Growing up in blue and red since elementary school. The center-back, who is expected to be the future of the club, has been promoted from FC Tokyo U-18 to the top team. In the 2024 season, while still belonging to U-18, he is registered as a second player and made his top team debut in the Emperor's Cup in June. He felt a renewed sense of responsibility to fight in the blue and red uniform at Ajinomoto Stadium. Shuto NAGANO expressed, "I want to approach it with the mindset of competing for a starting position from my first year." We spoke with the young defender, who is also preparing to take on the challenge from Asia to the world wearing the national flag, about his journey to promotion and his current state of mind.
──Congratulations on your promotion to the top team. First, please tell us how you felt when you heard the good news.
Thank you very much. Honestly, I was very happy. I have thought that moving up to the top team in a club like Tokyo is not easy. I have really worked hard to become a professional, which has been my dream, so I was truly happy.
I have been going to Kodaira since I was in elementary school.
Since the 5th grade of elementary school, I have been practicing as a member of FC Tokyo Soccer School Advanced Class in the Kodaira course. I am truly happy to have been able to turn professional in this club after being nurtured in the academy for such a long time.
──At that time, I was in the same Advanced Class as Ryunosuke SATO.
That's right. The U-15 team was divided into Musashi and Fukagawa, but I really feel that it's deeply moving to be able to play soccer in the professional world with players I've practiced with since elementary school.
──Including your self-introduction, what kind of player do you think you are?
I think my characteristic is going aggressively to win the ball in one-on-one situations, and I believe that is a weapon that I won't lose to others.
I heard from the staff who were involved during the academy days that he said he "liked defense" since he was in elementary school. There are not many players like that, so those who coached him at the time were also impressed.
While it's common to focus on players who are good at attacking, I found it enjoyable to take the ball away from skilled players. I have played by figuring out how I could take the ball myself. The moment I actually managed to take the ball after thinking it through was the most enjoyable moment for me.
──I heard you also attended the Japan School of Boca Juniors (Argentina).
I attended Boca's school from around the 3rd grade of elementary school until I graduated. There, I learned various aspects of the intense Argentine style of play and defense, and I feel that the skills I acquired there are still beneficial to me today.
──At that time, I also heard stories that people actually went to Argentina.
When I moved up from 5th to 6th grade, I had the opportunity to go to Argentina through Boca's project and play soccer with Boca players of the same age and players from other Argentine teams. Experiencing the intensity of South American play and the soccer environment at the elementary school level was truly a great experience. I was also able to watch a match at the stadium of Boca's top team and felt the passion for soccer. I still vividly remember the scene where all the fans, supporters, and players came together and got excited.
──Did you experience "La Bombonera (the home stadium of Boca Juniors)"?
It was truly amazing. I still remember it vividly. Fans and supporters were climbing over the fence, and the smoke from the flares was billowing. Boca scored about three goals, and honestly, the stadium was shaking. The roar was incredible, and everyone, regardless of their seat location, was genuinely happy and enthusiastic. I felt a sensation that gave me goosebumps all over.
──That original experience is... amazing.
This is a project where we go as a team from Boca's Japan School, taking into consideration the environment and safety. Since the players we usually train with were also there, my parents encouraged me by saying, 'You should give it a try.' I believe that my love for intense play has been influenced, at least in part, by the valuable experiences I had in Argentina. At the Japan School, I received direct coaching from local coaches, which included coaching methods unique to overseas instructors, different from Japanese ones, and a passionate approach that might have been a bit different from others. It was a special experience. My mindset towards competition was partly taught during practice, and even now, I always think about my awareness of competition and the determination to never lose while playing.
──What was the time like during the 6 years of middle and high school wearing blue and red?
I feel that I have grown a lot over the past six years. I don't think I was an outstanding player when I was in elementary school, and at FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa, I was completely outmatched by the skilled players around me. My elementary school team wasn't very strong, so when I joined Fukagawa, I was introduced to a new standard of play, and I believe I was able to improve by competing and training alongside those talented players.
Do you have any memories from your three years in junior high school?
I believe that in Fukagawa, I was trained as a person in aspects other than just playing, such as the importance of meals. In soccer, during my third year, I was conscious of bringing the team together, but until then, I wasn't very good at speaking up. I think that is an area where I was pointed out by Coach Masato OTA and was able to grow.
──Please tell us if there is anything that has left an impression after the promotion of FC Tokyo U-18.
Since entering high school, I believe that more than I expected has happened one after another. I was able to play in a match right after moving up to U-18, and I was called up to the age-specific national team for the first time. In terms of encounters, I learned a lot from Takashi Okuhara, and I think the experience of being able to practice every day with Kanta DOI, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, Naoki KUMATA (currently on a developmental loan to Iwaki FC), and Renta HIGASHI (on a developmental loan to Giravanz Kitakyushu starting from the 2025 season) has greatly contributed to my personal growth.
