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Two players came today to talk about the past, present, and future of F.C. Machida Zelvia, relating their combined experience in the Kantō soccer league, their struggle through the Japan Football League, and the joy of their promotion to the J-League. Today we were able to listen to Shōhei Yanagisaki, a graduate of Komazawa University who is currently in his sixth season as midfielder for F.C. Machida Zelvia, and Kazuki Tsuda, who has played for Shimizu S-Pulse and Ventforet Kofu and is currently in his eighth season after returning to his hometown to play for Machida as a defender.

JAPANTWO(JP2):First off, you’ve only just started playing in the J-League this year, but frankly speaking, where do you feel lie the differences between the JFL and the J-League.

Shōhei Yanagisaki (Yanagisaki):The primary difference is speed. After that, I feel a difference in the power of goal focus in front of the net, as well as a general increase in difficulty in front of the net.

Kazuki Tsuda (Tsuda):He’s absolutely right. In addition, the attention we receive and how we are seen now that we carry the name of the J-League with us has completely changed. Another difference is the addition of relays in games. We ourselves haven’t changed, but the surrounding atmosphere has certainly changed.

“I don’t want to lose to a team that’s below us. We will win against the teams above at any cost.”

JP2:Being promoted to the J-League means that your team is now in the position to accept challenges from the JFL or university teams, such as through the Emperor’s Cup tournament. How has the team atmosphere and your awareness of these possibilities changed?

Yanagisaki:We haven’t participated in the Emperor’s Cup yet, but when the time comes I believe I can speak for my team and say that we do not want to lose to a team that’s below us. In fact, this has made us want to win against teams in the J1 League.

Tsuda:Up until this point, our team has been chasing what’s in front of us, but now we are in the position to be chased by other teams. Of course, in relation to clubs in the J1 League, we may still be the chasers, but our standing has changed from what it once was. When we play against teams that are not at our level, it is necessary that we win, and this I believe is what we need to strive for as a team.

JP2:I got the impression that the team really enjoys practicing together, but has the atmosphere during practice time changed at all since being accepted into the J-League?

Yanagisaki: I’m not too sure about what may have changed, but I have a feeling that more people are coming to watch us practice now.

Tsuda: The atmosphere itself at practice hasn’t changed at all. Maybe this is something we’ve continued with through to the present, but our team really does get along well together, and our stance on cooperating together hasn’t changed one bit. We’ve added some new players to our team this year, but I think that they will be able to continue on the way we have, so all in all, I don’t think anything specific has changed in that regard.

JP2:Have there been any changes made since new manager Ardiles was appointed this year?

Tsuda: Our manager really emphasizes the enjoyment aspect of the game. Our previous manager was a very strict man, so there is a big gap between the two.

JP2:How did you handle the situation last year when F.C. Machida Zelvia’s promotion to the J-League was cancelled due to the established criteria?

Yanagisaki: We ourselves were painfully aware that there was nothing we could do to change the decision, but it still came as a great shock. We heard the news in September during the middle of the season, and were left to worry whether or not we could continue on through the next year.

Tsuda: It was a problem with the company and the government, and we were unable to do anything about it. We watched as the club staff did their best, so it’s hard to point at someone to take the blame and our frustration.

“It would have been easy to give up, but my pride as a professional player made the dream of being promoted come true.”

JP2:Did your personal transitions at that time go smoothly?

Yanagisaki:Our manager at that time was Soma, but it was in the middle of the season, so we as a team decided to keep fighting until the very end. As a result, we cleared the J-League promotion criteria and came within fourth place. I am just glad we were able to fulfill our responsibility.

Tsuda: I’m not sure whether or not Soma thought we could handle the reality of the current situation, but even despite that, we all came to practice the next day and worked our hardest. Soma told me later that he felt relieved after seeing our unfaltering determination. Even though being promoted is a pretty big deal to us professional players, we still had to give it our all in the games before that. It would have been easy to quit, but my pride as a professional wouldn’t have allowed it, and just as Yanagisaki said, we ended up clearing the criteria for promotion. I think that our pride made that happen.

JP2:On your path to the J1 league, what sorts of things are you conscious of, and what do you think needs to be done during the time that leads up to that future goal?

Yanagisaki:We have a long and difficult road ahead of us yet in this league, but our team has made it this far step-by-step, so I don’t know how many years it will take, but we will fight our way through as one. Plus, there aren’t many teams as community-based as ours, and I’d like to see us heading toward the J1 league together.

Tsuda:Just as it was when we left the JFL for the J2 league, it is not just about having a lot of skilled players on a team. The league games are very much like a marathon, I think it’s really important to have a sense of unity. It goes without saying that the team needs to fight together, but the company, staff, supporters, and government also to come together as one. If that doesn’t happen, I don’t think we will make it to the next league. We players need to work our hardest on the field, of course, but whether we reach the J1 league next year or in ten years depends greatly on the people who support us.

“It is important to raise the profile of this community-based club.”

JP2:You probably feel a certain closeness with the surrounding community through hometown activities and the like, but what do you think about these types of regional activities?

Yanagisaki:It’s not something you hear about every day, and from a newcomer’s point of view, you might wonder what the point is, but we are here today as a result of those traditions. From that angle, I’d like to continue whatever we can continue doing. Of course, if something bad happens, it’s important to stop, but there are a lot of benefits for the team, and as long as it ties in with community focus, I think that we should continue what we’re doing.

Tsuda:As we’ve risen in rank over the years, we have participated in a number of activities, such as “soccer school,” geared toward children. We’ve gained a lot of supporters through these types of events, and I think that it’s important to continue with them. Other clubs also put on community-based activities and events, but if you were to ask specifically what types of events we have, I’d answer that our strong point is the “soccer school” we have at the end of matches. We also participate in a variety of activities that other teams don’t have. I think it is imperative to continue with these activities, but I also believe that it is important to let people see that Machida is this type of club, and that we fully support community-based events.

JP2:Continuing on the same topic, please tell us specifically what community activity so far has been the most enjoyable for you?

Yanagisaki: The soccer school is very fun of course, but it’s also great to see the children’s reactions during picture-book reading time. I’m able to discover something new about myself at the same time, so it’s a fun and rewarding experience.

Tsuda:I’d have to pick soccer school as well. I myself had never participated in activities like these before coming to this team, and so was confused at first, but to see the enjoyment on the kid’s faces. We’re really tired after playing a match, but to kick the ball around with the kids and to hear them say “I had a lot of fun today,” it makes me really happy. It’s worthwhile, and a lot of fun.

JP2:From the viewpoint of a soccer player, what do you feel must be done in order to bring happiness to the community through sports?

Yanagisaki: We are getting paid for what we do, and that’s a part of it, but I think that showing ourselves doing our best provides inspiration and energy to those who are watching.

Tsuda:I think that Yanagisaki got the gist of it, but I think it also depends on how much fun we actually have. If we aren’t enjoying ourselves, then our spectators won’t either, but if we are able to show everyone how much fun we are having, we are able to share some of that enjoyment with them. So it really does depend of us.

JP2:To wrap things up, please say a few words on your thoughts for the future and the upcoming games in this league.

Yanagisaki: I don’t believe our strength has reached its limit yet. It hasn’t been long since we’ve moved up to the J2 league, but we’ve had our eyes set on this spot since we were part of the JFL, and I’d like to keep that spirit alive.

Tsuda:With the results as they are, it’s important to accept what can be accepted, to realize what’s missing and to improve little by little in the areas we lack. In order to prove we are not just a J2 league team, I’d like to see us obtain as many wins in the upcoming games as possible.