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Q: First, please tell us about the 2021 season with Nagoya Grampus.
A: It wasn't that I couldn't participate in matches, and we won titles while consistently ranking high in the league. Although it was the early part of the season, there were times when we had a good rivalry with Kawasaki Frontale. We also competed in the ACL, and as a team, we were fulfilling. However, personally, it wasn't a satisfying season, and while my participation as a defensive midfielder increased, it is true that I fought with complex feelings between my personal emotions and the desire to fight for the team. I believe that the reason I couldn't play in that position anymore was due to the results not following when I played as a center-back. It was a year filled with many thoughts.

Q. During your time at Cerezo Osaka, you played under coach LOTINA and formed a solid defensive partnership as a center back with Matej JONJIC. On the other hand, when you transferred to Grampus, I believe you took on the challenge fully aware that you would face competition for the same position from rivals like Yuichi MARUYAMA and Shinnosuke NAKATANI.
A. My time at Cerezo was very fulfilling, but I wanted to challenge myself by changing my environment rather than just playing matches. At Grampus, I was strongly motivated to take the position from the two established regulars, but the main reason was prioritizing the change of environment. On top of that, I aimed to win the competition. At the start of the season, I was on the bench and occasionally played as a center back. I wasn’t too discouraged by that and understood the situation since I transferred to an already well-established team. Then, when Maru-san (MARUYAMA) got injured, the situation changed, and I started playing more as a defensive midfielder rather than a center back. I had a similar experience at Cerezo, and although I was able to play matches, which might be considered a fortunate problem, I honestly had some internal conflict about that.

Q. Kimoto is a player who can perform at a high level both as a center back and as a defensive midfielder, but your true feeling is that you want to compete as a defender, right?
A. That feeling is very strong. Honestly, I feel my limits when playing as a defensive midfielder, but as a center back, I can show my strengths and still have room to grow. Considering my age, I want to compete as a center back from now on. I experienced playing as a center back during Coach LOTINA's era, which greatly expanded my skill set, and that period became the foundation of my career as a player.

Q. How did you feel when you received an offer from Tokyo?
A. I never expected to receive an offer, so I felt very grateful. With the new appointment of Albert PUIG ORTONEDA as coach, I believe the style of play values positioning and ball control, so I thought it would be a challenging and growth-oriented environment. I have the desire to take on the challenge here once again with full determination.

Q. I heard you spoke with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA once. What was your impression at that time?
A. He was a very cheerful and talkative person. Even though he is also a foreign coach, I felt he was different from Coach LOTINA. He himself said, "He (Coach LOTINA) is the complete opposite in personality (laughs)." I was very nervous, but he told me, "Smile more" (laughs). Also, regarding football, he said, "Since it's a style that values ball possession, I think you can grow even more."

Q. What are your impressions of Tokyo's offense and defense so far?
A. Speaking of offense, the powerful attackers definitely make an impact. Of course, there are foreign players, but Japanese players like Kensuke NAGAI, who is a senior from Fukuoka University, also give a diverse impression. As for defense, I think Masato MORISHIGE is the type of player whose style I aspire to, and there are many things I want to learn from him.

Q. As a fellow center back, what aspects of Morishige do you pay attention to?
A. First, in terms of building up attacks, he can deliver both long kicks and short passes effectively. Defensively, he gives the impression of being very thoughtful and intelligent in his marking. I want to learn from that and see it as a style to aim for on both fronts. Although I don't yet have a concrete image of us forming a partnership, he is an excellent player, so I might often rely on his support. I definitely want to form a good partnership with him.

Q. Morishige is a skillful type of player, and like Kimoto, he has also had opportunities to play as an anchor. However, both of them give the impression of being the mainstream type of center backs in modern football.
A. That's right. Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA also said, "Center backs will have more time on the ball." In that sense, if the ball can be played out from both center backs, it will make things difficult for the opponent. Besides Morishige, the team also has young and good center backs, so I want to win the competition there.

