Q. Please tell us your honest feelings about becoming a professional soccer player.
A. I have been attending Tokyo’s soccer school since elementary school, so Tokyo has always been close to me. I have worked hard with the desire to become a professional and succeed at this club, so I am genuinely happy. When I received the offer, I strongly felt, "I want to do my best here."
Q, It's not that you wanted to become a J-League player in general, but that you wanted to become a J-League player specifically with Tokyo, right?
A, Of course. When I had an interview with the coach at Meiji University, he asked me, "Which club do you want?" and I told him, "Tokyo is the only choice." I was focused solely on joining this club and making an impact.
Q. How did you feel when you received an offer from Tokyo?
A, I felt both happiness and a sense of urgency that I needed to work hard.
Q. How was the four years you spent at Meiji University after not being able to get promoted from FC Tokyo U-18 to the top team?
A, it was a period where I could live a life dedicated to soccer 24 hours a day, including my personality and way of thinking. I think it was a big time for me. It was four years where I could grow both physically and mentally.
Q, Please tell us about the presence of your academy同期 teammates Seiji KIMURA and Kashif BANGNAGANDE.
A, I have been with Kashif since the 6th grade school program, and with KIMURA since FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa; they are comrades who have grown together with me. I always wanted to play on the pitch at Ajinomoto Stadium with players like them. They are both friends and rivals, and they provide great motivation.
Q, Both of them were promoted from FC Tokyo U-18 to the top team. Do you remember how you felt at that time?
A, I thought they would be promoted, but when it actually happened, I felt frustrated. I clearly remember talking with my parents and crying after the interview where I found out whether I would be promoted or not. Takashi OKUHARA (FC Tokyo U-18 coach / then Academy Director) sent me off to Meiji University as my next step, so I decided to train myself over the four years at university with that frustration in my heart and absolutely return to Tokyo.
Q, Were you able to watch their performances and play honestly?
A, I deliberately watched and studied how I would have done it, and I practiced with the motivation to work hard and break into the U-22 Japan national team, which two people have been selected for.
Q, Was there a particular player, especially Kimura, who you were aware of because they played in the same position?
A, I was very conscious of him (laughs). I was really always watching. However, rather than just surpassing Kimura, I focused on growing myself and earning recognition. While honing qualities that Kimura doesn’t have, since he is physically stronger, I worked during my university years to close that gap and eventually overtake him.
Q, Since the announcement of your decision to join Tokyo, have you heard from Kimura?
AHe said "Welcome back," but I wish he had more sense of urgency (laughs). I'm determined to take his position. Still, he seemed happy.
Q, There is also a possibility that the three of us, who have been competing and improving together, will line up in the back line.
A, I believe it is important for the club to have as many academy-trained players as possible in the starting lineup for official matches, so I am looking forward to playing together with them in the back line.
Q, please tell me your strong points in playing.
A, I want you to watch my long passes with both feet and aerial battles that make use of my height.
Q, university graduate players are expected to be immediate assets from their first year of joining.
A, Yuto Nagatomo (RWD Molenbeek), Shuto ABE, and Hotaka NAKAMURA, who are my seniors from university, were already involved in games since their first year of joining. I also want to challenge myself and not lose to them. There is a great player, Masato MORISHIGE, in the center back position, but I want to play with the ambition to compete for that position and take it away.
Q, do you have an image of wearing the blue and red uniform again and standing on the pitch at Ajinomoto Stadium?
A, I do have the image in mind, and I already feel both nervousness and excitement. Having gone to Ajinomoto Stadium since I was a child, I might not fully realize it at first, but I believe I must always work with the image of playing at Ajinomoto Stadium. This is a world where you can’t just say, "I played in the match but was too scared to show my true performance," so I want to play with confidence from the very beginning.
Q, please leave a message for the fans and supporters.
A, it’s not enough just to have returned; I want to perform well, fight for the team, work hard, and play in a way that makes people want to pay to see Teppei OKA and this match.
Q, please tell us your goals for your first professional year.
A, my immediate goal is to play and perform well in the opening match of the 2024 season. Then, I will work hard with the aim of leading Tokyo to win the J1 League championship.