──When I was a first-year high school student, I was playing with a very strong-willed third-year student.
Well, at first I was a bit intimidated (laughs). But as I practiced together and got to play in matches, I think I was recognized by those around me. Also, the fact that the third-year students kindly reached out to me helped me blend in well.
Are there any players you should aim for in the top team?
Dohi has always played together with me, and since our positions are close, he is a senior I truly respect. When I was a first-year high school student, I always watched him play and learned a lot. He can be a bit absent-minded off the pitch (laughs). He is also very kind and easy to talk to, so I am really grateful to him.
──FC Tokyo U-18 was making steady progress, but last year we experienced a significant injury. Given that it wouldn't have been surprising for me to be promoted last summer alongside player Sato, I must have been carrying some regret as well.
Honestly, during my second year of high school, I continuously dealt with injuries, and I felt that I was a bit behind players like Sato and others of the same age, so I honestly had a lot of frustration. However, I believe there were also things I gained because of the injuries. I was able to focus on building my body during the rehabilitation period, so in that sense, I think it was a meaningful time.
──Next season, battles await from the AFC U-20 Asian Cup to the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Beyond that, there is also the Los Angeles Olympics. As someone who experienced disappointment at last year's FIFA U-17 World Cup after returning from injury, I believe there is a desire to seek revenge on the world.
1A year ago, I experienced the most frustrating moment of my life, and I truly want to return to this stage. Next season, that opportunity will come again, but first, I need to make an impression in the professional world; it won't be easy to reach that point. Therefore, I want to focus on how much I can showcase my abilities within the team. As we move into the Olympic generation, it will become a place where only players who excel in the top level of the J1 League or overseas leagues will be selected. For me, it depends on how early I can play as a key player in Tokyo. I want to approach it with the mindset of competing for a starting position from my first year.
The factor that helped me recover from what can be said to be the most frustrating experience of my life.
Honestly, the presence of my teammates was significant. I was feeling down for a while, but I think I was really saved by their half-joking encouragement and the bright atmosphere they created around me when I was feeling low.
──This season in the final year of the academy, I have been living a life going back and forth between the top team and U-18. What have you gained from that experience?
Participating in practice with the top team was indeed a special experience. It was a completely different environment from the U-18 team, and there were many high-level players. Even from just one practice session, I gained a lot. That time was precious and truly became a wonderful experience for me.
──I made my top debut in the 2nd Round of the Emperor's Cup match against Veertien Mie held in June. How did you feel the moment you stepped onto the pitch?
I was really nervous. When I played in the match, I felt that "this is the world of professionals," but at the same time, I also felt that "I want to play more on this pitch," so I thought I had to work even harder.
──It was my top team debut at Ajinomoto Stadium. The view from the stands and the view from the pitch were completely different, weren't they?
As a member of the professionals, I realized that standing on the pitch at Ajinomoto Stadium comes with a responsibility to receive support from fans and supporters. When I was cheering from the stands, I had the feeling of "I absolutely want them to win," so now that I am wearing the blue and red uniform, I feel that I must always fight with all my might, and I keenly feel the responsibility of standing on the pitch.
──Starting next season, I will have to compete for positions with Masato MORISHIGE and players like Dohi, who is also a senior from the academy. What are your thoughts on that competition?
1Just because it's my first year, I can't just passively follow someone else; I believe that if I spend my time that way, I will end up wasting a year. I want to show proactivity regardless of the age difference with my seniors, and I want to play actively from before the season starts so that I can be recognized by the coach, staff, and my fellow players. However, I understand that even if I perform well in practice, there may be times when I can't play in matches or things don't go as I wish, which is part of the professional world. Honestly, I do feel anxious, but I am very excited about how much I can achieve in that environment and how I can turn around situations when I can't play.
Four players from the same year, including Sato, have been promoted to the top team. In the future, there will likely be players who meet again in the professional league after going through university. What kind of presence do those teammates have?
I believe that I wouldn't be who I am today without the members I've played with so far. We have motivated each other and improved together while playing in Tokyo. I want to play soccer together again, and I hope we can reunite in this professional world someday.
──Finally, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
I want to demonstrate my strengths, such as my ability to win duels and build up play, so that I can be recognized by the fans and supporters. To be able to play as a core member of this team, effort is essential. I will do my best to compete firmly in the professional world from now on. Thank you for your support.
♢Shuto NAGANO Profile
Date of Birth: April 15, 2006
Height/Weight: 182cm/77kg
Hometown: Nerima, Tokyo
Career: FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa → FC Tokyo U-18
Representative history: U-16 Japan national team, U-17 Japan national team, U-18 Japan national team
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
