In the 2011 season, Tokyo won the J2 League and the Emperor's Cup, returning to J1 League, and has not experienced relegation since then. Although they have not yet achieved the fruit of winning the J1 League, their attitude towards change has been consistent.
Among various initiatives, the academy has visibly increased its presence. When the top team returned to the J1 League, FC Tokyo U-18, which was competing in the Prince League Kanto of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Football League, won the promotion match at the end of 2014 and returned to the Premier League EAST from the 2015 season. In the 2016 season, under coach Kazuki SATO, they achieved a double victory in the Japan Club Youth Football Championship (U-18) and the J Youth Cup. At this time, key players such as Makoto OKAZAKI, Yoshitake SUZUKI, Go HATANO, and Takuya UCHIDA were promoted to the top team.
In the following 2017 season, they achieved their long-awaited victory in the Premier League EAST by defeating Aomori Yamada High School in the final match. Additionally, they overcame Vissel Kobe U-18 in the championship, standing at the top of the Prince Takamado Trophy, which includes both the National High School Athletic Federation and J-League youth development organizations, shining as the best in Japan for high school students. Coach Sato, who rewrote the club's history, expressed his overwhelming emotions, stating, "Unlike cup competitions, I believe this tournament truly allows us to proudly say we are the best in Japan." From the starting members of this championship, Manato SHINADA and Taichi HARA have achieved promotion to the top team.
It has become commonplace to win titles and produce talented players for the top team and various universities, while at the same time, what caught my eye was the "acceleration of development." Takefusa KUBO, a third-year junior high school student, and Tomoyuki Aoki (currently at Niigata University of Health and Welfare) participated in matches for FC Tokyo U-18. The players of FC Tokyo U-18 accompany the top team in training and also participate in official matches with a second registration. From the 2016 season until the 2019 season, when participation was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FC Tokyo U-23 existed, providing a higher level of stimulation to accelerate development, and the movement to integrate the academy into the club's top team has become more pronounced.
In the J1 Sec. 32 match against Sagan Tosu on November 18, 2017, 17-year-old Rei HIRAKAWA made his J1 league debut as a substitute. He remarked, "I was blown away by player Ibarbo," acknowledging the difference in physicality at the world level, but added, "Once I stepped onto the pitch, I didn't think about anything or feel nervous," demonstrating mental toughness. It can be said that the normalization of academy players having contact with the top team is a change that has occurred in this era.
Takefusa KUBO came on as a substitute in the J1 Sec. 33 match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on November 26, one week later. He was stopped head-on by the opposing goalkeeper Takuto HAYASHI, but created opportunities by dribbling in and taking a shot in the 45+3 minutes of the second half. At that time, General Manager Takeyuki TATEISHI praised KUBO's ability, stating, "He can carry the ball while making plays." He also remarked, "He is more skillful than Shinji ONO was at 16." Additionally, the interim coach Takayoshi AMMA, who was in charge until the end of the season, commented, "When looking at him alone, he can do well. However, I think he would thrive even more if his relationship with those around him was better," not only highly evaluating him but also commenting on how he would fit into the team.
It is true that Hirakawa and Kubo were outstanding talents who signed professional contracts before graduating high school, but how to develop that talent is something the club should consider. The era that began to translate the saying 'Strike while the iron is hot' into concrete action was precisely the 2010s after their return to the J1 League.
Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
[25 Years of History] Special Column Here
25 Years of History vol.1 Things We Must Not Forget
25 Years of History vol.2 The Road to the First Title
25 Years of History vol.3 Blue Tokyo
25 Years of History vol.4 What We Gained from Relegation and Promotion
