Q, Congratulations on your first selection to the Japan national team. Please tell us your honest feelings right now.
A, I feel both happiness and surprise. I was really shocked. I received the news of my selection from the development staff during the meeting before practice. The surprise was so overwhelming that I was at a loss for words. Both feelings of joy and surprise came out at the same time.
Q, This will be your first time fighting while wearing the "Hinomaru" on your back.
A, It has been a dream since I was a child, and one of my goals has been achieved, so I am happy, but I believe from here on it will be a test of ability. My current goal is to fully demonstrate my abilities without losing to players selected from overseas clubs. Now that I have a new goal, I just have to work hard.
Q. Players belonging to Tokyo and those close to them have been selected for the Japan national team so far. Once again, what does the "Japan national team" mean to player Tawara Tsukida?
A, After all, being selected for the Japan national team and being able to stand on that pitch is something every soccer player dreams of. I don’t want to be satisfied just with being chosen; I want to fight with a greater sense of responsibility than ever before. Representing Japan and playing while wearing the Hinomaru on my back will be a significant experience for me personally.
Q. Once again, what kind of play do you want to show as a member of the Japan national team?
A, I want to showcase my dribbling, which is my personal strength, and play with a focus on numbers like goals and assists.
Q, Players who were selected for the Japan national team for the first time are also listed, but in the same position, there are also players like Kaoru Mitoma and Keito Nakamura.
A. They are senior and highly skilled players, but I also believe they are opponents I must eventually surpass. First, I want to do my best firmly on the national team pitch.
Q, Your first experience as a member of the Japan national team will be an official match, the World Cup qualifiers, rather than a friendly match.
A. To be honest, I am nervous. I believe these two matches are that important. Just thinking that I might be able to stand on the stage I have watched on TV and chased after, and that I might be able to fight as a member of the Japan national team, already makes me nervous. I want to firmly prove that I can compete on such a stage, and I want to show many people how much I have grown.
