The Japan Football Association announced on March 14th the members of SAMURAI BLUE (Japan national team) who will face the Korea DPR (North Korea) in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia 2nd Qualifiers and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers. Among the list, the name of Yuto NAGATOMO, who last appeared in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 over a year and three months ago, is engraved.
On this day, after practice at the KODAIRA ground, the players were told by coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI.
"I have something to announce that both I and everyone can be proud of. Yuto has been selected for the Japan national team. He always prepares himself well and takes care of his body every day. He also constantly works on his mental approach to improve. I am truly proud of him and I believe he deserves it. Congratulations. Representing the country is an honor, so enjoy it."
When the coach said those words, the players celebrated the 37-year-old's new challenge with applause and cheers.
After finishing the fierce battle on the dream stage, I once considered retirement. However, my strong desire to achieve the first Asian feat of participating in 5 consecutive tournaments kept me going.
"I have put everything into the Qatar tournament for four years. To be honest, I didn't think about the future after the World Cup at all. The first big inspiration I received was watching the final match between Argentina and France, and I was shocked and received a tremendous amount of energy. The greatness of football and the fact that it can move people so much. I was able to stand on that stage. If I don't give up, I may be able to return to that stage again. I felt a bubbling passion and thought that it was up to me to seize this future."
Once again, we burned with the flames of blue and red, fighting with more passion than anyone else. In the midst of it all, we have quietly continued to put in constant effort. The invisible roots that we have nurtured cannot be easily broken. Our insatiable drive for improvement knows no satisfaction. Nagatomo says, "Satisfaction... I don't think I've ever felt satisfied," and continues on.
"Even now, I am not satisfied with my career. I wonder why... My goals and dreams are always high, so my aspirations are also high and my awareness is heightened. That's why I am still not fulfilled."
I have walked a path that no one has ever stepped on. The path appears where there is a will.
The man who knows it has been saying since before the start of this season, "Personally, I have a goal to perform overwhelmingly in the J-League and go to the Japan national team. I have to perform well enough to be selected for the Best Eleven because I am aiming for my fifth World Cup." He always verbalizes his dreams that he wants to achieve and makes them come true. The line called the limit that someone drew is just a mark for Nagatomo to always jump over.
"There were also many people laughing. However, I have always said that I am aiming for my fifth World Cup. As the saying goes, if you continue to speak and believe, the path will continue to connect. Finally, one door has opened. The battle begins from here."
The festival man who has turned ridicule into a genuine smile is chasing after his own footsteps and has finally declared himself as the "next Nagatomo". In his eyes, the tough competition that is about to begin and the path he must take are reflected. That is why he repeats the words to himself, "It's not over yet. This is just the beginning. This is just a passing point."
"I have been called 'old man' since the Russia tournament. The four years leading up to the Qatar tournament were also a very difficult path, and I received a lot of criticism. But I kept believing and fighting until I reached here. Now, there are only two years left. I know that an even tougher path awaits, so I must be prepared and continue to fight. I really want to make the most of this opportunity and give it my all."
I have been called "old man" for a long time, but I may be able to give courage to people of my generation and various professions who are called veterans. Even if I am called an old man, I am fighting and aiming for my fifth World Cup, which no one has ever achieved before. I want to show my way of life."
The time has come. With a proud record of 142 appearances for the national team, he will surpass the record for the second most appearances and become the fourth oldest player to play. He will change from blue and red to the blue uniform and we, the passionate Tokyo team, will take on a great challenge.
Now, it's Yuto NAGATOMO's turn.
Text by Tadashi BABA (Freelance Writer)
