A young attacker returning from Germany has joined the blue-red army currently training in Okinawa. Without waiting to graduate from Meiji University, he went to Europe and joined SV Werder Bremen. He became a regular in the U-23 Japan national team for the Paris Olympic generation and participated in last summer's main tournament. However, it is also true that he did not play for the first team in Bremen and spent frustrating days. To aim for the top once again and to prove his abilities, he chose to restart in Tokyo, and I heard about his determination.
Q: I returned from Germany and joined the Okinawa camp. How is your current condition?
A, I arrived in Okinawa late at night, and I still have a bit of jet lag. However, it has gradually improved, and I think I am doing fine while consulting with the physical coach. Of course, I intend to win the competition and start as a regular from the opening match.
Q: Please tell us about your transfer this time. First, how did you make the decision to return to Japan?
A, I still had six months left on my contract in Germany. However, since I did not get to play in the top team, my main goal was to gain more experience and increase my value. During that time, I received an offer from Tokyo. It is a wonderful club and also my hometown club, so I immediately decided to return to Japan.
Q: Do you feel the expectations from the clubs that have continued to make offers since your time at Meiji University?
A, that's right. The reason I have been able to come this far is because of the support and feelings of the people who have been involved with me, and without those people, I wouldn't be who I am today. I want to continue working hard every day with a sincere sense of gratitude and to meet everyone's expectations.
Q: What was the main factor that led you to decide on your transfer to Tokyo?
A, Since it was a club I had watched since I was little, I thought Tokyo would be the best if I were to return to the J.League. I have many acquaintances and seniors there, and I thought it was a club where it would be easy to play, so I made my decision including those environmental factors.
Q, Teppei OKA and I were teammates in elementary school and university. We ended up playing on the professional stage wearing the same uniform.
A, TETSU (Okawa player) and I have truly had a long relationship; we played together when we were in elementary school, then became teammates at Meiji University, and this is our third reunion. He is someone I know very well, and one of the reasons I chose Tokyo was because of him. This team has many childhood friends, seniors, peers, and juniors, so I want to achieve the club's first league championship with this group.
Q: There are many people from the same generation, right?
I think there are really many players who get along well. Although I have known Okada the longest, I also have a good relationship with my同期 Seiji KIMURA and Kashif BANGNAGANDE, and Taishi Brandon NOZAWA was a teammate on the U-23 Japan national team at the Paris Olympics. There are also seniors and juniors from Meiji University, so I know many people (laughs). Even when I joined, it didn’t feel like I was a new transfer, and it’s a very homey and comfortable environment, so I’m grateful.
Q: Kizuna Kominato, who has been confirmed to join, has also competed in university soccer.
Player A, Kominato, is also the type who comes in aggressively, so they are talking amicably.
Q: Given that relationship, don't you think you've become too familiar from the very first day of joining?
A, that's my strength (laughs). I also have a friendly personality, so I want to bring out my good qualities off the pitch and create a positive atmosphere for the team. I actually planned to join the team's training from the very first day of joining, and I wanted to start as soon as possible, but as expected, I wasn't allowed to join the full team practice (wry smile).
Q: You seemed eager to kick the ball from the very first day.
A. The camp had already started, so I wanted to join quickly, get involved, and create a sense of unity.
Q: I think you had various experiences during your year and a half living in Germany. How do you reflect on that?
A, My challenge in Germany was personally in a tough environment, so I think there were many difficult times. I was exposed to an environment where players taller than me, physically strong players, and fast players were common. I believe my physicality and strengths grew through competing with such players. In addition, I think my mindset and skills have also improved, so I want to give back something good to this team.
Q: Have you ever faced obstacles?
A, I have faced obstacles before, but I believe I have overcome them to become who I am today. I want to use that hardship as fuel to thrive in Tokyo.
Q: What aspects did you find challenging in Germany?
A, it may be something that every player who has challenged themselves overseas feels, but the difference in environment was significant. I myself was unable to join the team as an immediate asset, so I always needed to make an effort to stand out. However, there were periods when I left the team to participate in activities with the U-23 Japan national team of the Paris Olympics generation, so I didn't have many opportunities to showcase myself within the team. This might sound like an excuse, but I believe I was unable to fully demonstrate my abilities. Also, there were many players stronger physically and faster than me, so I couldn't fully highlight my individuality. That was simply a lack of ability. On the other hand, there were aspects where I was able to compete in the Bundesliga first division, so I don't think everything was negative. I want to show what I learned in Germany here in Tokyo.
Q: After concluding my challenge in Germany, I transferred to Tokyo. What are your thoughts on your future career path?
Of course, now that I have joined this club, I believe that winning the J1 League is the biggest goal both personally and for the club, so I will do everything I can to achieve that. As an attacking player, I aim to score double-digit goals and also provide solid assists. I will give back everything I can for the team and work towards winning the league title.
Q: What specific initiatives do you want to pursue in Tokyo?
A, I think it is important to maintain the standards you feel and continue to pursue them. There are many players on the team who have competed on the world stage, like Yuto NAGATOMO. I hope to absorb a lot from those players and make it my own strength.
Q: Did you find any common values or ways of thinking with player Nagatomo?
A, I have had opportunities to talk with Yuto-san before and have received advice from him. When I participated in the Japan national team training camp as a training partner, I also listened to him, and since Kento HASHIMOTO was also competing on the world stage, I had communicated with him before as well. Now that we have become teammates, I want to hear even deeper stories going forward.
Q: How do you feel about Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI's soccer?
A, I think the coach carefully analyzes the players and builds the team based on that. Although I have only recently joined the practice, I believe the team style is easy to visualize even when watching practice outside. I want to combine my own playing style with that to make something good. The coach also communicates with the players, so I think it is easy to share the vision.
Q: Just like with the representative team of the Paris Olympic generation, you give the impression of being a player who becomes unstoppable once you start to perform well.
A, I think those aspects are also expected of me, so I want to make sure I don't let anyone down. Of course, I want to stay relaxed and be myself. Once we score one goal, I believe we can push forward all at once.
Q: Please tell us the reason why you chose the number 16.
A, there is no deep meaning, but the number I have worn before among the ones you provided was number 16. It was the number I wore when I first started as a starter and scored a goal in my second year of university, so it holds some sentimental value. I hope to score 16 goals in the league in honor of that number.
Q: You were already shaking the goal net during training.
A, after all, there is no victory without scoring goals, so I want to be conscious of that in practice. First of all, I want to demonstrate it in terms of scoring.
Q: The Meiji Yasuda J1 League, which is our first challenge, will finally kick off in two weeks.
A, I want to firmly win the competition and start as a regular from the opening match. I aim to be the team's top scorer and fight with the goal of winning the league for the first time. I myself am really excited about this challenge.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
