interested in people. However, when I took my hands out of my pockets and started walking, the scenery changed. The surroundings were filled with living textbooks. Considering past examples, I added what was lacking and the necessary skills.
It was the Okinawa Kunigami camp for the following 2016 season. During the interview that started with the question, "Is it okay to do this while walking?", I heard those words in a loud voice that couldn't be drowned out by the sound of the waves.
"Watch me, I face soccer with all my strength every day."
The vow from that day still continues. Furthermore, encounters with good understanding individuals will further accelerate that growth.
The first match under Coach Klamovski is a clash against his "mentor" and "comrade"
In the 2018 season, when Kenta HASEGAWA was appointed as the coach of Tokyo, Hayato HASEGAWA was placed at the center of the team.
Although not flashy and rather appearing plain, he is highly regarded by his teammates. He makes few mistakes and handles difficult plays with ease. Since the 'full effort declaration,' he has not held back in practice at all. You cannot truly appreciate his skills and dedication without kicking the ball with him.
The discerning commander did not overlook it.
"I thought Kei was a more selfish player when viewed from the outside, but that was not the case at all. When you see him up close, you can really understand why he wore the number 10 for the youth national team. He's a good player."
After being highly evaluated by Coach Hasegawa, he was given the captaincy and the number 10 jersey in his second season, advancing towards the first league championship. Although he missed out on his first victory by losing in a direct confrontation with Yokohama F.Marinos in the final match, he achieved the club's best-ever result, finishing second in the league. Higashi reflects on his relationship with his mentor, which continued until the 2021 season.
"Kenta has a steadfastness as a coach. He pays attention not only to goals and standout plays but also to aspects that don't show up in the statistics and to selfless plays. In meetings, he often highlighted those aspects and praised them, saying, 'This is what’s good.' He was a coach who valued those easily overlooked parts. Now that I see it from the outside, I realize again how amazing his ability to build a team is."
The commander who has been highly regarded by Higashi is Kensuke NAGAI. He referred to the two-top partnership with Diego OLIVEIRA as the 'two main pillars' and played a key role in both offense and defense for 'Kenta Tokyo.' For Higashi, he was also a companion who fought together in the London Olympics and spent a lot of time in blue and red from the 2017 season until the summer of the 2022 season.
"We got along well as families in private, and he was a player whose values matched mine. We both wanted to express through our play that we were the type to do it 'for the team,' so we have respected each other."
Nagai was the one who supported the team in the shadows during the three seasons that Higashi led as captain.
"With Kenyu, the team's atmosphere improves. That said, he doesn't flatter anyone. He is someone who says things are different when they are different. It's easy to understand, and he can't lie... I think he was a player that Tokyo really needed to keep."
The face that spoke those words held a certain sadness. His comrade returned to his former club last summer, following Coach Hasegawa, and quickly became an indispensable presence for Nagoya Grampus.
"Kensuke is a symbolic presence for Nagoya right now, isn't he? I think his dedication is highly valued within the team. He is considerate of those around him and runs for the team. He naturally chases back two or three times. Even if he doesn't score 15 or 20 goals a year, he contributes with assists. I believe Kenta understands this, which is why he reinforced the team with Kensuke."
The blue-red number 10 is "for the club, for the coach, for the fans and supporters"
A turning point has come to the East, which has parted ways with good understanding partners. Having surpassed the age of 30 and entering a transitional period, he lost opportunities to play at the beginning of the 2022 season. "Such times will inevitably come. I think it's about how you can face those moments," he said, gritting his teeth.
"However, I only had the confidence that if I continued, everything would be okay. Of course, it was a tough time, but I had no answer other than to show it on the pitch. I thought a lot about how I should approach it."
I continued to work silently on the pitch. I swallowed my sighs and desperately searched for my place. Before I knew it, my position had dropped one level, and I was pioneering new territory as an anchor.
On the 13th of this month, Albert PUIG ORTONEDA left the team, and they will now aim for a comeback under coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI. Nagoya, where his former mentor and comrade is, will be their opponent in his first match. They are a tough competitor in the J1 League title race this season. Naturally, motivation will also rise.
"I thought the choice of a three-back formation was interesting. Although it is similar to various teams that Kenta has led so far, it has a different flavor and individuality. I believe that a three-back formation is the best way to utilize the three players up front, and in the midfield, there are Takuji YONEMOTO and Sho INAGAKI, with LANGERAK at the back. It really is strong."
Of course, I won't hold back. I said, 'I think it will be intense on the pitch,' and I challenge head-on. However, Higashi said, 'Right now, there are other things that are necessary,' and continued like this.
"I don't really have a preference for position; I'm honestly not that particular about it. Of course, I want to start, but I've come to believe that I can show something even if I come on as a substitute. I want to play for the team in the position I'm given. The most important thing is whether we can all unite for victory. That's why the recent match against Kyoto SANGA F.C. in the Levain Cup group stage final was enjoyable. In that match, everyone was able to fight as one. I had thoughts of doing it for Takayoshi AMMA, who was temporarily in charge, but it was for the club, for the coach, for the fans and supporters... I believe that this feeling of doing it for someone is what Tokyo needs right now."
I have devoted myself fully for my own sake. Perhaps it is the answer I found after those days. It is even more so because it is with the people who taught me that. The blue-red number 10 is down-to-earth, unleashing the strength accumulated for my teammates and for the team on the pitch.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
