In the 40th minute of the second half, with the end of the match approaching, the player wearing number 88 waiting on the sidelines felt a mix of unprecedented tension and ambition.
2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Sec. 34 Sanfrecce Hiroshima match. Taiyo YAMAGUCHI, in his first year after promotion from FC Tokyo U-18, finally took his first step as a professional.
The moment Yamaguchi found his name among the accompanying members, he had a strong premonition.
"Since some of the forwards were in poor condition or injured, I thought it might be possible..."
However, this season there were many chances that were just one step away. That is precisely why we focused on preparation without getting unsettled.
"I always focused on making the best preparations possible. When I was selected for the Hiroshima match, to be honest, I felt happy and felt that the efforts I had made so far were somewhat rewarded. When I arrived at the stadium, I was a bit restless (laughs). It felt like a mix of nervousness and excitement."
As the match begins, Tokyo gradually increases ball possession despite pressure from Hiroshima.
While watching the battle from the bench, Yamaguchi kept imagining his own appearance on the field. Then, just past the 35th minute of the second half, a voice called out, "Taiyo, let's go."
At the 40th minute of the second half, he stepped onto the pitch for his J.League official match debut.
"I thought I would start calmly, but I quickly got out of breath. My body was honest (laughs)"
Although he played for only 10 minutes, his assertive play and delicate ball touch, along with his fearless approach to the ball against Hiroshima's strong center backs such as Araki, who has been selected for the Japan national team, and Kim Ju-sung of the South Korea national team, surely brought new hope to Tokyo's fans and supporters.
"I couldn't make any special plays, but I think I was able to execute the plays I had anticipated. Of course, I was nervous. However, as I get used to the number of matches and the J1 League environment, I feel that I can definitely manage well, and I think I was able to show a bit of what I have built up in the match against Hiroshima," he said as he left Hiroshima with a sense of accomplishment.
Let's rewind the story a bit.
Yamaguchi, who was promoted to the top team this season, enthusiastically approached the camp saying, "I want to make a strong impression from the very beginning."
However, the rivals competing for the same position, led by Marcelo RYAN, posed a high barrier for Yamaguchi in his first professional year, and since the league opener in February, he has not been included in the official match squad.
Additionally, he was injured during activities with the U-22 J.League Selection held in April. He was forced to take a long-term leave of absence for 8 weeks to recover.
This can't go on like this.
Regardless of the severity, I thoroughly reviewed my body that had been repeatedly injured during the season and dedicated time to face myself as a professional soccer player.
"I got injured early in the season, and just when I felt my condition was gradually improving, I ended up getting injured again. This period was the toughest during the season, and honestly, I deeply realized that 'I can't continue like this.'"
For 8 weeks, I focused on the quality of my diet, sleep, and strength training, determined to "retrain" myself with commitment.
Particular focus was placed on improving the range of motion of the upper body under the guidance of Coach Yukihisa Miyama (physiotherapist) in charge of rehabilitation. By increasing upper body strength and expanding the range of motion, training was dedicated to enhancing overall body balance and combining accuracy and power in quick movements such as kicking, dashing, and stopping.
"Until now, I realized that I had only been focusing on the technical aspects of soccer. I was able to feel the importance of things like strength training and how to use the body."
Then, I asked a certain player, "What should I do?" The one I sought advice from was Kento HASHIMOTO, who is also a senior in the academy.
"I think it was intuition. By the time I realized it, I was already asking Kento-san, 'How can I get into the match squad?'"
After finishing the rehabilitation period and improving his condition, Hashimoto sincerely responded to Yamaguchi's strong desire and impatience to play in matches as soon as possible.
"I understand that your condition is improving, but I don't think visible results are everything," he prefaced, offering advice from Hashimoto's perspective. Not limited to this, opportunities to talk naturally increased after practice whenever there was time.
"First, it was about building relationships with the coach, staff, and teammates through practice. Mr. Kento responded from his perspective to the feelings I have about wanting to play in matches and the sensations I personally experience. There were parts I thought I was 'doing well' but actually wasn't, and parts I thought weren't good plays that turned out to be good. Through daily practice and asking many questions, I gained a lot of insights," he said, using the advice from his experienced senior as nourishment for his own growth.
Tokyo is currently in a tough situation with a series of injuries in the forward line, but amid this, they are keenly sharpening their sense for goals, and the time when that left foot will roar is near.
"Next, I want to score a goal. No matter the situation, I want to be a player who can score points to help the team win."
In the match against Hiroshima, they were unable to create shooting opportunities or shake the net, but there was no longer any hesitation in their gaze.
After a long and difficult time, he finally grasped the pitch. The 10 minutes in the Hiroshima match became the "first story" engraved in Taiyo YAMAGUCHI's professional career.
And the continuation of that story still holds infinitely expanding possibilities.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
