TOKYOism

Takahiro KO, a former Chinese national team defender who I respect, belonged to a rival team across the Tama River and fought against the King of Tokyo. His son, who spent three years in Niigata, said goodbye to the city and will wear the blue and red sleeves from next season. The man who says "I want to win more than anyone else" has a bigger ambition and made a big decision. To take one or two more steps forward from here.

Q, Please tell us your honest impression when you received an offer from Tokyo.
A, I was sincerely happy. I received an offer at an early stage and had direct conversations with members of the strengthening department, and I felt a lot of enthusiasm. I was happy because it is a club in the capital with a history and tradition.

Q, What was the deciding factor?
A, it's definitely passion. I could feel that they really want me to come to Tokyo. Also, I resonated with their goal of winning titles as a club. I also want to win titles and I thought that accepting this offer at this timing would help me reach a higher stage.

Q, At Albirex Niigata, you were also the vice captain and it was a team with strong emotional attachment. Did your feelings change when you made the decision to leave?
A, I played for 3 seasons in Niigata. It was a club where I felt I grew as a player and as a person, having been able to play in many matches. It is the club that I have the most attachment to, but I also had a desire to change my environment and challenge myself in a new competition. Although I feel a bit lonely now, it was my own decision and I am determined to do my best.

Q, Do you have any important feelings or plans for the future that you have taken into consideration with this decision?
A, it was a decision to take another step or two and become a player on a larger scale. At the timing when I came to this thought, I received an offer from Tokyo and our goals and passion aligned.

Q, please tell us your strong points.
A, I think that the ability to steal the ball is my greatest weapon. In addition, I believe that my predictive ability is my selling point. When asked about Takahiro KO's playing style, I think it is important to first express my ability to steal the ball. I believe that my value and weapon as a player lie there. However, in today's era, a lot is expected from a defensive midfielder. A player who can steal the ball, connect passes, and also move forward. I always have the desire to become a stable and intimidating player for the opponent.

Q: What was the most significant area of growth for you during your three years in Niigata?
A, this is the attacking part. I think I have grown in terms of build-up and always being involved with the ball. Not only my self-evaluation, but also from third parties and those around me, I am often told that I have truly grown.

Q, Gamba Osaka U-23 and Niigata, I wore the captain's armband and played. How do you want to return your leadership and leadership?
A, Personally, I don't think I'm suited to be a captain (bitter smile). However, when I was with Gamba Osaka U-23, coach Tsune (Tsuneyasu MIYAMOTO, current executive director of the Japan Football Association) gave me the captain's armband, and when I was on loan at Renofa Yamaguchi FC and Niigata, they also gave me the opportunity to play as captain. I don't think I'm suited to be a captain and I honestly don't know if I'm a player who can lead the team. But I have a strong desire to grow and to win for the team, and I don't want to lose to the opponent. I am conscious of this in my daily practice, and I think it shows in my play.

Q, There has been an impression that you have been expected since your time at Funabashi Municipal High School and have stepped up from the J3 League to the J1 League. Looking back on your career, what do you think has been your journey?
A, there were more difficult times. Especially after graduating high school and joining G Osaka, I played on the U-23 team and struggled a lot. My classmates from Funabashi Municipal High School, Daiki Sugioka and Teruki Hara, were doing well, and Daiki Kaneko left Kanagawa University after only one year to join Shonan Bellmare. Each of them was playing in the J1 league and also made it into the national team for their age group. While everyone else was moving forward, I felt like I was being left behind and it was frustrating. I was able to play in less than 20 games in the J1 league with G Osaka, but at that time I didn't have much confidence in myself and just played.

I wanted to change myself, so I transferred to Yamaguchi on a temporary basis and sought a stage to shine in Niigata, which was in J2 league at the time. I thought "I have no choice but to keep going," so I wanted to play more games and felt that I had to truly grow. Coming to Niigata, we won the J2 league last season and were promoted to J1 league. This season was my first time in J1 league in a while, but compared to my time at G Osaka, I truly felt confident and was able to finish the season with a sense of accomplishment. I believe that the results of my continuous efforts are showing now.

Q, please tell me what has been a source of support for you during difficult times.
I have always cherished the words of Mr. Takakura Asaoka, who was the coach of Funabashi High School. "Keep doing your best, because someone is always watching." I have been told that and I have no choice but to think that way and do my best. Those words are a very important presence to me.

