TOKYOism

Q, please tell us your honest thoughts on becoming a professional soccer player.
A, I have been attending a school in Tokyo since I was in elementary school, so Tokyo has always been close to me. I am sincerely happy because I have been working hard with the desire to become a professional and to play for this club. When I received the offer, I strongly felt that I wanted to do my best here.

Q, It's not that I wanted to become a J.League player, but that I wanted to become a J.League player in Tokyo.
A, of course. When I had a meeting with the coach of Meiji University, he asked me, "Which club is good?" and I told him, "Tokyo is the only choice." I joined this club with the sole purpose of performing well.

Q, What were your thoughts when you received an offer from Tokyo?
A, I had both a feeling of happiness and a sense of crisis, and I had to do it with both feelings.

Q: What was your time like at Meiji University, where you went to after not being able to promote from FC Tokyo U-18 to the top team for 4 years?
A, it was a period where I could live a life dedicated to soccer 24 hours a day, including my personality and way of thinking. I think it was a big time for me. It was four years where I could grow both physically and mentally.

Q, please also tell me about the presence of Seiji KIMURA and Kashif BANGNAGANDE, who are both my classmates in the academy.
A, Kashiho player and I have been together since elementary school 6th grade at school, and Kimura player and I have been together since FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa, and they are both friends who have grown together. I wanted to play on the pitch of Ajinomoto Stadium with these players. They are both friends and rivals. They are a source of good motivation.

Q, the two of them were promoted from FC Tokyo U-18 to the top team. Do you remember how you felt at that time?
A, I thought that both of us would be promoted, but when it actually happened, I felt regret. I vividly remember crying and talking to my parents after the interview to determine if I could be promoted. Takashi OKUHARA (FC Tokyo U-18 coach/former academy director) sent me to Meiji University as my next step, so I decided to use that regret as motivation and train for four years in university to definitely return to Tokyo.

Q: Were you able to see the two players' performance and play honestly?
A, I deliberately watched and studied how I would have done it, and I practiced with the motivation to work hard and break into the U-22 Japan national team, which two people have been selected for.

Q: Was there a particular player, especially Kimura, who you were aware of because they played in the same position?
A, I was very conscious (laughs). I was really always watching. However, I was conscious of not surpassing Kimura as a player, but rather growing and being evaluated. While polishing what Kimura doesn't have, he is physically superior, so during my time in university, I worked to close that gap and overtake him.

Q: Have you received any contact from Kimura since the announcement of his transfer to Tokyo?
A,"Welcome back," but I want more sense of crisis (laughs). I'm determined to take the position. But he seemed happy.

Q, there is also a possibility that three people who have been striving on the final line will line up.
A, I think it is important for the club to have as many academy players as possible in the starting lineup of official matches, so I am looking forward to playing together with them on the back line.

Q, Please tell me your strong points in playing.
A, I want you to see the long feed and aerial battle using both left and right feet.

Q, University graduates are expected to be immediate contributors from their first year of joining.
A, Former university seniors Yuto Nagatomo (RWD Molenbeek), Shuto ABE, and Hotaka NAKAMURA were all involved in games from their first year of joining, and I also want to challenge myself and not lose to them. There is a great player, Masato MORISHIGE, in the center back position, but I want to play with the ambition to compete and take over that position.

Q: Can you imagine yourself wearing the blue and red uniform again and standing on the pitch at Ajinomoto Stadium?
A, I have an image and I am already excited and nervous. Because I have been going to Ajinomoto Stadium since I was young, I may not feel it at first, but I always have to approach it with the image of playing at Ajinomoto Stadium. It's not a world where you can play even if you are scared and can't play your own game, so I want to play with confidence from the beginning.

Q, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
A, I want to play hard and work for the team, not just because I'm back and OK, but because I want to pay Teppei OKA and this game with my money.

Q, please tell me your goal for your first year as a professional.
It is a near goal to participate and perform well in the opening game of the 2024 season. And, we will strive to make Tokyo the J1 League champion.