Q: Please tell us what led to your decision to continue playing and renew your contract with FC Tokyo.
A: To be honest, after the FIFA World Cup 2026™ ended, the feelings I had poured into it over the past four years were so strong that, after the defeat, I was leaning toward retirement. However, even though I returned to FC Tokyo five years ago determined to win a title, I had not been able to bring the club a single trophy. As the days went by, feelings of disappointment in myself and frustration kept growing. Then, from the bottom of my heart, a passion rose up within me: “I want to win again with FC Tokyo and lift the trophy.” That made my desire to continue playing for FC Tokyo grow stronger.
Q: What does FC Tokyo mean to you, Nagatomo?
A: What does it mean to me... It is like a family that fights together. Coming back here naturally makes me feel like, “Let’s do this again.” It brings me a sense of calm, and when this contract was finalized, I was reminded once again of just how much I truly love this club.
Q: What kind of play would you like to show the younger players? Also, please tell us if there was anything that reignited your passion.
A: I want to show the younger players my strengths: competing for every ball and fighting spirit. Those are my strong points. On the day we lost to Brazil at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, I was in a daze, as if my heart had been pierced. Even though my legs hurt, they were aching to keep fighting. I then spent time in the off-season, but honestly, the gap between my body and my mind was difficult. My body still wanted to fight after the World Cup ended with a sense of unfinished business, but it felt as though there was a hole in my heart, and I could not see a vision for the future.
However, as the days went by, the frustration of losing at the World Cup returned, along with a growing sense of shame and frustration at myself for not having won a single title in the five years since I came back here. That is how I came to feel that I wanted to lift the shield here once again and fight to win a title. Physically, I had been ready from immediately after the World Cup ended.
Q: When did you make your decision after the FIFA World Cup 2026™? Going forward, will you aim for the next World Cup with the Japan national team, or will you retire from international football?
A: I made the decision around three weeks later. To be honest, I could not bring myself to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™ because the disappointment was so painful. But as I reflected on myself, my passion kept growing stronger. As long as I am a player, I want to aim for the Japan national team. It is not that I will retire from the national team on my own; it is up to the manager to decide whether I am needed. I will continue to work with the goal of representing Japan.
Q: You recently returned to your hometown of Ehime Prefecture, didn’t you?
A: When I went back to Ehime, I was able to relax and see the children, which gave me energy. I think they helped heal the hole in my heart and gave me the impetus to move forward again. I was able to recharge in Ehime, and I am extremely happy to be able to move forward again by signing with the club I love. I am also grateful to everyone in Ehime.
Q. What was the reaction when you told the other players?
A. When I met the players, the younger ones looked very happy. I was happy too, and I shared a heartfelt hug with Masato Morishige, whom I have fought alongside for many years. I think we had both been waiting for this. I am happy to be able to fight alongside him again, and I want to lift the trophy with him.
Q. When you consulted your family about your decision, did they say anything that encouraged you to go ahead?
A. My wife, Airi (Airi Taira), told me even after the FIFA World Cup 2026™ had ended that she wanted me to continue playing. When I asked her why, she said, “Isn’t it a waste to quit when your body is still moving so well, when you are healthy and free of injuries?” My children also told me, “We want to keep seeing you out there fighting on the pitch.” They put a lot of pressure on me too, asking, “Why did you lose at the World Cup?” But I have overcome that myself and am standing here today. To be a good father, I want to wear FC Tokyo’s blue-and-red kit and give everything on this pitch again. That is the side of myself I want to show them.
Q: You will turn 40 next month. What goals do you have?
A: I am not conscious of my age at all. I believe I am more fired up than anyone else. Even in my 40s, I have no intention of changing my style of play. I want to run and fight harder than anyone else on the pitch, and thrill the fans with aggressive play.
Q: Yasuhito Endo holds the record for Japan national team appearances with 152 caps. You have 146. Does that feel far away or close? How do you view it?
A: I had not been thinking about it that much, but I am six caps behind? That is a long way away. It is a long way away, but as long as I am a player, I want to keep aiming for the Japan national team. I want to show how I have evolved, and make sure that what I am saying here is not just talk by proving it properly on the pitch.
Selected comments from the press conference held on August 8 (Sat).
