A center back representing Japan national team and a young soccer boy. After more than ten years, the two became teammates. Both players, who have similar careers and playing styles, share their thoughts on reuniting in blue and red since their first encounter. Reflecting on past memories, they discussed the theory of center backs.
──First, please tell us about how the two of you met.
Masato MORISHIGE There it is, that story. I remember it.
Hayato Inamura It seems to be the Komazawa Athletic Stadium used for the National High School Soccer Championship. I was too young to remember it (laughs). It seems my older brother took a photo together there.
Morishige went to Komazawa to watch a match of his alma mater (Hiroshima Minami High School), and he remembers taking a photo with someone.
──It's amazing that those two became teammates more than ten years later.
Morishige That's amazing.
Inamura Morishige-san is amazing. I can't understand it.
Morishige It's almost 12 years ago since the end of 2013.
Inamura Even when I was in junior high school, I had my photo taken at Ajinomoto Stadium. I went to watch a match of FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa, and after the game, in the parking lot, together with Tokiwа (Kota), Kumakura (Takumi), Soma ANZAI, Keisuke Sato, and everyone else. I remember that clearly. I also had my photo taken with Kento HASHIMOTO, so that was about 8 years ago.
── When unraveling the careers of the two, there are many common points. First, both missed promotion to the youth team and ended up playing in the high school athletic federation. How have you utilized that rebellious spirit?
Yosuke MORISHIGE In the Sanfrecce Hiroshima Junior Youth team, there was a player named Makino (Tomoaki) on the same team, and when I entered high school, Yosuke KASHIWAGI was in the youth team. Since there were players nearby who were both rivals and friends, I felt frustrated when I couldn't get promoted while they advanced to the youth team. I have been chasing after them with the strong desire to prove myself. If anything, I think my football career has often put me in such a position, but I believe that has been a great source of energy in building my career.
Inamura I couldn't play at all in matches for FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa, but for some reason, I always had a feeling somewhere inside me that I would definitely become a professional. After entering Maebashi Ikuei High School, there was a period when my interest in soccer waned a bit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I always had a sense that I could become a professional.
Morishige What period was the COVID-19 pandemic?
Inamura It was when I was a third-year high school student. The high school championship was also held without spectators. After entering Toyo University, I realized that "I have to get serious or it will be bad," and that was the trigger for my ambition. I think I always had the desire to definitely surpass the players who were promoted to FC Tokyo U-18.
──Both players were originally in attacking positions before being converted to center backs.
Morishige When I was in the third year of junior high school, I changed from a forward to a defensive midfielder, and at that time, I was quite resistant, or rather, I had strong feelings of "why?" I talked with the coach, but as a result, I was able to bring out my strengths and even joined the Japan national team for my age group as a defensive midfielder. Because of that successful experience, when I entered the professional world and was converted to a center back, I thought, "The coach is not just saying things randomly," and I felt that he said it after seeing various aspects of me, so I took on the challenge positively. Actually trying it was fun, and moving from defensive midfielder to center back felt almost like there was no pressure, so I could play freely. The coach at that time also told me to play as I liked, so I think I was able to steadily refine the style of play I wanted in my own way.
Inamura Actually, I had no clear idea of my strengths or the type of player I wanted to become, so I wandered around playing various positions. It wasn't that I particularly wanted to play up front; rather, I was often placed there in middle school because I was short. I had a certain level of skill, so I also played as a defensive midfielder, shadow striker, and fullback. At that time, I felt like I didn't have a place to belong (laughs). However, in the summer of my second year of high school, Mr. Sakurai, who was the B team coach at the time, told me to play as a center back. Yamada Kosuke, the head coach, came to watch that match, and I was able to move up to the top team right away. I don't think I would have become a professional if I hadn't played center back.
── It seems that player Inamura referred to player Morishige as a center back.
Inamura That's right. When I was in junior high, I went to watch every week, and when it comes to Tokyo center backs, it was Mori-kun. Coach Yamada mentioned Ryotaro TSUNODA, a senior from Maebashi Ikuei High School, and said, "For defense, refer to Morishige." I really took him as a reference, and he is a player I have watched continuously from junior high age through to joining the pros.
