<Taishi Brandon NOZAWA>
It was really great to be able to participate in this tournament as a player for FC Tokyo. Thank you for your support――.
Q, What kind of tournament was this one?
A, It ended in a disappointing result both personally and as a team. However, being able to compete on that stage as a member of the Japan national team was a special experience.
Q, have you noticed any differences from previous international tournaments?
A, I didn't particularly feel any differences. However, the schedule was tough, and I did feel that the travel was quite demanding.
Q, Did you have any feelings of frustration without any playing opportunities during this representative period?
A, I felt that I still need to grow in many aspects, and I was reminded that my efforts are not enough to reach higher levels.
Q, the battle in Tokyo begins again from here. Please tell us your enthusiasm.
A, I think it is important to value each and every match. Time keeps passing quickly, so I believe it’s about how much you can cherish the present moment. This applies not only to matches but also to practice, where I want to raise my awareness and work even harder.
Q, What kind of efforts do you want to make to aim higher from here?
A, the league will start from here again. I think it is important to contribute to the team's victory naturally and get results naturally, but I still don't think my playing level is high enough, so I need to raise the overall level.I think there are things that I can improve in practice and things that I can grow in by continuing to play in games. Anyway, I want to cherish each day.
<Ryotaro ARAKI>
Thank you very much for all the support from Japan――.
Q, what was it like for player Araki this time?
A, I feel that this tournament was a valuable experience when thinking about my future soccer career.
Q, Wasn't the frustration greater?
A, yes. Honestly, the frustration is greater, and there were parts where I felt I could have done more. But I have no choice but to move on from that, and as an individual, I want to level up further. With the Japan national team, there is a major tournament, the World Cup, in two years, so I want to grow more toward that goal.
Q, there were also scenes of tears after the match.
A, I didn't expect to cry myself. However, I was more frustrated than I had imagined, and when I went to see Reo Kokubo and Bryan LINSSEN, I couldn't hold back when I saw Kokubo collapsing.
Q, How do you plan to utilize this experience in the future?
A, I believe that from here, my new first step toward the next goal will begin. I want to work on the areas where I feel I am lacking and the things I need to do more of, and steadily move forward one step at a time.
