Q, Please tell us your honest thoughts about becoming a professional soccer player.
A, I am sincerely happy because it has been my dream since I was little. I am very proud to be able to start my professional soccer career at Tokyo, the beloved club that I have been with since my first year of junior high school.
Q: How was the promotion to the top team communicated to player Kobayashi?
A, There was a player interview for FC Tokyo U-18, and there I was told that "promotion was decided". My mother, who was present at the interview, was also very happy, and I also felt excited. I was able to participate in the top team's practice from my first year of high school, and I was happy because I had strong feelings for promotion.
Q, you have participated in the top team's camp for two consecutive seasons. How was the feeling?
During my first season participating as a high school first-year student, I was desperate to keep up with my teammates and could only focus on stopping shots. This season, I had a little more room to breathe and was able to incorporate my own ideas into my play. Participating in two consecutive camps allowed me to truly feel my growth. Of course, there were mistakes, but since camp involved daily training, I was able to repeat and reflect on what I couldn't do and focus on playing with my own ideas.
Q: Please tell us about the parts where you were able to compete against professional players and the parts where you felt there was a difference.
A, First of all, I felt that being able to stop shots was my strong point. The players on the top team have excellent situational judgment and have the experience to respond quickly, so I wanted to gain more experience and continue to grow.
Q: Was there a player who left a particularly strong impression?
A, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA player. Despite being three years older and close in age, he showed a significant difference in physical ability and shot stopping, which was very inspiring for me.
Q, Player Nozawa was also selected for the Japan national team members to be held on New Year's Day.
A, I really think it's amazing. When I heard that Noguchi had joined the Japan national team, I strongly felt that I wanted to strive to reach that level, as our careers have some similarities.
Q: Previously, you mentioned being impressed by the "attitude" of players Yuto Nagatomo and Kuryu Matsuki.
A, Nagatomo is always looking at the whole team, and when the team's atmosphere is not good, he speaks up and surprises me with his ability to lift the overall mood and make each individual more positive. Matsuki, even in his first year as a high school graduate, was able to interact with professional players and compete on the field, leaving a strong impression on me.
Q: Please tell us about your playing style and strengths.
A, I am good at dynamic plays. I am also skilled in shot stopping, high balls, and handling cross balls, so I hope you will pay attention to me.
Q: Please tell us what motivated you to become a goalkeeper.
A, I used to be tall, so I played as a goalkeeper in soccer. When I stopped the shot, I saw the opponent's frustrated face and thought, "Being a goalkeeper is fun." After that, I was recommended by a coach and started playing as a goalkeeper seriously in 4th grade of elementary school. It was fun to stop shots. At first, I felt pain and fear, but gradually it disappeared and I was able to enjoy stopping shots.
Q: What was your initial impression of Tokyo?
I have been watching Tokyo games since I was in elementary school, and I have visited Ajinomoto Stadium many times with my friends on days off. Of course, at that time, I never thought I would play in Tokyo and I thought it was a club far from me.
Q, What was your time like at FC Tokyo U-15 Musashi during your three years in junior high school?
A, I was blessed with a very good team. Nakamura Manabu (Shizuoka Gakuen High School), who is the same age as me, and my seniors were all like that, and we had a good rivalry. Playing with everyone, I was able to lay the foundation for my goalkeeping for three years.
Q, What is the relationship with player Nakamura whose name has come up?
A, a friend and a rival. We are not just getting along because we are close, but when we play soccer, we compete and advise each other, share various things including the way of thinking of the goalkeeper, and I think we have been striving together.
Q, With Nakamura choosing Verdy as his path after graduating high school, we can't help but expect a new "story" to unfold.
A, yes. I want to show the scene of me and Nakamura playing on the J1 stage soon, as Verdy has returned to J1, and I want to work hard and grow to reach that level quickly.
Q, What was your time like at FC Tokyo U-18, where you spent three years during high school, for you, Kobayashi?
A, as expected, the level of goalkeepers in the U-18 team is very high. This includes players like Saito Asahi, who is one year older, and players like Goto Wataru, who is two years older. There was also Goto Wataru, who was one year younger. In particular, I was conscious of Saito Asahi, who is the same age as me. In the first semester of my third year, I was given the opportunity to play in games, even though players like Saito and Goto were also on the team. I felt a great sense of responsibility. Saito is also a very good goalkeeper and is the player I respect the most. Goto also excels in shot-stopping and kicking abilities. I believe that in the same environment as U-15 Musashi, he was able to improve his skills and abilities as a goalkeeper while also having great relationships with his teammates.
Q, This season, with the long-term absence of captain Okazaki Daichi, you had many opportunities to wear the captain's armband. What kind of role did you have in mind?
When player A Okazaki was out for a long period of time, I decided to take on the role of captain and lead the team until he returned. It was my first time being captain and there were times when I didn't know what to do, but since I am not bad at communicating, I thought I would talk with my teammates on and off the pitch and try to move the team in a positive direction.
Q, During this year's summer club youth championship, the team achieved second place in the nation. However, I believe that player Kobayashi did not have many opportunities to play. What was your experience like in that tournament?
In the first national tournament of my generation, it was a very enjoyable but at the same time the most regrettable tournament. Of course, I wanted to play and lead the team to victory, but under the decision of coach Takashi OKUHARA, I thought about "what can I do from the bench to help the team win" and "how can I make the team win". Especially in terms of communication and my role on the bench, it was a tournament where I can say I did everything I could, so I have no regrets. As a player, I am happy that we won, but the desire to play was strong.
Q, how do you think the experience of being the only goalkeeper on the pitch will affect you this season?
Not being able to play in the U-18 games was not a negative thing at all, but rather a positive thing. I didn't feel like I wasn't growing just because I couldn't play in the games. Even in the top team, I may not be involved in many games at first, but I want to gain experience while getting used to the speed of the pros, and always strive to aim for a starting position. I want to continue to do my best every day.
Q, What are your goals for your first professional season?
A, I have a strong desire to absorb the good points of my seniors and express myself, as the level of Tokyo's goalkeepers is high. I want to get involved in the game and compete for my position from the first season.
Q, What is the place you want to reach as a soccer player, and how far can you imagine it?
A, The other day, Nozawa was selected for the Japan national team, and seeing that, my desire to join the Japan national team has become even stronger. I understand that I need to perform well in Tokyo in order to achieve that. I want to give my all and make an impression from the training camp.
Q, What kind of play do you imagine yourself playing at Ajinomoto Stadium with fans and supporters?
I dream of saving my team with my favorite shot stop and making a guts pose.
Q, Many fans and supporters come to FC Tokyo U-18 matches, and there is always a strong impression of passionate support.
A, Despite receiving continuous support from the Premier League, I felt responsible for not being able to win. While we were determined to meet the expectations of our fans and supporters, it was their cheers that gave us the strength to strive for victory. Especially during the national tournament in the summer, we were able to achieve those results because of the support from our fans and supporters, and I am very grateful for that.
Q, Finally, please give a message to the fans and supporters of Tokyo.
A, Not only to all the fans and supporters who have been supporting me so far, but also to those who will support me as I join the top team, I will do my best to show my strong shot-stopping skills in official matches and help the team win. Please support me.
Text by Takashi Tsuchiya (Football Writer)
