The first chapter of his soccer career quietly came to an end with his omission from the Japan national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia tournament. Even so, he continued running alone on the Kodaira ground until 24 hours before the first match against Colombia, where player substitutions due to injury were possible. It was a closing of the circle befitting a seeker, characteristic of him.
Then, in the 2019 season of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, which marked the beginning of the second chapter, he came closer than ever to winning the championship. He made a vow on the podium where he scored his first goal of that season.
"Let's win the championship!"
A man's goals and dreams are gradually pared down with age, and he no longer wishes for much. Only that remains, and he continues to pursue it even now.
"I just want to experience winning the championship."
If you are a fan of the blue and red, you should know the name of this stubborn man who never gives up, and the turbulent career of Masato MORISHIGE, who continues to stand on the pitch at Ajinomoto Stadium even past the age of 39.
"I don’t ask for anything else. Tokyo’s league championship is the ultimate goal, and there are many things that need to be done to achieve it. But there’s no need to put those details into words. I want to win the championship. That’s all. But it’s no good if only I think that way, and we need to have players worthy of that goal. If everyone exerts their strength in their respective roles, the championship will naturally come into view."
No matter how much I wished, I hadn’t reached it until now. However, with the transition to the autumn-spring season and the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League, we have come closer to that pledge made on that day.
“Putting aside the half-season format and the regulations of this tournament, I have always wanted Tokyo to be in the title race, to keep winning, to experience this atmosphere and these sights. I have always believed that Tokyo must be that way. The team is beginning to become worthy of that. Since I have often watched from a step back this season, I have been thinking all the more that Tokyo has to be like this.”
However, it was not me who led the team that maintained its good form. Sei MUROYA and Kento HASHIMOTO, who competed together in the title race seven years ago, have returned from Europe. They have supported the blue and red as new leaders in this tournament.
“Without a doubt, they are at the center of the current team. Without those two, we wouldn’t be able to compete for the championship. They gained experience at FC Tokyo when they were young, saw various scenes overseas and with the national team, and then returned to Tokyo. Watching them again, I realize that such experience is necessary to win the title.”
Furthermore, Alexander SCHOLZ joined last June to take the long-held position of center back. Younger rivals such as Hayato Inamura, who aims to “defeat Morishige,” and Rio OMORI have also emerged. The squad is filled with talented players, and during this special tournament, he has spent his days warming the bench since the opening. Additionally, on March 4th during practice, he suffered a left hamstring muscle tear and temporarily had to leave the lineup.
“Scholz, Ina, and Rio are also good players, so while watching the matches, I re-recognized their strengths and, amidst those feelings of ‘I want to be there too,’ I got injured. After that, rather than feeling frustrated, I focused on my rehabilitation, and at the same time, the team continued to be in good condition, so I wasn’t too impatient. On the contrary, if the team’s condition had been poor, I think I would have been more anxious.”
During Morishige's absence, the team steadily accumulated points and has been competing for the top spot in the Regional League Round EAST Group against last season's league champions, Kashima Antlers.
When he recovered from his injury and returned to the lineup, a surge of frustration began to well up inside him. Adding fuel to that small flame, it flared up fiercely with a blaze of passion.
"A strong desire to play in matches has taken root in me. After all, I am a player who has grown through competition, and I have always believed that this has been a factor in improving myself. At this age, a fire has been rekindled within me. Rather than using my age as an excuse to give up, a competitive spirit has emerged to take back what I can once again. I feel very fortunate to be in such an environment right now."
He waited for the right moment and never stopped moving. Just like that day──.
He was on the bench for the Sec. 12 match against Mito Hollyhock on April 24 and made his first appearance of the season as a substitute from the 43rd minute of the second half. Amid a series of must-win matches, the team suffered a 0-3 defeat in Sec. 15 against JEF United Ichihara Chiba. With the gap to the top-ranked Kashima Antlers widening, in the crucial following match against Tokyo Verdy, head coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI entrusted the defensive restructuring to the player wearing number 3.
