Finally, on April 29th (Fri, holiday), Tokyo will play its first J-League match at the new Japan National Stadium.
At the old National Stadium, we have played many official matches since the first year of J-League membership. There have been memorable super plays and impactful events. Since achieving the long-awaited title, Tokyo has won all titles at the National Stadium, symbolizing the deep connection between Tokyo and the National Stadium.
Our National Stadium.
This is TOKYO.
Before taking a new step at the National Stadium, let's look back on the footprints and memories that have been left at the previous National Stadium, along with photos from that time.
2004 Rainy Derby. Piercing, Kajiyama's strike
[Match Information]
2004 J.League Division 1 2nd Stage Matchday 3
FC Tokyo 1-0 Tokyo Verdy 1969
That swing was Tokyo's hope.
When I write about my early days as a fledgling freelance writer, I can't help but feel the aging of myself who has become middle-aged. In my twenties, after the game, I always went out to eat with my seniors. It was a happy time of endless soccer and silly conversations. (What I'm doing now hasn't changed). And there was always a player whose name came up.
And, I have also heard this story from Coach Tetsu NAGASAWA at that time.
"When I drink wine with Mr. Hara, we often talk about him. He says, 'I want to see players like him thriving in Europe.'"
Surely, Tokyo supporters must have had the experience of discussing and talking about the same player. That's how interesting Yohei KAJIYAMA is.
August 29, 2004. The rain poured down at the Japan National Stadium, the stage of the Tokyo showdown (by the way, at that time, it was not officially called the Tokyo Derby). Number 23 unleashed a remarkably powerful strike.
In the 43rd minute of the second half, which was tied 0-0, Kajiyama, who came on as a substitute, received the ball outside the area. Perhaps the words of Manager Hara, "It's time to score (in the league)," were still echoing in his ears. As soon as the course opened up by shifting the ball to the right, he swung his right foot without hesitation and pierced the upper left corner of the goal with a trajectory like an arrow. The opponent's goalkeeper could only stand still in that sharpness. For Kajiyama, this was his first goal in the J1 League, which made him happy.
Super goal on the first day of the year. No, not only in the away game victory in the Nabisco Cup against Kashima Antlers (April 29th), but also in the thrilling middle shot against the strong Spanish team Deportivo (August 1st). There is no reason not to be excited about the emergence of such a rookie.
The journalist Masakazu Takahashi, who was in charge of Tokyo Chunichi Sports and FC Tokyo at the time, had this to say about his first impression of Kajiyama when we had such conversations together multiple times.
"For some reason, time seemed to flow slowly there. Even though it looked like it was standing still, somehow it dribbled past smoothly. I remember Mr. Hara often talking about wanting him to become a player like (Juan Carlos) Valeron, who had a similar atmosphere and physique."
He was often called "null" or "pervert," words that are not typically used to describe a soccer player. That was also his unique personality. Kajiyama, who carried someone's dream, suffered from many injuries and took off his spikes in 2018.
We never imagined that we would walk the desired career path, neither us back then nor the person themselves. But there is no player who can talk endlessly like that. This number of characters is still not enough to tell the whole story. I'm sorry, could I have another glass of draft beer, please?
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
