Sec. 1 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League was held at Ajinomoto Stadium, where snow was falling. Tokyo secured a victory in the opening match after a penalty shootout against the Kashima Antlers, last season’s Meiji Yasuda J1 League champions.
In this match, the player who led the team onto the pitch was Sei MUROYA, who had been appointed the new captain.
The First Step as Captain
“Since it was the season opener, there were some difficult moments at the start of the match, but everyone had the mindset to fight.”
The opponent was last season’s champion team. Even before the match, there was a shared understanding within the team that “we can’t win unless we surpass Kashima in the battle aspect.” They embodied that on the pitch, and despite struggling against Kashima’s tenacious defense after they had a player sent off, they ultimately secured victory in the penalty shootout, aided by goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu’s crucial saves.
Due to the regulations of this tournament, a victory in the penalty shootout counts as '2 points.' "I wanted to get 3 points, but these 2 points were very significant," reflected Muroya on what was a special day for him. It was the first time in his professional career that he stood on the official match pitch as captain.
"It definitely felt a little different than usual. Receiving a bouquet before the match and all (laughs)," he recalled his debut with a joke, but once the game started, there was no change in the fierce fighting spirit and passionate soul that overflowed from him.
Muroya, who deliberately chose not to say much, reflected on himself during the match, saying, "I think being simple and using only short words is true to myself." Through his play, his presence, and running more than anyone else, he embodied a unique and unparalleled image of a 'captain' on the pitch.
The Greatest Support
In the 41st minute of the first half, Kashima's Misao was sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, giving Tokyo a numerical advantage. Keita ENDO brilliantly converted the resulting free kick to take the lead. However, the joy was short-lived as Kashima quickly equalized from a set piece shortly after.
With Kashima down to 10 men and solidifying their defensive block, right-back Muroya was cautious about risk management and Kashima's fighting spirit. "Even with 10 men, Kashima has the ability to score. While being wary of counterattacks, we wanted to somehow score one more goal. I was constantly thinking about that balance."
However, the match ended in a 1-1 draw at full time, and the outcome was left to a penalty shootout. As a result of the coin toss, we gained the support of our reliable blue and red teammates.
"We really wanted to take the kicks on the home side, so having it in our own half was a huge advantage. The fans and supporters put pressure on the opposing kickers and stayed quiet during our kicks. Creating that kind of atmosphere was truly helpful, and I am very grateful for it."
It was truly a victory achieved with the fans, supporters, and team united as one.
Regarding how much joy he felt after the penalty shootout, he said, "I still haven't quite grasped how much I should celebrate (laughs). I'm sure the fans and supporters feel the same way," expressing some confusion unique to the new regulations, yet he did not indulge in the afterglow of this victory at all.
"We Are Challengers" Looking Ahead to the Next Match
Although the team struggled in the opening match, they showed no sign of complacency. His focus was already on the upcoming match against the Urawa Reds.
"No player is celebrating just because we beat Kashima. We are not Kashima. We are challengers who cannot afford to lose any match. We have a strong sense of urgency both as a team and individually."
The next opponent, Urawa, showed a confident performance against JEF United Ichihara Chiba in their opening match. Urawa took the lead early with a goal from Matsuo, followed by a goal from Hidano, a university graduate rookie who came from FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa, securing a 2-0 victory. They achieved their first opening match win in six seasons and are a formidable opponent riding high on momentum.
Regarding his impression of Urawa, Muroya said, "They have many good players, and once they gain momentum, they are a team that is difficult to stop." He also vividly recalled the image of last season when they defeated Urawa 3-2 at home. "By winning the last match against them, I think the opponent has a slight psychological disadvantage. We want to exploit that and show more and more plays heading toward the goal," he said, expressing strong determination to achieve consecutive home wins.
As the new captain and as a single fullback, Sei MUROYA's 2026 season has only just begun.
"Only one match has finished so far. From here, my condition will improve, and I believe my performance sharpness will increase even more."
To turn the 2 points earned in the snow-dusted home opener into true strength, Muroya fights more passionately than anyone else.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
