"Indicators" discovered through the activities of the Japan High School Soccer Team

The team was relaxed, in a good way, and it was really easy to play. Everyone covered for me, brought out my own strength, my heading, and I think we all made up for each other's weaknesses.

Playing against players who are now playing overseas or close to being professionals, and experiencing the top level firsthand, became a benchmark for me. Meeting such players taught me that this is the level I can reach. It also gave me the goal of working hard at university. Also, in my private life, I was always thinking about soccer, and we talked about soccer on the bus back to the hotel, while eating meals, and even outside the soccer field. However, many of the players were able to switch on and off when they weren't playing, so that was another learning experience for me.

The "differences" I felt overseas

Physically, they were good and strong. But even while we were playing, I never felt like I was going to lose. I felt like I could do it.

However, even though Japan is strong in this age group, I wonder why the gap between them and other countries is widening from this point on. Overseas players work on physical training and tactical understanding from a young age, and then develop their skills, but in Japan, they start with ball touch, then tactics and physical training later. I wonder if the order is reversed. Japan is competitive with the world at a young age, but when they turn 20, the gap suddenly widens, and I thought that this is the difference when I went to Germany. I'm still rough around the edges, but I wonder if there's a reason why they're getting better from this point on, and I think I need to think about what that difference is.

Mentally speaking, their livelihood depends on it, so I think they have a different level of resolve than Japanese people. I think the difference lies in how much resolve they have. Even after going to university, I realized how much resolve they have, how completely dedicated they are to soccer, and how determined they are to do it, by watching people overseas, and I still keep that in mind.