Finally, on Apr 29 (Fri, Holiday), Tokyo will play its first J-League match at the new Japan National Stadium.
At the National Stadium before renovation, we have played many official matches since our first year in the J.League. There were memorable super plays and impactful events. Since achieving our long-awaited title, Tokyo has won all titles at the National Stadium, symbolizing the deep connection between Tokyo and the National Stadium.
Our National.
Before taking a new step at the National Stadium, let's look back at the footprints and memories left at the previous National Stadium with photos from that time.
2013 National Dreams Come True. 20 Years at National Stadium
【Match Information】
2013 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup / Group B Sec. 6
FC Tokyo 2-1 Albirex Niigata
2013 J-League Division 1 Sec. 23
FC Tokyo 2-3 Sagan Tosu
The 2013 season had two special moments at the Japan National Stadium.
The first match was against Sagan Tosu in the J1 League Sec. 23 on August 28th. Prior to the September 7th International Olympic Committee (IOC) General Assembly (to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina) where the host city for the 2020 Olympics will be decided, Tokyo Dorompa lit the Olympic flame as part of a Tokyo Olympics bid event before the match. It was a moment where the mascot of Tokyo took on the responsibility as the capital's J-League club, using the same Olympic flame that was used in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
The next match will be against Albirex Niigata on May 15th in the 6th round of the Nabisco Cup group stage. It is also worth noting that this stadium hosted the official match between Verdy Kawasaki and Yokohama Marinos, which was the opening match of the J-League 20 years ago, on the same day, May 15th. Therefore, this match has attracted attention as a memorial match.
And above all, the players themselves were motivated. On May 15, 1993, Naohiro Ishikawa and Chun Son Lee, who were watching the pitch from the stands, started in the starting lineup. And Ishikawa, who was part of the J-League generation that grew up with a strong admiration for the J-League, scored the opening goal at the National Stadium. Although the game ended with a 1-1 tie, Hirotaka Mita's goal put them ahead, so Ishikawa's goal was not the deciding one. However, everyone present celebrated Ishikawa, who "has it at the National Stadium".
"When I scored a goal, I had a strong feeling that the ball would come to me, and I was able to concentrate and score. (Is today's goal special?) It's special. Even if I'm told to shoot again, I can't do it, and I can't do it in that (special) atmosphere. It's a special goal for me, a big win for the team, and I think it's a new start for the J-League."
After the match, Ishikawa said, "May 15, 20 years ago, was the day my dream turned into a reality. I entered the match while recalling my memories of when the J-League started on that stage, and it was amazing," with an expression of overwhelming emotion.
Text by Wataru GOTO (Freelance Writer)
