For the local Ishikawa Prefecture──
The transformation into a player who expresses his feelings
MF 45 Kojiro YASUDA
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 are they bringing into the year? 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──. With the lessons learned from Tochigi SC, Kojiro YASUDA aims for growth. He wants to shine a light on his hometown of Ishikawa, which was affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake, and for himself, by delivering results.
After completing a one-year training period with Tochigi SC, it wasn't just my slightly longer hair that changed. It was my first transfer, and living in an unfamiliar place was a continuous learning experience. Yasuda said, "I think I was able to learn a different style of soccer in an environment that was completely different from my previous team."
"I think this is something that can be said about any team, but I realized that you can't achieve results without the intensity of play and continuous movement. I believe I was able to feel that intensity when I went to Tochigi."
Last season, his participation in the Meiji Yasuda J2 League ended with 13 matches. Due to injuries and other factors, he was unable to compete throughout the season. However, by facing himself, he gained many insights. What he expresses as "things that are lacking" sounded like "things he wants to grow in."
"I had several injuries, and I had to face my body and raise my level. During that time, I felt a sense of urgency. Currently, my play is still not stable. While I am feeling my way through it, I believe that my challenges now are continuous movement and the stamina to compete for 90 minutes. I want to delve deeper into that."
Before the start of the new season, returning to Tokyo, there was a growing sense of crisis as I was unable to participate even in the practice match. Still, in the little time given, there were moments when I tried to make an impression by charging into the goal area and shaking the net.
"Anyway, I want to run until the end. I want results for myself. If I don't score goals or provide assists, I won't be able to play in the matches or make an impression. I want to keep that in mind and work on it."
I had not seen much of Yasuda's thoughts and feelings being reflected in his play until now. There must be feelings for Ishikawa, where he was born and raised, and for the Hokuriku region. On New Year's Day this year, the Noto Peninsula earthquake occurred, causing significant damage in various areas. Wishing for a speedy recovery, Yasuda aims to bring energy to the place where he discovered the joy of soccer.
"The local area has suffered from natural disasters, and there are acquaintances who have been affected. I hope that by doing my best, I can bring some cheer and encouragement, and it would make me happy if I could be a source of strength for those people. I want to turn these feelings into a positive motivation to take action myself."
The season of competition that will become a beacon of hope has begun. Surely, a significant change may be waiting ahead.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
