As a midfielder representative of Japan, Hotaru Yamaguchi leads Vissel Kobe, a team full of elite players. His ability to quickly grasp the situation, to accurately pass the ball, and to make chances for attacks cements his position as the chief playmaker of the team. How did he establish his current playing style? Behind it lies a courageous decision to stop being scared of change.

Yamaguchi went professional when he was 19 years old. At the 2012 London Olympics, he was selected for the U-23 Japan national team, played the full 90 minutes in all six matches, and played a huge role in propelling Japan to the semifinals. But did you know that at that time, Yamaguchi was barely getting any playing time for his club team?

“When I entered the professional world, I was confronted by a lot of challenges from the onset. I wasn’t getting to play in matches, and even when I did, I couldn’t show my colors. That’s when I realized I needed to change something, and that’s how I’ve come to play the way I do now.”

Up through high school, he was “a classic Number 10,” focused and delivering on scoring points, with the team revolving around him. Because he was skilled enough to go professional, he was naturally the central player during his middle school and high school years. But when he went professional, he realized that the same approach wouldn’t work because everyone around him was just as good, or better than he was.

“If I hadn’t changed my approach and way of thinking back then, I probably would have quit soccer by now.”

He chose to change himself in order to survive, to change his style so he could bring out the best in the other players. As he immersed himself in training with his coaches and teammates, he began playing in more matches, and then he realized he was constantly playing in matches. That was when he knew.

“This is the only path I have to survive.”

To achieve his goal, Yamaguchi made the decision to change his own style, and through relentless effort, he seized his chance to play.

After that, in 2014 and 2018 he appeared in two FIFA World Cups as a member of the Japan national team. Since 2019, he has played a central role at Vissel Kobe. With the trust he has earned through his extensive experience and playing style, Yamaguchi’s presence has never faded, even with an all-star lineup including world-stage veterans like Iniesta and Yuya Osako.

“Instead of playing to stand out, I always try to play so that I can bring out the best in my teammates and help the team. It’s much harder than just thinking about myself, and there are times I have to run harder than anyone else. But I believe I need to be the one to take the initiative to do that.”

Moving more than anyone else so he can move others. His teammates follow him because they see how hard he works. Yamaguchi is not afraid to change in order to be successful, and he continues to think about what is needed and work to attain that goal. The decision he made in his youth and the process he went through still support his strength today.

INTERVIEW & TEXT: Chiharu Abe