A young attacker who returned from Germany has joined the blue and red army in camp in Okinawa. He joined SV Werder Bremen before graduating from Meiji University and became a regular member of the U-23 Japan national team for the Paris Olympics generation, and also played in the main tournament last summer. However, he did not play for the top team in Bremen and spent frustrating days. He heard about his determination to choose a new start in Tokyo in order to aim for the top again and prove his own abilities.
Q, returned from Germany and joined the Okinawa camp. How is your current condition?
A, I arrived in Okinawa at midnight and I still have a little bit of jet lag. But it's getting better little by little and I think I'm doing well with the physical coach. Of course, I intend to compete and start in the starting lineup from the opening.
Q, Please tell us about your transfer this time. How did you make the decision to return to Japan first?
A, The contract period in Germany had six months left. However, since I didn't have the opportunity to play in the top team, I wanted to gain more experience and increase my value. That's why I decided to return home when I received an offer from Tokyo. It's a wonderful club and it's also a local club, so I made the decision to return home immediately.
Q, do you feel the expectations from the club that has been sending offers since your days at Meiji University?
A, yes. As for the background of being able to come this far, there are feelings from the people who have been involved with me, and I think that if those people were not there, I would not be where I am now. I want to work hard every day while keeping a strong sense of gratitude and living up to expectations.
Q, Please tell us the biggest reason for deciding to transfer to Tokyo.
Since I was a child, I have been watching this club, so I thought Tokyo would be a good place to return to the J-League. I also had many acquaintances and seniors, and I thought it would be an easy club to play for, so I made the decision taking into account these environmental factors as well.
Q, Teppei OKA was a teammate of Taira SHIGE during their elementary and university days. They will now play together on the professional stage wearing the same uniform.
A, Terry (Okasen) and I have a really long history together. We played together in elementary school, were teammates at Meiji University, and this will be our third reunion. He is someone I know very well, and his presence was one of the reasons I chose Tokyo. There are many childhood friends, seniors, classmates, and juniors on this team, so I want to achieve the club's first league championship with this group.
Q, there are also many people of the same generation, right?
A, I think there are really a lot of players who get along well. Okada is the one I've known the longest, but my classmates Seiji Kimura and Kashif BANGNAGANDE are also close, and Taishi Brandon NOZAWA was my teammate on the U-23 Japan national team at the Paris Olympics. There are also upperclassmen and underclassmen from Meiji University, so I know a lot of people (laughs). When we joined the team, it didn't feel like we were new transfers, it's a really comfortable and welcoming environment, so I'm grateful.
Q, player Kominato Kizuna, who has been offered a position, is also competing in university soccer.
Player A, who is also the type to aggressively enter, is talking with us in a friendly manner.
Q, do you think you have become too familiar with each other since the first day of joining?
A, that's my strength (laughs). I also have a friendly personality, so I want to show my strengths off the pitch and create a good atmosphere for the team. I actually planned to join the team's practice from the first day of my arrival, and I wanted to do it as soon as possible, but I couldn't join the full team practice (laughs).
Q, he seemed eager to kick the ball from the first day.
A. Since the camp had already started, I wanted to join in quickly and create a sense of unity by joining the circle.
Q, I think I had various experiences during my 1 and a half years living in Germany. How do you look back on it?
A, I think the challenge in Germany was personally tough because I played in a difficult environment, so I had a long period of struggle. I have been challenged by players who are taller than me, physically strong players, and players with speed in a normal environment. I think I have grown in terms of physicality and my own strengths by competing with such players. In addition, I think my thinking and technique have also grown, so I want to contribute something good to this team.
Q, Have you ever hit a wall?
A, I have hit walls before, but I believe that I am where I am now because I overcame them. I want to use that struggle as fuel and make a splash in Tokyo.
Q, What parts did you find difficult in Germany?
A, It may be something that every player who has challenged overseas feels, but the difference in environment was significant. Personally, I was not able to join the team as an immediate force, so I always had to appeal. However, there was also a period when I had to leave the team due to the activities of the U-23 Japan national team for the Paris Olympics, so there were not many opportunities to appeal in the team. This may be an excuse, but I feel that I was not able to fully demonstrate my abilities. Also, there were only players who were physically stronger and faster than me, so I couldn't fully appeal my individuality. That is simply a lack of strength. On the other hand, there were also parts that could be used in the first division of the Bundesliga, so I do not think everything was negative. I want to show what I learned in Germany in Tokyo.
Q, I have completed my challenge in Germany and transferred to Tokyo. How do you think about your future career path?
A, of course, since coming to this club, my personal and club's biggest goal is to win the J1 League, so I will do my best towards that. Within that, as an attacking player, I aim to score double digits and also leave behind solid assists. I will do everything I can for the team and contribute towards winning the league.
Q: What specific initiatives do you want to take in Tokyo?
A, I think it is important to pursue what I feel without lowering my standards. There are many players who have fought in the world like Yuto NAGATOMO in the team. I hope to absorb a lot from these players and make it my own nourishment.
Q: Did you have anything in common with Nagatomo in terms of values and ways of thinking?
A: I have had the opportunity to talk with Yuto before and have received advice from him. I also listened to him when I participated in the Japan national team training camp as a training partner, and I have communicated with Kento HASHIMOTO before as he was competing in the world. Now that we have become teammates, I would like to hear more in-depth conversations.
Q: How do you feel about Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI's soccer?
I thought the coach was carefully analyzing the players and building the team based on that. Even though I've only recently joined the team, I can easily imagine the team's style just by watching their practices. I want to combine my playing style with that and make it even better. The coach also communicates with the players, so I think it's easy to share our vision.
Q, It was the same with the representative team of the Paris Olympics generation, but once they start performing, they become unstoppable players.
A, I think that is also expected, so I want to live up to those expectations. Of course, I don't want to become too rigid and want to do things my own way. I think if we can score one point, we can go all the way.
Q, Please tell us the reason why you chose the number 16.
A, there is no deep meaning, but the number I was given was 16. It was the number I wore when I scored my first goal as a starter in my second year of university, so I have a special attachment to it. I hope to score 16 goals in the league in honor of my jersey number.
Q, He was already shaking the goal net during training.
A, ultimately there is no victory without scoring a goal, so I want to be conscious of that from practice. First of all, I want to show it in the scoring area.
Q, two weeks later, the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, which is finally making its first challenge, will begin.
A, I want to start in the starting lineup from the opening game by winning the competition firmly. I want to aim for the most goals in the team and fight for our first league victory. Personally, I am really excited about this challenge.
Text by Kyohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
