Significantly evolved as a player
Return of the "mood maker"
GK 13 Go HATANO
A special content introducing all the blue and red warriors challenging the 2024 season. What are the players, who are about to start the season, thinking and what determination do they have for the year ahead? The stories of the players, who hold in their hearts their love for the club, their thirst for titles, their aspirations for success, and the roles they must fulfill—. Go HATANO, who returned from a loan to V-Varen Nagasaki. We followed his growth and evolution as he lifts the team's spirits with his cheerful personality.
The cheerful man has returned. In the summer of the 2022 season, Kensuke NAGAI left, and although we had enough strength, there was a sense of something lacking in terms of personality. However, that worry is no more. Go HATANO, who has greatly powered up in his positive brightness, awareness as a player from the academy who deeply understands the club, and performance on the pitch, will once again wear the number 13 in the 2024 season.
On January 13, he encouraged the club's official account on social media by saying, "Let's get excited together," and four days later announced, "Today, I'm going to have dinner with the new players. I will teach them a lot about Tokyo so they can quickly embrace the blue and red." He is actively communicating what is necessary to improve the club, which is in a transitional phase, and the team that struggled last season. This behavior symbolizes Tokyo's ambition to grow as a football club rooted in the city.
In the practice match that concluded the Miyazaki camp against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, an impressive performance was showcased on the pitch. His body, now larger, jumps around nimbly. The intensity reminiscent of a European goalkeeper is truly deserving of the description "reborn." He himself stated, "I feel like my momentary power has really increased." Furthermore, as he mentioned, "After playing in Nagasaki last season, my defensive range has expanded, and I can really see the whole game now," his ability to assess the situation from the back and direct the team has also increased. His judgment on whether to advance, catch, or deflect has become more precise.
There may have been a path to continue living at other clubs, such as Nagasaki, where he was on loan. However, upon the announcement of Taishi Brandon NOZAWA's selection for the Japan national team, he decided to return to Tokyo immediately. As a result of the reaction between the blue and red blood, his path was determined to live in Tokyo. Go HATANO does not look back now. He is solely focused on Tokyo—without hesitation, he is looking towards the future of himself and the club.
Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