Q. By the way, you mentioned your senior from university, player Nagai, but are there any other players you have connections with?
A. Actually, there aren't any at all (laughs).

Q, You're really jumping into a zero-base situation, right? (laughs)
A, Yes, including that, it's a challenge. (laughs) By the way, when I transferred to Grampus, Yoichiro KAKITANI also moved together from Cerezo, but I didn't have any close teammates other than him. Personality-wise, I think jumping into an unfamiliar environment doesn't suit me. I'm not the type to actively start conversations, but this time I transferred from Nagoya to Tokyo. It's contradictory, isn't it? (laughs).

Q. Player Kimoto has won cup titles during his time with Cerezo and Grampus, but he has not yet experienced winning the league championship. This is also the same situation for Tokyo itself, but could you share your thoughts on aiming for the league title?
A. Winning any title is an irreplaceable and unforgettable experience in my football career. I have a very strong desire to experience winning the league title, which I have not yet achieved. I definitely want to accomplish this with Tokyo.

Q. By the way, does Kimoto watch overseas soccer or matches of other J-League clubs?
A. I don't watch overseas games that much. I've watched a lot of J-League matches since my student days. The players I liked were Yuki ABE and Ryota MORIWAKI from the Urawa Reds. After entering Fukuoka University, I started watching the Reds' soccer under the direction of Misha (Mihailo PETROVIC, current Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo coach) a lot. Their style was very attacking and interesting, so I liked it. MORIWAKI was a defender but very good at joining the attack. Since I was also a defender and liked attacking, I watched him. ABE was a player with high quality both as a defensive midfielder and center back. Like Morishige, I always watched him because he was the style of player I aspired to be. Also, I respected his attitude of fighting for the team.

Q. You've lived in your hometown Shizuoka, then Fukuoka during university, followed by Osaka and Nagoya, and now you're starting life in Tokyo for the first time. You've pretty much experienced all the major cities (laughs).
A. Now that you mention it, that's true (laughs). Honestly, I'm only feeling anxious about living in Tokyo. I like the slow-paced atmosphere of Shizuoka, which feels the most familiar to me, and even when I was in big cities, I tried to live while keeping that feeling. Now I'll be in Japan's capital, but since I'm not very good with crowds, I wonder how things will turn out (laughs).

Q. Although it depends on the impact of COVID-19, there is a possibility that spectator restrictions will be eased for the 2022 season, and I think many fans and supporters will return to Tokyo's home, Ajinomoto Stadium. Until now, it has been a stadium we visited as the away team, but is there anything you are looking forward to about playing at Ajinomoto?
A. I had heard before that the number of spectators in 2019 was amazing, and when I played as a member of Cerezo, the matches were held in front of a large crowd, creating a great atmosphere. The matches between Tokyo and Cerezo at Ajinomoto Stadium were teams managed by Kenta HASEGAWA and LOTINA, so I have the impression that they were often tactically interesting battles. It was a type of match where each side’s characteristics came out, so I have very fond memories of it. This time, as the home team, I want to play in a match where Ajinomoto is filled to capacity as soon as possible.

Q. What aspects would you like Tokyo fans and supporters to notice?
A. I think I am a modest type of player, but I have always had a strong desire to contribute to the team, so I want people to notice that even in my behind-the-scenes role. In terms of play, my strength is aerial battles. Especially in defensive challenges, I am good at competing, so I want people to pay attention to that. On the other hand, heading in attack has been a challenge since 2017 as I haven't scored goals, so that is an area I want to improve. I want to fix my inability to finish. Player Morishige scores every season, so I want to learn from him in that regard. Also, although I couldn’t show it much during my time at Grampus, I would like people to watch my passing from the back line as well.

Q. In the context of your football career, it seems that competing here as a center back holds significant meaning for you.
A. Yes, I want to take on the challenge as a center back, and on the other hand, I strongly feel that if I don't achieve results here, it will be the end. I want to approach this with a sense of urgency.

text by YUKI NISHIKAWA