The two, rekindling their old friendship in a new environment, are expected to bring a lot of promise to the club. Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA will create moments of joy at Ajinomoto Stadium, while Takahiro KO will unify the team as a linkman. Now at 26 years old, he is poised to enter the peak of his career. When asked about their aspirations with this new source of goals and playmaker, they both said "titles" in unison. Having never tasted that flavor, the two came to Tokyo to seize it.
──I believe you have experienced injuries and difficult times in your career up to this point. Is there something you want to achieve in Tokyo this time?
High I want to become an absolute presence in this club and be a key player to win titles.
Kobayashi I came here to experience victory, so I want to make that happen. I think it's a large club, and as Yan mentioned earlier, I want to see what kind of flavor I can bring among many players with strong individuality. I believe it's also a challenge, so I want to keep trying as a football player.
──To achieve that, there may be things you need to change from your past self. Is there something you want to change personally?
Kobayashi I have a tolerance for injuries.
High That's just a joke (laughs).
Kobayashi It's not a joke. In Sapporo, Coach (PETROVIC) used me in matches, and it was a really good team. However, I had a lot of injuries and a desire to change my environment. I believe that by changing my environment and recovering from my injuries, I can play in matches throughout the season and showcase my abilities even more. I want to make an effort towards that.
High The role of a defensive midfielder has come to require various skills, so I want to improve all my abilities in both offense and defense. During the Okinawa camp in Tokyo, I felt the quickness of transitions and the intensity in duels, which are my strengths, but I believe I can improve even more in those areas, so I want to develop those aspects as well.
──Tokyo aims for an attacking style of football. What do you think is necessary to instill that style in the team?
High Of course, there is the style of football that coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI wants to play, and I think it’s a club that demands results, so there may be difficult aspects. However, if we are pursuing attacking football, having a consistent stance is extremely important. I believe it is crucial to continue building up day by day without getting too emotional about each win or loss. I felt that in Niigata as well. The style of connecting passes was something we worked on from the first season, and at first, it didn’t go well, and we couldn’t get promoted. Still, after continuing through the second and third seasons, we won the J2 League and reached a position where we could aim for a top ten finish in the J1 League. I believe continuity is absolutely essential.
Kobayashi I think it becomes a bit similar, but when the results don't follow, if there is a disparity among the players, it definitely won't lead to a good direction. It's important to trust the coach, and if some members of the team feel distrustful, no kind of soccer will go well. I believe it's essential to continue believing that our coach is the best.
──How do you feel about this team's potential?
High Although we haven't played that many matches, I believe there are players with strong personalities even during practice, and I feel that we have a squad capable of competing for the top spots and aiming for titles. Additionally, I feel the cooperation and generous support from various people, starting with the team staff and our partners. I think we need to deliver results to meet the expectations of those people.
Kobayashi I think it's an amazing team just by looking at the members. The question is how to translate that into soccer. I believe Tokyo has that potential, and if we can combine our strong individual talents well, we can definitely aim for the top. I want to make the most of this camp period, and there will be a preparation period until the opening match after returning to Tokyo. If we can align well in those aspects, I believe we can definitely compete for the top positions.
──For 25 years since the club's establishment, we have not been able to achieve victory in the J1 League. While that is a major goal, what are your thoughts on becoming a key player in building a golden era beyond that first championship and etching our names into the club's history?
Taka I think it's a wonderful scale of a team, but for me, not having won the league title is significant, and if I can win the league here, I believe I can definitely etch my name in the history of this club. That is one of the reasons I decided to transfer. I want to fight hard here, win titles, and etch my name in the history of the club.
Kobayashi We have not been able to achieve the league championship until now, and if we can achieve it like this, I believe it will lead to our evaluation. I came to Tokyo with that intention, so I want to work hard towards that goal. Beyond that, I am determined to fight with all my strength for this team since the moment I transferred here, so of course I aim for the championship, but above all, I want to continue to work hard for the team.
──Finally, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
Taka I want to play with all my strength to win, and I believe my desire to win is stronger than anyone else's. I will firmly contribute my personal growth to the team and fight hard, so I appreciate your support.
Kobayashi Since it's my first year in Tokyo, I believe it would be best to score a goal that captures the hearts of the fans and supporters. First, I want to make a full recovery quickly, improve my condition for the season opener, and share the joy together with my goals.
I made the decision to depart from a familiar place. This transfer was undoubtedly a gamble that I staked my career on. The presence of each other, reunited there, was incredibly reassuring. We are in the same grade and have acknowledged each other's existence since childhood. We may develop a relationship where we align our steps and confirm the strength of our feelings. The future of the two of us in blue and red is finally about to begin.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
