-I saw some matches of Rostov and I immediately liked the playing philosophy of Karpin and his team. Rostov showed itself as a club with a very high-level team and very interesting approach to football playing. I also saw the League level – it seemed really high and now I can confirm it is high. So I was watching and thinking: “Yeah, this is where I want to challenge myself, I’m sure I can do it”.

 

- FC Tokyo is a very big and friendly family. I played there very long time – 9 years. There is only one player who played longer than me – Mori Shige. So I cant say I’m a legend but I have a long history with this club. I started there when I was 10 years old. I’m 27 now – that makes it 17 years long story. This club is forever in my heart and I’m happy I am part of its history.

 

- I did talk to Takuma Nishimura – he was very helpful. He said Russian League is high quality and the language is very difficult to learn. He said he liked it here – Russian life even though it is very different from Japanese. And yes, he was right. It is very different – but I like it here.

 

- Haha, that’s a good question. Did I really not play central forward? I need to fix this as soon as possible. I think that positions in the pitch are important, but in the end it’s a game where 10 field players face another side with 10 players and they have to beat them. Every position I played in gave me a little bit more of understanding of the game and of course more confidence. Of course there’s always room for improvement for me in every position – somewhere I played better, somewhere I could have done better. I’m sure Karpin knows better what my strongest point is and he is going to squeeze every possible drop of use out of it. My task now is only listen to what he says and stick to those things.

 

- Completely. As I said, the coach knows better. But I am absolutely comfortable with this 
position.

- It’s a whole theory session you’re asking me about hahah. Of course, he reminds me about my actions in the pitch – both in attack and defense, he also tells me if there should be made some change to the initial plan that we had. Basically, those are things he says to each of us before or during the match. Sometimes if he sees that there’s something I shouldn’t be doing – he will show me a video of this episode and will ask my opinion, if I think that was a best possible decision. Then he will explain what could have been done and why it could have been better for the team. He’s very professional in tactics, there are no small things for him because he says “small things are crucial in football”. I can learn plenty of things from him.

 

- Every coach is a human, in the first place, and humans are all different. Of course I learnt a lot about him when I knew I was going to Rostov – his Spanish career, Russian National Team performances and etc. When I was watching the videos with him I thought: “Wow, he’s a tough guy” and it’s true. He’s a tough guy – discipline is in the first place here and it’s a rule for everyone – doesn’t matter if you’re a staff member, coach or a player – you have to follow the rules. Another thing which struck me – his attention to details. He’s very careful with details, especially in our theory meetings. I mean there’s no way you can cut corners in the trainings or in the official match – he will see that and in the theory you will have to answer some really hard questions haha. And one more thing that sets him aside – his incredible sense of humour. He’s very funny and loves to have fun when time permits. Tricky questions and jokes are all about him. He’s a very openminded person – and I think that’s a recipe for success, because people want to work in a good atmosphere.

 

- That’s a hard one. I don’t know if we have a really unique style. Truth be told, we only try our best to do good in the pitch. We have coaches who prepare us for the match, we have a plan given to us by the head coach. I think our task here is to stick to it as much as it is possible.

 

- I think it was quite a sensation in the world of football. I read about it. I think it was good experience for the boys – I’m sure they didn’t like the match and in future will do their best not to have the same score again. However, I think Rostov was in a trap – main team was quarantined, covid numbers in Russia were on the rise. Very unlucky for us.

 

- I live in the center, in a block of flats. I have quite a spacious apartment – I love big flats. The place is good – I have shops, gym, parks and places to walk all near me.

 

- Not at all. Of course, I don’t know the language very well – and usually I have to call our translator or use mobile apps, but normally I don’t have many problems. Life in 21 century is pretty similar in all parts of the world – you download the app, tap a couple of buttons, wait five minutes and here you are – your food is waiting for you at the doorstep. Same with clothes and any other goods you need.

 

- Normally I eat at the base in Rostov – they give us every meal every day and the menu is rather different so you never get annoyed. But if I eat out I eat a lot of different cuisines – life is short, you need to try all the food. As it turns our Japanese cuisine is popular here in Russia, especially sushi. In Rostov I’ve visited several Japanese places – each has its ups and downs, but what I remember is Miso Soup in one restaurant in Rostov. I remember it gave me “Ofukuro no aji” feeling. That means “Mom’s taste”. It was delicious, just like in Japan. I also love Russian cuisine. I have arrangement with my friends from the team to go try blinchiki s ikroi and Ukranian or Russian Borsch. I think Russians are good at cooking – they have a lot of delicious meals.

 

- Sushi -not really. Sushi is a real art in Japan. But I found some other Japanese and Asian cuisine restaurants in Rostov.

 

- I haven’t found the way yet but I wasn’t looking for it yet haha. I think when I need it the club will help me to find how to get things here.

- Not really. It depends a lot on individuals and their behavior – so I figured if I’m smart and careful enough – I’ll be able to avoid getting infected anywhere. I use my selfprotection means like mask, gloves, sanitizers and try to avoid crowded places. So far so good haha.

 

- It was pretty much the same like in the whole world. Selfisolations and closures of public places. Japanese people took it seriously from the very start so we could minimize the damage. Of course it’s hard for any country, but I think we will only see the real damage in the long run.

 

- Each of them left a certain scar on the world and our nation in particular. I think the flood and Fukushima were very scary. There was a lot of heartache in the whole country. People were losing their loved ones and their homes. Those are very unhappy pages of our history.

- In Tokyo, where I lived, the earthquake was not so strong that I didn't feel the danger for my life. However, the subway became unusable and there was some impact here and there all over the city.

- I have been there. The area near my grandparents' house was severely damaged. I visited the place and saw the elementary school collapsed and the bridge collapsed. Many flowers have been placed because many people have died. It was a very deserted place and a lot of heartbreaking views.

- When you come to Tokyo, you will be famous for the Asakusa shrine, the scrambled intersection in Shibuya, the cityscape of Ginza and delicious sushi. Other than Tokyo, there are many delicious foods in Kyoto / Nara shrines and temples, Okinawa beaches, Hokkaido and Fukuoka prefectures, and ramen is especially famous.

 

- No car no problem haha. Not really, I just look both ways before crossing the road and I don’t have a car here. The taxis are quite cheap and good, so I always use them.

- I love my dog so much that I miss him. I have my parents sending me photos every day.

- I really enjoy fishing so I hope I will get a chance to fish here, in Rostov. People talk a lot that the place is perfect for fishing, with a lot of really delicious fish in the river. I think when we get some days off I’m going to ask the boys in the team where is the best place – I know we have some fishermen on the squad.

- There are a lot of people who are very very serious, hardworking and fully dedicated to their job or studies, but of course not everyone, just like everywhere I think.

 

- Yes, this is truth. Our streets in the city are very clean. We don’t have any garbage there and they are regularly washed. So if anyone is ever to go to Japan – you can try this “white socks challenge”.

- Of course not only rice and sushi, but mostly haha. Using chopsticks is a must, people might think you’re uneducated person if can’t eat with chopsticks. Of course you can eat sushi with your bare hands (like I do sometimes), then nobody will ever know you can’t use chopsticks.

- Not many people can speak it at all, even less speak it well. That’s true.

- Of course we do. It comes from childhood – we love it because we were watching it as kids, I also as watching a lot of it. There are also many world masterpieces which are adored by the whole world.

 

- Well…the problem is sake is the name of all alcoholic drinks in Japan – wine, vodka, rum, whatever…

- Well, I don’t know honestly. I don’t think it is the most popular sport in Japan, but people love it because it’s a traditional sport in Japan, from ancient times. Also it’s really exciting to watch!