Without lifting the trophy
one cannot etch their name in the club's history
DF 5 Yuto NAGATOMO
Special content introducing the all-blue-red warriors who will challenge the 2024 season. What are the players thinking and what kind of determination are they approaching the year with as they prepare for the opening? The players' stories are filled with club love, thirst for titles, aspirations for success, and the roles they must fulfill. Yuto NAGATOMO, who continues to grow with unwavering effort and overwhelming ambition. His footsteps are extremely brilliant to those around him. However, he is not satisfied at all. He understands better than anyone else what he should bring to Tokyo.
Having traveled through the top teams in Europe, he has made four consecutive appearances in the FIFA World Cup. However, he still says with a straight face, "I have never been satisfied." Trying to understand the thought process of such a man, I attempt to engage in a verbal rally. But I always end up getting dizzy from his intense passion.
"Because our goals and dreams are always high. As a result, our aspirations become higher and our awareness becomes higher. Ultimately, if our goals are low, we will be satisfied. That's why I am still not satisfied at all."
I have been chasing after myself who is one step ahead. In the gap between limits and fluctuations, I have overcome many walls that were said to be impossible with criticism as fuel. With endless effort, I have achieved a lot, but I am still hungry. The memory of the recorder is always filled with immature but passionate words. Since my 20s, I have been shining brightly. Its ripple effect is tremendous, and it has the power to naturally involve those around me.
However, the legend of such a universally recognized club denies it outright.
"No, no, my name is not engraved in this club. Tokyo's Yuto NAGATOMO is too mediocre and unsatisfactory. Only by raising the trophy can one leave their mark in history. If I don't leave my mark, I will retire and leave Tokyo with nothing. Will I end up with nothing and retire in shame? Or will I leave my mark in this club's history? I believe there is a world of difference between the two."
He is seriously challenging the unprecedented 5 consecutive appearances in the World Cup. He has always spoken out his dreams and made them come true. It's a make-or-break situation, a high-stakes game. He is still shining in the midst of it all. Yuto NAGATOMO, the greatest in history, is always running in front of his own eyes. Surely, he can see his figure clearly.
Build up your strength and never draw a line at your limits. The lines that others have drawn are only goals to jump over. This season, I want to have the toughness towards myself once again and set the pace.
"I want to be harder on myself than anyone else. That way, we can demand the best from each other and push each other to be better."
Those words make me realize once again, "Oh, that's right." It's impossible to understand in the first place. There are no other two men who can make my heart burn like this.
Text by Koji Baba (Freelance Writer)
