It has been 10 years since I first pointed a recorder at Keigo Higashi.
At that time, he wore the number 10 in the 2012 London Olympics and contributed to reaching the semifinals, enjoying smooth sailing.
"I wonder if I will join the Japan national team and eventually go abroad as well."
I believed it without doubt. It was during such a time that I made the decision to transfer from Omiya Ardija to FC Tokyo, my second career move.
He has been one of the players who have worn the blue and red since the 2013 season, and I have heard many stories from him. However, now it has become a funny story, but at first he was very cautious and his voice was often small during interviews. At that time, he may have intentionally tried to act tough.
"The media and the people around me all seemed like enemies. Maybe I was just being too sharp, even though it wasn't like that at all (laughs)"
Perhaps because of that, even now when I speak loudly and tell jokes, there is still a delicate trace of that time. I have changed a lot in the past 10 years. People might call that growth.
In May of the year he transferred, he was also selected for the Japanese national team for the first time. However, he was unable to play there and his career with the national team has since been distant.
He suffered a right thigh muscle strain, which was his first long-term absence since turning professional in August 2014. The diagnosis was a recovery period of approximately 6-8 weeks. He returned as planned after two months, but remained a substitute for the rest of the season without regaining his regular position.
"I thought for the first time, this won't do as it is."
At that time, I was stopped by coach Bruno Conca and he asked me, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Why doesn't Keigo give his all in daily practice when he works so hard during the game?"
I was hit where it hurts and my words got stuck. From that day on, I tried changing my daily routine.
I'm not originally the type to be interested in people. But when I started walking with my hands in my pockets, the scenery changed. The surroundings were filled with living textbooks. Looking at precedents, I add what is lacking and necessary techniques.
It was the Okinawa Kunigami Camp for the following 2016 season. The interview started with the question, "Is it okay if we walk?" and I heard those words in a loud voice that couldn't be drowned out by the sound of the waves.
"Watch me, because I face soccer with all my strength every day."
The oath of that day still continues. Furthermore, meeting good understanding people will accelerate its growth.
The first match under Coach Klamovski is a match against his "mentor" and "comrade"
In the 2018 season, when Kenta HASEGAWA became the coach of Tokyo, Tohru was placed at the center of the team.
He may not be flashy and may seem plain, but his teammates highly value him. He makes few mistakes and smoothly handles difficult plays. Since his "declaration of full effort," he has not slacked off in practice. You can't give him proper recognition for his technical skills and dedication to the game without kicking the ball with him.
The sharp-eyed commander of aesthetics did not overlook it.
"When I watched Keigo from the outside, I thought he was a more selfish player, but that's not the case at all. When I actually saw him up close, I understood why he wore the number 10 for the national team in his age group. He's a good player."
He was given the captain's armband and the number 10 jersey from his second season as head coach, which was highly praised. He made great progress towards winning the league title for the first time. Although they missed out on the championship by losing to Yokohama F.Marinos in the final match, they achieved the best league result in the club's history, finishing in second place. Tokyo reflects on the relationship with his mentor that lasted until the 2021 season.
"Kenta has a consistent aspect as a coach. Not only scoring or standout plays, but he also pays attention to things that don't show up in numbers and selfless plays. In meetings, he often picks up on those aspects and evaluates them as 'good'. He was a coach who valued those overlooked parts. I now realize again how amazing his ability to build a team is, as I see it from the outside."
Kensuke NAGAI was highly valued by the same commander as Higashi. He described the two top players, Diego OLIVEIRA and Kensuke NAGAI, as the "two main players" and played a leading role in both offense and defense as "Kenta Tokyo". For Higashi, he was also a teammate who fought together in the London Olympics and spent a lot of time in blue and red from the 2017 season to the summer of the 2022 season.
"Even in private, our families got along well and we shared the same values. We were both the type of players who wanted to express 'for the team' through our play, so we respected each other."
Nagai was the one who supported the team as a shadow during the three seasons when Higashi led the team as captain.
"If Kensuke is there, the team atmosphere improves. But that doesn't mean we flatter him. He acknowledges what is different. He is easy to understand and doesn't lie... As Tokyo, I think he was a player we definitely had to keep."
The face that said so had a hint of loneliness. His comrade returned to his former team last summer to follow Coach Hasegawa, and quickly became an indispensable presence for Nagoya Grampus.
"Isn't Kensuke a symbolic presence of Nagoya right now? I think his dedication is highly valued within the team. He is considerate of those around him and runs for the sake of the team. He consistently provides support, even without scoring 15 or 20 goals a year, he contributes with assists. I think Kenta understands that, which is why he reinforced Kensuke."
The number 10 in blue and red is "for the club, for the coach, for the fans and supporters"
A turning point comes to the east, where I parted with good understanding people. I have also reached a transitional period after the age of 30, and I lost my playing opportunities in the early stages of the 2022 season. "This kind of period always comes. I think it's about how you can face it," he said, gritting his teeth.
"However, I had the confidence that as long as I kept going, everything would be fine. Of course, there were difficult times, but I had no choice but to show it on the pitch. However, I thought deeply about how I should approach it."
I continued to work silently on the pitch. I swallowed my sighs and desperately searched for my place. Before I knew it, my position had dropped one level, and I was exploring new territory as an anchor.
And on the 13th of this month, coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA left the team, and under the guidance of coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI, they will try to turn things around. Nagoya, where their former mentor and comrade is, became their first opponent. They are a formidable enemy who will compete for the championship in the J1 League this season. Naturally, motivation will also increase.
"I thought the choice of a 3-back was interesting. The base is similar to the various teams that Kenta-san has led so far, but there is a different flavor and individuality. I think a 3-back is the best way to make use of the three players in the front line, and we have Yone (Takuji YONEMOTO) and Sho INAGAKI in the midfield, and Langerak at the back. They are definitely strong."
Of course, I won't hold back. "I think it will be a fierce battle on the pitch," he said, challenging head-on. However, Higashi said, "There are other things that are necessary right now," and continued.
"I don't really care about the position, and I don't have much attachment to it. Of course, I want to start, but I believe I can show something even if I come in later. I want to play for the team in the given position. The most important thing is to aim for victory and whether everyone can come together as one. That's why the recent (Levain Cup group stage final) match against Kyoto Sanga F.C. was enjoyable. In that match, everyone fought together as one. I had the thought of doing it for Mr. Takayoshi AMMA, who temporarily took command, but I think that the thought of doing it for the club, the coach, and the fans and supporters is necessary for Tokyo right now."
I have devoted all my energy for myself. It may be the answer I found after those days. And it's even more so because the people who taught me are my opponents. The blue and red number 10, Tsuyoshi NAKAMA, releases the power accumulated for the sake of teammates and the team on the pitch.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