“The waves of emotion and my physical condition all clicked perfectly. So, I had no anxiety.”
The first start of the season came in the match against Tokyo V. However, there was no “surprise” at the intense atmosphere filling Ajinomoto Stadium or the fierce battles for the ball. That’s because Morishige, who was even more fired up, was there, and right beside him was a uniquely passionate presence in Japan. He said this with his usual dimpled smile on his cheek.
“The passion to channel the frustration from the past six months was there, and returning together with Yuto NAGATOMO, I had the feeling of ‘Let’s do this.’ There was someone even more passionate than that match on my left side, and having been exposed to even greater intensity, I wasn’t surprised at all. Standing on the pitch, I was able to once again feel the joy of playing in a match. It’s all about being on the field. You never know the result until you try. But once the match starts, I just let go and had confidence that no matter the outcome, as long as I do what I’m supposed to do, it will be fine. From the outside, I knew that the current Tokyo team is not one to suffer consecutive losses, so in a way, I think I was able to approach it calmly.”
In the 10th minute, he delivered a long feed with his left foot to Nagatomo, who was charging up the left side, and in the 35th minute, he caused a stir in the stadium with his signature kick feint.
In the 4th minute of the second half, he threatened the goal by heading Ryunosuke SATO’s cross from a direct free kick on the left side. Showing his characteristic play throughout, he gave his all in doing what was necessary and then, in the 41st minute, passed the baton to Inamura.
At the moment Motoki NAGAKURA’s dramatic goal was scored in the second half’s additional time with the score tied at 1-1, Morishige also jumped up from the bench and was the last to join the circle of joy formed behind the home goal.
“It’s definitely Mikiki, huh? (laughs) That guy really comes through. I was reminded once again that he’s an amazing player.”
With 2 matches remaining, the point difference with Kashima is 4. We barely held on by a thread. Come to think of it, it was the same in the 2019 season. In Sec. 32 against Shonan Bellmare, with a 0-1 score and defeat seeming certain, Morishige’s dramatic goal in the 4th minute of added time in the second half kept our hopes alive.
"It was the same in the 2019 season, but dropping even one match puts you in a very tough situation. In the title race, the battles in the last five matches or so are indispensable. It's important that the possibility remains until the very end, and that you continue to compete for the championship until the last moment. Most of the members who experienced that are no longer here, but during this half-season title race, when we look back, that moment will remain as a turning point in our experience. No matter which way it goes, there are surely things you can only gain by competing for the championship. We don't know the outcome yet, but this experience will definitely become an asset for the club. For the last two matches, we will rely on others, but if we can do our best and then wait, that would be ideal."
In his 21st professional season, there is still a scenery he has yet to see. However, that picture is drawn clearly and vividly, without any haze. This season, he will stand on the same pitch as the blue and red number 10, who has had no playing opportunities so far, and it will be a grand finale climbing to the summit.
“Of course, in the end, I believe that guy will come through. Keigo HIGASHI, Yuto-kun, and I—we three are all lumped together and seen as ‘old men.’ Among us, Keigo and I have known each other the longest. We’ve been through good times together and supported each other through tough situations. Including Keigo’s character and his straightforward attitude and demeanor toward soccer, I definitely want to lift the trophy together with Keigo. I want Yuto-kun to go to the World Cup and send him a photo of us raising that trophy.”
Even as he envisions that, he knows better than anyone that "life is surprisingly unfair." The career of this fiercely competitive man, who has worn the blue and red, is now approaching its final countdown. Their relationship spans 17 years, counting carefully on fingers. With the passage of time, the number of stories they have shared has also grown. Most of those are histories filled with the bitterness of defeat. I have seen him slam his fist on the pitch in frustration and tremble with anger many times.
And yet, even if someone laughs at me for being stubborn, I bite my lip, lift my heavy body, and keep taking a fighting stance. That is the way of life of Masato MORISHIGE, the man we all know so well.
That’s why. The smile of a seasoned, good man and the phrase "Let's win the championship" now replay over and over, resonating deep within my heart.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Tadashi BABA (Freelance Writer)
