1/14 Training
On the third day of the Okinawa Itoman camp, the team continued to review build-up play at Nishizaki Athletic Stadium.
Blessed with good weather, this day focused mainly on conditioning-oriented training menus since the previous day centered on match-style training. The day concluded with passing and shooting drills to confirm teamwork, wrapping up the third day’s full team practice.
In the afternoon, a meeting was held, and preparations intensified for the first practice match of this camp against Nagoya Grampus. At last, Rikizo Tokyo’s second season is about to be unveiled.
“Curious Questions Asked to the Players”
vol.1 Leon NOZAWA
A project where we ask questions collected from the 2026 season OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP members directly to the players, titled ‘Curious About the Players.’ The first ‘Curious About’ of this season features Leon NOZAWA, who is entering his fourth professional season. We conducted a direct interview with him about the questions that caught our attention.
* Please note that some of the questions we received have been edited or revised for formatting reasons. Thank you for your understanding in advance.
Q: You have an image of being positive and forward-looking. Please tell us how you think positively about things. (Handle name: RiiRii)
A: I believe that what happens in soccer can only be resolved through soccer. Because the past that has happened cannot be changed, I think it is important first to consider how to make up for it through soccer and what I should do. By doing so, you naturally can look forward. In the past, I often dwelled on things, but since I started to accept that what happened cannot be changed, I have come to think this way.
Q. Do you have any pre-match routines? (Handle name: Tomoya)
A. I might not have any at all (laughs). I just listen to music. By the way, recently I’ve been really into songs by Kaze Fujii.
Q. Is there a hairstyle or hair color you haven’t tried yet but would like to? (Handle name: Kurutantan)
A. I think it’s about time I settled down. When I had blue hair, I especially felt a lot of stares, so I’m thinking it’s time to calm it down (laughs). But I do have a feeling that I want to go back to blonde perm at some point.
Q. Is there a particular phrase someone said to you that has stayed with you? (Handle name: Kurutantan)
A. It’s not exactly my motto, but I have cherished words my mother told me. She taught me, “Enjoy the moment no matter what. Otherwise, you can’t succeed at anything.” That applies to soccer as well as off the pitch. To enjoy myself, I try to think about what I should do now and act accordingly. Those words have always resonated deeply in my heart.
Q. What inspired you to start the goal celebration pose? (Handle name: Ma-shi)
A. That performance just came to me in a flash. It wasn’t an imitation of anyone; that pose simply popped into my head.
FOCUS ON – Today’s Shot –
The official photographer on the third day of the camp chose this shot for “FOCUS ON.” This camp has featured many match-style training sessions from the start, and the players have increasingly taken opportunities to exchange opinions about positioning and movement during breaks. At the center of these discussions since joining has always been Takahiro KO. However, this season, Hayato INAMURA and Kento HASHIMOTO have also joined in, and the circle of conversation looks set to expand even further from here.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
AloJapan.com