The game gets cancelled due to a sudden downpour.Due to the intense heat, the athletes' physical activity decreases, causing a significant drop in the quality of play.In recent years, such scenes have become observable in the J-League.The effects of global warming are not only related to daily life, but also greatly affect J-League matches.Vissel Kobe is actively working on environmental conservation by introducing measures such as the Circularity Assessment at home games and using cutlery made of environmentally conscious materials at food and beverage outlets, in order to improve such situations.So, how should each of us act in order to protect the future of soccer?We asked Mr. Takayuki Tsujii, the J-League executive officer in charge of the sustainability area, about the current state of Japanese soccer and the future it should aim for.

——Firstly, please tell us about the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on the soccer industry.

Broadly speaking, there are two.One is the intensification of typhoons and the increasing frequency of linear precipitation bands.In particular, in the case of Japan, which is surrounded by the sea, an increase in the earth’s temperature due to global warming causes the sea surface temperature to rise, which increases the amount of water vapor. Therefore, when a typhoon comes, it tends to intensify the rainfall.This trend has been intensifying since around 2018, and the J.LEAGUE has also had to cancel matches due to heavy rain and other conditions, a situation that has increased approximately fivefold.(Comparison of averages between the years after 2018 and before 2017)

Another one is the heat.This is happening all over the world, but in some areas, the temperature exceeds 50 degrees Celsius, making it impossible to play sports.Japan also records temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius in the summer, but under such conditions, you can’t normally play. A wealth of physical activity and strong physique form the basis of modern soccer, but when playing a game in extreme heat, the amount of physical activity significantly decreases and the quality of play also deteriorates.The effects of climate change are becoming apparent in such places.

——You also experienced playing soccer in the corporate league. Would you say the condition is more demanding compared to that time?

I played about 30 years ago, so it’s hard to remember (laughs), but as far as I recall, I used to run at full speed even in the height of summer.Nowadays, even renowned former players say that if you don’t cleverly slack off, you won’t be able to play for 90 minutes.During summer in particular, it gets so hot on the artificial turf that you can’t walk on it barefoot.Children who often play on artificial turf run the risk of getting burns.Not only the athletes, but also the coaches need to be quite considerate, don’t they?

—— In that context, what kind of initiatives is the J.LEAGUE undertaking?

We established the Sustainability Department in January 2023.The first thing we tackled was converting the power consumed during the match to renewable energy.We have switched the power for all 1,220 games to renewable energy.Furthermore, by 2030, one of our goals is to contribute to a more sustainable society, and as a first step, we are working on proactive dissemination of information about sustainability so that people who enjoy soccer can realize that “there are things they can do too”.Former Japanese representatives, Mr. Shinji Ono, Mr. Kengo Nakamura, and Mr. Atsuto Uchida, who are currently special directors of J.LEAGUE, have also appeared in a YouTube video. I would definitely recommend giving it a watch.

——Vissel Kobe is implementing initiatives such as Circularity Assessment at home, aiming for the realization of a sustainable society.

I think it’s wonderful that J.LEAGUE clubs are taking progressive initiatives.It’s important to present a vision for the future, but if you can’t recognize the gap between ideals and reality, you won’t be able to get closer to your ideals.In this regard, the Circularity Assessment that Vissel Kobe is undertaking is a measure to visualize where the problems lie. Isn’t it crucial to aim for a better future based on this?

——How do you perceive events like Rakuten SUPER MATCH, where supporters enjoy the game while also learning about environmental issues?

I believe that we can take action on both environmental issues and soccer because there are opponents (customers). J.LEAGUE matches cannot be held without supporters, and it is only because of the efforts of these supporters that environmental conservation can be achieved.People who regularly support the J.LEAGUE will have the opportunity to become environmentally conscious through regularly encountering special occasions like Rakuten SUPER MATCH.I believe it’s important to balance soccer and environmental conservation, so I feel that holding the Rakuten SUPER MATCH at the highly popular Japan National Stadium carries a lot of significance.

——On the other hand, do you feel any challenges or areas for improvement in the environmental conservation efforts undertaken by Vissel Kobe?

Vissel Kobe has also started to seriously engage. I believe we are still in the stage of proceeding through trial and error, so rather than making major changes to the measures, I think it’s important to first continue building on what we are currently doing.Continue to work on it, and if you see any issues, gradually make adjustments.Firstly, I would appreciate it if Vissel Kobe could continue doing what they are capable of now, and lead other J.LEAGUE clubs.

——What should each of us do to make the future better?

“Isn’t it from ‘knowing’?”Why is environmental conservation necessary, what is the problem, and what will happen in the future?Without knowing the background, it would surely be difficult to continue working on environmental conservation.First, I believe it’s important for you to properly understand the current situation, and then consider the next actions.

——What kind of “future of sports” do you want to create, Mr. Tsujii?

I believe my role is to create an environment where clubs and players can freely play Soccer.As mentioned earlier, the climate is causing an increase in situations where we can’t enjoy sports and soccer.We want to halt such situations and create an environment that everyone can enjoy.Predicting the future is not easy, but it is us, “now”, who create the soccer environment for 5 years later, 10 years later.It would be wonderful if the day comes when people who are devoted to sports and soccer can freely envision their future.

Achieving a sustainable society takes both time and effort.Even so, we cannot afford to stop.Last year, Vissel Kobe was able to achieve the big dream of winning by accumulating victories one by one.Similarly for environmental conservation, let’s stack up what we can do one by one.Believing that there is a wonderful future for sports ahead.

TEXT: Kodai Wada
PHOTO: Suguru Tanaka
EDIT: Yohsuke Watanabe, Shiori Saeki (IN FOCUS)