Q: How do you analyze the battle so far, looking back on the first half?
A: The season began with the challenge of a new style under a new coach, and for us, every day has been full of new discoveries and realizations. As the first half of the season is coming to an end, I believe the most important thing is for us to enthusiastically and proactively engage in the new things we work on during practice and to improve ourselves day by day starting from training. It is crucial to approach both team tactics and individual tactics with the mindset of gradually improving from practice, so in that sense, I feel that we are not heading in the wrong direction but moving in a good direction.
Q, you commented that the new style is a new challenge for yourself. Do you feel your growth in adapting to the new style during the game?
A: First of all, I am working every day in practice to improve little by little, from yesterday to today, and from today to tomorrow. Therefore, I have a very positive attitude toward the new style, and I intend to continue working every day to keep getting better. The difficulty of the new style is that it doesn’t progress easily as a team, but if you look back, compared to the first week of the preseason camp at the start of the season, we have gradually improved, and we ourselves feel that. I think time is necessary, and for the team to mature further, each individual must spend more time focusing on the finer details and working hard. However, as we compete this season, good aspects are emerging, so by taking a positive view and each person working hard to win matches and aim for the title, I believe the team will mature even more.
Q: Many media outlets have mentioned Jakub SLOWIK as a key player in the first half of the season. How do you feel about your own performance?
A: As for myself, I train every day with the mindset of becoming a better goalkeeper today than I was yesterday, and better tomorrow than today. Of course, this season there have been matches where we earned points because I was able to stop shots, and there have been several occasions where I prevented decisive chances, but I believe it is not just my individual effort—it is the combined strength of the entire team, including the defenders. I also think that goals scored are not just the achievement of the player who scored but a reflection of the whole team’s effort. In that sense, I feel the entire team is moving in a better direction. I play as a representative of the team, but I have the support of fellow goalkeepers like Kodama and Go HATANO, who train alongside me, as well as the coaching staff and many others who support us during matches. Thanks to everyone fighting alongside me, we have been able to achieve good results so far. With gratitude toward all my teammates, I want to continue preparing thoroughly so that when I step onto the pitch as the team’s representative, I can deliver a strong performance.
Q: What do you need to do to make the team better in the second half?
A, Soccer is a sport where even small things can change the outcome. To achieve good results, it is important to believe in what we are currently working on and continue. Sometimes, it requires patience, but continuing nonetheless is crucial. In that sense, I am confident that Tokyo will be able to achieve good results soon. I want to do my best to win the next match. Truly, the path we should take is not wrong, so I believe it all comes down to every member of the team believing in what we are doing now and continuing to work hard.