Q, What was your impression of Tokyo?
In my first professional season, I was also coached by Kenta HASEGAWA (current manager of Nagoya Grampus) at G Osaka. The image of him as a coach since he took over as manager in Tokyo is still strong, so I have the impression of a fighting group. In recent years, there has been a slight change in soccer, but there are many wonderful players who represent Japan, and I think it is a big club.

Q: What was your impression after playing two matches this season?
There is a strong impression that there are many players with individual strength in each position. The intensity of the play was also high, and this season, Niigata had a result of 1 draw and 1 loss against Tokyo, giving the impression that they were unable to win.

Q: Tokyo is also a club that has embarked on a major transformation in the past two seasons. Are you looking forward to experiencing that change?
A, it is rewarding and enjoyable. I also think that the style and direction are currently changing. At this stage, I imagine playing while utilizing my strengths and experiences. I want to adjust my strengths to Tokyo's team tactics.

Q: Are there any players that left an impression on you or that you would like to talk to after playing against them?
A, Teruhito NAKAGAWA has scored goals in the first half of the league this season. He has won MVP and titles at Yokohama F.Marinos, and is also a great player who has been selected for the Japan national team. NAKAGAWA is also a graduate of Kawasaki Frontale's academy, and we have a common point that I also played until junior youth, so I would like to talk to him.

Q: How do you feel about Tokyo's football style?
A, we also played against Montedio Yamagata in the J1 League this season, and when Terry was in charge there, I have a strong impression that we struggled against them. They switch quickly and I think their style is more about holding onto the ball rather than playing a strong defense and counterattack. However, when we played against Tokyo this season, I could see that they were challenging that style, but I also felt that they were a bit stuck. When we talked about the offer, he also said that he wants to continue playing that kind of soccer in the future, and I want to move the ball while showing my strengths there.

Q: Are there any players currently on the team who have a close relationship with each other in Tokyo?
A: He really wasn't there (bitter laugh). Keita YAMASHITA and I played together for half a season in Yamaguchi. I know people on other teams, but when Tokyo came to Big Swan, I didn't know anyone, so I didn't talk to anyone (laughs).

Q, Please tell us about Mr. Takahashi's father. What was the reason for starting soccer and who did you mention as a person you respect? What kind of person was he and how did you learn soccer?
A, he is the one who taught me soccer and gave me soccer. If you look it up, you will understand, but he was a professional soccer player and also played for the Chinese national team. When I talk to people who knew him at the time, they say he was a really amazing player. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see him play live, but when we kicked the ball together in the park when I was in elementary and middle school, his skills were really high. He played as a center back and defensive midfielder, and he was tall and physically strong. His skills were also high, and when I ask coaches who knew my father in the past, they say he was a really great player, so I respect him.

Q: Have you discussed the transfer to Tokyo?
A, of course I did. He said "good for you". I heard that he played against Tokyo Gas, the predecessor of Tokyo, during his time at Fujitsu. He also mentioned that he had his nose broken by a foreign player at that time (laughs). I can't remember his name though...

Q, is it Amaral?
A, yes, that player. He was talking about how his nose was broken.

Q, What is your state of mind when you put on the uniform of a club across the Tama River, rather than in Kawasaki like your father?
From the time I was enrolled in Kawasaki's junior youth team, I went to watch the Tamagawa Clasico at Todoroki Stadium. It's a game with a lot of spectators, and since I was supporting Kawasaki at the time, I'm sure I was booing (bitter smile). However, it's been many years since I left Kawasaki, and now as a Tokyo player, I want to stand on that stage and fight.

Q: This season, it will be a new challenge for Takahashi as he returns to the J1 league, and I believe it will be the start of a new chapter in his soccer career. What are your goals for the 2024 season?
In Tokyo, which will be a new world, the environment will change and the competition will start from scratch. I want to express myself from the start and take over the position. I want to play in many games as the center and make an impact on both offense and defense as an individual. I want to be known as Takahiro KO, the midfielder of Tokyo, by the fans, supporters, and opponents in the J-League. If that comes true, I have a strong desire to challenge for the team's goal of winning the title.

Q, Please tell us about the impression of Ajinomoto Stadium and Tokyo fans/supporters.
A, Even while playing, I could feel the incredible support from the fans and supporters, and it was a wonderful atmosphere. It left me with the impression that the passion of the people in Tokyo was conveyed.

Q, Now, please give a message to the fans and supporters in Tokyo.
I am very excited to play at Ajinomoto Stadium wearing Tokyo's uniform from the 2024 season. As a player, I am very hungry for victory and I want to express that through my play. Please give us your passionate support. Let's fight together!

Text by Yohhei Baba (Freelance Writer)