TOKYOism

The top goalkeeper from the academy has also been promoted to the national team this season. He received the Best Goalkeeper Award at the 2023 AFC U17 Asian Cup. He is a young and talented player who shows outstanding strength in saving and high balls. Currently, Wataru GOTO is aiming for the world as a member of the U-19 Japan national team. We asked him about his current state of mind and his determination to challenge the professional stage.

How did you feel when you heard about the promotion to the top league?
When I compared my skills to those of my senior teammates on the top team, I didn't have any confidence that I could make it, so I was surprised when I received an offer for promotion to the top team.

Goto player has been raised in the academy from FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa. When did you start to become aware of the promotion to the top team?
In my first year of junior high school, I couldn't really get involved in games, and even when I moved up to U-18 in my third year of junior high, I wasn't really conscious of it. It wasn't until I started participating in top team practices at U-18 that I began to specifically think about moving up.

Is it a humble personality?
I am not the type of person who is overly confident and aggressive, like the so-called "Ora Ora type". I have always focused on pursuing my own abilities and what I can do, so I didn't really think about whether my level was high or low. I think that continuously doing the training to play in the next game and achieving results in the national team has led me to where I am now.

- In the 2023 AFC U17 Asian Cup, he contributed to the victory with many big saves and received the Best Goalkeeper Award of the tournament with 2 goals conceded in 5 matches. Did it give you confidence?
I was happy to receive the award and gained some confidence, but when I think about it only in terms of the Asia Cup, I wasn't completely satisfied with my performance, so I also had doubts about whether I deserved it. Personally, I had better performances at the FIFA U-17 World Cup and felt like I could do well.

What are your strengths?
I am good at handling shots and high balls. I can win when a high ball comes.

How do you want to strengthen your physicality?
There is one part that I still need to increase my weight because it is still light. I am thinking about how to do muscle training because I cannot fight without thickening my upper and lower body a little more. First of all, I am thinking about starting with thickening my weight and body because if I don't, I won't be able to continue after that. I also want to improve my agility, but that is the next priority. Yuji MATSUBARA, who was in charge of the top team, is now in charge of U-18, so I think we will continue with the current efforts.

——The top team has many seniors, including Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who has been selected for the Japan national team and the U-23 Japan national team for the Paris Olympics, making it a highly competitive position.
I knew that the top team had a strong player base, so I was thinking about how much I could do by joining them while participating in practice. Competition is tough no matter where you go, so I am prepared for it.

What do you imagine your days will be like on the top team?
I still feel like I am lacking in many aspects, including my skills and mental strength. However, I am determined to play in games from my first year and I am looking forward to it. I have the desire to play as soon as possible. I am not sure if I will be able to play in games in my first year, but I want to grow every day. It is also important to build trust, and it may be difficult, but I want to aim for the starting lineup in the opening game.

Please tell us the difference between accompanying top practice and the academy.
First of all, the top players have very high basic skills including catching, passing, and saving, and the quality of their positioning and other small details is also high. None of the players can easily score a goal. In comparison, I feel that I make more simple technical mistakes and allow more shots, and I feel the difference there.

Is there a clear difference, but do you feel that you are not too far apart to be filled?
While each one may be a small difference, there may be a slight lack of overall strength. I want to continue to improve each individual's abilities through top-level training, so I want to fully commit to the camp from the beginning.

What are the key points to overturn the difference with senior players?
If you are not able to play in the game, I think you have to continue to show what you can do in practice. It's pointless to be depressed, and I think you won't gain trust unless you do it with the mindset of being able to face your seniors, so I think you have to do it with a strong mindset, including your behavior.

- Wasn't that kind of reliability also required in international tournaments for the national team?
In terms of mentality at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the feeling of enjoyment prevailed and I didn't feel nervous in a good way. The atmosphere of the venue and the excitement I felt when listening to the national anthem and thinking "Let's do this!" was amazing.

Who is the player that is causing a stir in the entire soccer world, including representatives?
Gamba Osaka Youth's Araki player. He is a goalkeeper one year younger than me and is competing for a position in the U-19 Japan national team. He can stop shots firmly and participate in build-up play. He can also handle breakaways (when an opponent player breaks through the defensive line). I can't help but compare myself to him. He is a player I am conscious of because I don't want to lose to someone younger than me.

Who is the player to watch in Tokyo?
Masataka KOBAYASHI has played together for 2 years in U-18, and we have been rivals competing for positions. We were also selected together for the U-19 Japan national team, so I don't want to lose to him.

——Finally, what would you like to be called by your fans and supporters?
"Gotou" or "Wataru"... In the team, there are many who call me "Wata" or "Wataru". I am happy to be called whatever, but first I hope you can remember my name. I want to be able to play my own game when I play in my first year, so thank you all for your support.

♢Wataru GOTO Profile

Date of Birth: May 8, 2006
Height/Weight: 192cm/83kg
Hometown: Chiba Prefecture
Career: FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa → FC Tokyo U-18
Representative History: U-16 Japan national team, U-17 Japan national team, U-18 Japan national team, U-19 Japan national team

Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)