──It’s emotional to see a conversation between a player who became a center back under the guidance of Coach Yamada, who converted the late Naoki Matsuda, a former Japan national team star, into a defender, and a player who was once said to resemble Matsuda.
Morishige It's nice, isn't it? Even though we're talking about a long time ago, I think, "I'm still active as a player," (laughs bitterly).
──Building your careers, how do you see each other as center backs?
Morishige Regarding his left-footed passes, he is at a level that is quite rare from what I have seen, and I think he might be the best. There are similarities in our senses, and his left-foot accuracy is high with clean ball control. Even when watching the Tokyo vs. Niigata match, vertical passes kept coming in steadily. He is a center back who makes you want to watch the game, an exciting player to watch. Since that is also the place I have aimed for, I think Inai, who embodies that, is a player who is fun to watch.
Inamura I'm happy about that. Mori-kun is a player who can do that with both feet, and on top of that, I think he is an outstanding defensive player. I tend to be focused on offense, but in addition to that, I have the image that Mori-kun is a player who can also compete in defense, so there is a lot to learn from him.
──The other day, you said you wanted to hear directly from player Morishige. Were you able to ask him anything?
Morishige No, no, it's still early, how many days into the camp is it? (laughs).
Inamura That's something for the future. There will be times when we play together, and I want them to tell me what they think when they watch, and I also plan to ask about things I'm curious about myself.
──This might be a bit difficult to talk about, but I would like to ask about the competition for positions. In the past, we have seen players challenge Morishige and lose. Now, a new challenger has come to face the player who has overcome such battles.
Morishige That’s a harsh way to put it (wry smile). It’s been like that every year, but there are still many things I can learn from the new players who join, and it’s been a good stimulus. Like I mentioned earlier, my soccer career has been about growing through those frustrating experiences. I’ve been in Tokyo all along, but just being satisfied there isn’t enjoyable. In recent years, there have been times when I lost my position and then fought to regain it, and experiencing that sense of urgency is really fun. I truly believe it becomes my strength, and I feel very fortunate to be able to experience that kind of battle at this age as I play.
Inamura I believe I have a slightly different style and something outstanding compared to the players I have challenged so far. While competing in different areas, I want to steal whatever I can. Since I am aiming for the Japan national team, I have to surpass Mori-kun to get in. I think taking his regular position will lead to my growth. I hear a lot of things, but honestly, I want to surpass him.
──There is also a possibility of forming a duo, and I would also like to see the three of us lined up together with Alexander SCHOLZ.
Morishige That's interesting too.
Inamura During the first half of the 2025 season, we played with a three-back formation, so watching that, I thought it would be interesting if I joined. The ball would circulate really well, and I'll leave all the defense to you (laughs).
Morishige No, no, no (nervous laugh).
Inamura I thought it would be fine to have man-to-man marking at the back.
Morishige I wish you had come 10 years earlier. I think it would have been interesting if we could have been together a little earlier.
Inamura is still a junior high school student (laughs nervously).
──Around the second day of the camp, Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI instructed the center backs to push up and peel off one player, and from there, Morishige increased his ball carrying a bit. What do you think of a senior player trying to improve at this age?
Morishige I don't like it. You probably think, "Isn't it enough already?" (laughs).
Inamura I think they should take it easy for a while (laughs). When the senior players push themselves that hard, we really feel like we’re not enough. I don’t think it’s a given to get that kind of motivation from them, and it’s a blessing for the younger players to see that they have ambition and a willingness to learn. It makes us feel like we have to do even more. But honestly, I do wish they’d stop just a little bit (laughs).
── Player Inamura once had the experience of going out into the world and being thoroughly defeated. Although Player Morishige was unable to make another challenge for the World Cup, in a way, he must be happy that a player who can entrust that to has come alongside him.
Morishige Nowadays, center-backs of this style must have technical skills with the ball at their feet as a standard, but I think he possesses something outstanding among them. I'm looking forward to seeing how far he can go using that as his weapon. Including the fact that I myself have not played in Europe, I am interested in how far Japanese center-backs of this style can go, so I hope he goes as far as possible.
Inamura I wanted to join Tokyo because Mori-kun and Scholz are here, and I can't end my career like this. In that sense, I believe my mission is to firmly secure my position, continue playing in matches, and keep growing.
(Titles omitted in the text)
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
