A Mental Pillar On and Off the Pitch Aiming to Win a Title That Changes History
DF 2 Sei MUROYA
Introducing all the blue and red warriors taking on the 2026 Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League in 'PLAYERS FILE 2026.' What thoughts do the players hold, and with what resolve are they preparing to face the year ahead, especially with the special half-season tournament approaching?
In May of the 2025 season, Sei MUROYA made his return to the blue and red after about five seasons and became a key figure in the team's comeback in the second half of the league. Fully leveraging the experience he gained in Germany—his strength in one-on-one battles and his desire to win—he also changed the mindset of his teammates. The number 2, who looks ahead, envisions Tokyo becoming a perennial champion. We delved into his thoughts as he prepares to fight to change history.
With overwhelming fighting spirit, Sei MUROYA saved the team that had once sunk into the relegation zone and greatly raised the standards of the team training in Kodaira. He blew away the struggles from the early part of last season, and the blue and red uniform came alive on the pitch. It was the number 2, who returned to Tokyo, who led by example and spread the fighting spirit throughout the team.
After concluding his time competing in Germany, Sei MUROYA decided to return to the blue and red last June. At the same time, the team changed its system from a three-back to a four-back formation. Initially, he made a strong impact as a right side back, contributing both offensively and defensively with tenacious defense and daring overlaps. Then, from mid-season onward, he played as a left side back, balancing the overall team structure and bringing stability through fierce battles for the ball while drawing out the strengths of those around him. In last season’s league matches, the team’s record in games where MUROYA appeared was 8 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses. They earned 29 points from 17 matches, escaping the relegation battle and ultimately finishing in 11th place.
As he himself reflected, "I wonder if I was able to show my fighting spirit," a clear change took place in the team's approach to battle. The fighting spirit and desire to win that he cultivated in Germany were conveyed to those around him, and his teammates unanimously praised, "Nari-kun raised the standard of training." Something definitely got through. That is precisely why the goals he wants to achieve from here on become even greater.
Above all, he is a team-first man. "(After returning to Japan) I haven’t really set many personal goals; I’ve been especially focused on what I can do to help the team win. Of course, I want to perform at a high level in every match, but ultimately, I always want to play with the mindset of what I can do to secure victory," he said about his mindset since returning. He carefully reads the atmosphere around him to help the team win, speaks little, and exerts a tremendous influence through his actions. That is the kind of player Sei MUROYA is.
The Okinawa Itoman camp that took place until last week. In the team that faced Nagoya Grampus in the season’s first practice match, there was his figure entering at the front with the captain’s armband wrapped around his left arm.
“I will be 32 years old this year, and I think it is an age where I need to firmly unite the team not only during matches but also off the pitch. However, my playing style, what I need to work on, and the role I must fulfill do not change, so rather than whether I wear the captain’s armband or not, I always want to play with that mindset.”
Looking back, in the announcement of my joining at the end of May last season, Muroya said, "I will fight with conviction to become a significant part of Tokyo's history." I was able to hear the true meaning of that once again.
"Tokyo is truly a club that must win titles. I came back for that reason. The entire team must believe in the process we are all working on, and we must become an organization that can fight while believing in Rikizo MATSUHASHI (head coach), the club, and the team. Otherwise, we cannot reach the championship. I think once we win one title, we can become a winning team, but above all, that first one is the hardest. I want to somehow grasp that while I am at Tokyo, and I believe it will be something very significant for my life as well. I returned to Tokyo because I agreed with the process the club has set forth. That is why I want to win a title."
Showing a fighting spirit is the minimum. From there, it’s about how well I and the team can demonstrate our strengths and steadily accumulate points with a strong competitive edge. "The team that can win the championship is the one that can secure victories by a one-goal margin. To achieve wins in tough matches, I want us to become a team that demands the best from each other starting in practice," says Muroya, who is also eager to "add much more depth to our attacking play."
As a mental pillar, as a leader who leads the team, and as an individual fullback. Sei MUROYA, with a strong determination in his heart, is trying to lead the blue and red to new heights to change the club's history.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Toshio Aoyama
