Takuya Iwanami, a player who rose from the Vissel Kobe Academy to the top team and then excelled for six seasons at Urawa Reds.From this season, they have rejoined Vissel Kobe and become a member of the team aiming for consecutive J.LEAGUE championships and the Asian championship.He has his own reasons for rejecting offers from other teams and returning to his old team.To radiate brilliance once again in the club I've loved since childhood, and to become a figure that children aspire to be.His face was full of determination.

——You transferred to Vissel Kobe from this season, have you felt any response in your practice so far?

I’m in the midst of deepening my understanding of the team’s vision and tactics, and I feel like I’m starting to get a grasp of it to some extent. I believe we are able to conduct thorough practice as we are proceeding while closely communicating with our teammates. Since the last season ended and I’ve been away from official matches for a while, I’m looking forward to the game.

——Compared to the team you were previously a part of, have there been any changes in aspects such as practice?

I believe the intensity of training has increased significantly. In my previous team, we never had such intense training sessions, but Vissel Kobe, especially the veteran players, is focused on winning even during practice. The idea is to give 100% effort in practice in order to perform at 120% in a game. The strain on my body is such that I feel as though I’m playing a match every day. That’s why I feel the overall level of the team has increased.

——Please tell us what Iwanami is consciously working on to increase his presence in a highly competitive team.

Having won the J.LEAGUE last year, and being a team with a high level of tactical proficiency, securing a regular spot here is not an easy task. Understanding that, I believe it’s crucial to demonstrate your abilities when opportunities come your way. Opportunities to make oneself stand out always come, not only in daily practice, but also when teammates are unable to participate, or when players are rotated due to a tight schedule. I want to prepare thoroughly for it and produce results. What is expected of new players is to bring an additional positive force to the team in such situations.

——Last year, as a player for Urawa Reds, I believe you witnessed Vissel Kobe’s victory. How did you feel about it?

Given that I was on a rival team, I felt some frustration as a player, but Vissel Kobe as a team had few fluctuations in performance, and they showcased their strength in every match, so I felt that it was a splendid way to win. Especially for Vissel in the 2022 season, it was a tough time in the relegation battle, so it’s amazing in the sense of rebuilding from there, isn’t it? I had been wondering why they had become so strong, but once I joined the training at the camp, I understood the reason for their strength. The practice of high quality is ongoing, and the young and mid-career players are striving as hard as the veterans. In this way, our abilities and consciousness naturally improved, and I believe that led us to victory.

——What kind of achievements do you envision for this season with Vissel Kobe?

Of course, there are the J.LEAGUE and cup matches, but this year there is also the Asian Champions League (ACL). I returned to Vissel Kobe because I wanted to compete on the world stage, so not only do I want to excel in domestic competitions, but also in the ACL.  As a team, we are aiming to win. I believe that you have the power to accomplish that. I would like to contribute to making this team a club that can compete in Asia and the world.

——As a player from the Vissel Kobe Academy, what do you think is necessary to make children love Soccer and Vissel Kobe?

When I was in elementary school, players from Vissel Kobe would come to our school, and I also had the opportunity to go to the team’s practice field and interact with the players. I believe that such exchanges are important. I visited the supporters’ seats many times to cheer. Since I had admired soccer players from my childhood, now I want to work hard to become someone children can look up to. Although I have left the team once, Vissel Kobe is still a special entity for me. I want to become a player who can be seen as a goal.

——What does Iwanami think is the fun of Soccer?

The game continues for 90 minutes, and it’s uncertain who will win until the final whistle blows. The charm is that you can always have thrilling and exciting moments. there is a risk of injury since it’s a contact sport, the intense collisions can also be quite interesting, right? Actually, I love baseball and often go to the stadium to watch games. Understanding the excitement of Baseball makes me even more determined not to lose out on Soccer. I will strive to attract more attention.

Having once left Vissel Kobe to experience other teams and then returned, I now appreciate the greatness of my former team even more. While surprised at the high level of competition, Iwanami, as a member of a team aiming for consecutive J.LEAGUE victories and ACL championship, is eagerly vying for a regular position. The soccer boy who was a fan of Vissel Kobe is gearing up to make a comeback on the Kobe turf.

INTERVIEW : Yohsuke Watanabe (IN FOCUS)
Kodai Wada