TOKYOism

Q, Please tell us your honest thoughts on becoming a professional soccer player.
A, I have been attending a school in Tokyo since I was in elementary school, so Tokyo has always been close to me. I am sincerely happy because I have been working hard with the desire to become a professional and to be active in this club. When I received the offer, I strongly thought, "I want to do my best here."

Q, It's not that I wanted to become a J.League player, but that I wanted to become a J.League player in Tokyo.
A, of course. When I had a meeting with the coach of Meiji University, he asked me, "Which club is good?" and I told him, "Tokyo is the only choice." I joined this club with the sole purpose of performing well.

Q: What were your thoughts when you received an offer from Tokyo?
A, I had both a feeling of happiness and a sense of crisis, and I had to do it with both feelings.

Q, What was your time like at Meiji University after not being able to promote from FC Tokyo U-18 to the top team?
A, it was a period where I could live a life dedicated to soccer 24 hours a day, including my personality and way of thinking. I think it was a big time for me. It was four years where I could grow both physically and mentally.

Q, please also tell me about the presence of Seiji KIMURA and Kashif BANGNAGANDE, who are both my classmates in the academy.
A, Kazufumi Takashi is a player who has been together since elementary school 6th grade at the school, and with Kimura at FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa, they are both teammates who have grown together. I wanted to play on the pitch of Ajinomoto Stadium with these players. They are both teammates and rivals. They are a source of good motivation.

Q, Did the two of them achieve promotion from FC Tokyo U-18 to the top team? Do you remember how you felt at that time?
A, I thought that the two of us would be promoted, but when it actually happened, I felt regret. I vividly remember talking to my parents and crying after the interview to determine if I could be promoted. Takashi OKUHARA (FC Tokyo U-18 coach/former academy director) sent me to Meiji University as my next step, so I decided to use that regret as motivation and train for four years in university to definitely return to Tokyo.

Q: Were you able to see the two players' performances and plays honestly?
A, I deliberately watched and studied how I would have done it, and I practiced with the motivation to work hard and break into the U-22 Japan national team, which two people have been selected for.

Q, Was there a particular player, especially Kimura, who you were aware of because they played in the same position?
A, I was very conscious (laughs). I was always watching. However, I was more focused on growing and being evaluated rather than surpassing player CACA. While polishing what he doesn't have, he was physically superior, so I was working to catch up and surpass him while in college.

Q: Have you received any contact from player Kimura since the announcement of his decision to join Tokyo?
A,"Welcome back," but I want more sense of crisis (laughs). I'm here to take the position. But he seemed happy.

Q, there is also a possibility that three people who have been striving on the final line will line up.
A, I think it is important for the club to have as many academy players as possible in the starting lineup of official matches, so I am looking forward to playing together with them on the back line.

Q, please tell me your strong points in playing.
A, please watch the aerial battle utilizing long feeds and height with both feet.

Q, college graduates are expected to be immediate contributors from their first year of joining.
A, Yuto Nagatomo (RWD Molenbeek), Shuto ABE, and Hotaka NAKAMURA, who are my seniors from university, were already involved in games since their first year of joining. I also want to challenge myself and not lose to them. There is a great player, Masato MORISHIGE, in the center back position, but I want to play with the ambition to compete for that position and take it away.

Q: Can you imagine yourself wearing the blue and red uniform again and standing on the pitch at Ajinomoto Stadium?
A, I have an image and I am already feeling nervous and excited. Because I have been going to Ajinomoto Stadium since I was young, I may not feel it at first, but I always have to approach it with the image of playing at Ajinomoto Stadium. It's not a world where you can play in a game and be scared and not be able to play your own game, so I want to play with confidence from the beginning.

Q, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
A, not just because he's back, but I want to pay Teppei OKA and this game for his hard work and fighting for the team, and I want to play in a way that makes him want to pay for this game.

Q: Please tell us your goal for your first year as a professional.
It is a near goal to participate and perform well in the opening match of the 2024 season. And we will strive to make Tokyo the J1 League champion.