He is aiming to become the third Olympian in history to be a member of the top team from the Aka Academy.
Goalkeeper Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who has saved the team multiple times with big saves, will fly to Paris after the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Sec. 23 match against Albirex Niigata at the Japan National Stadium on July 13th.
After experiencing a major moment by being selected for the Japan national team for the first time at the end of last season, player Nozawa has also gained a spot in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 and the Paris Olympics. After returning to Japan, he has once again become a starter and evolved into an essential player for the team by making a series of super saves.
On the other side, there was a mental reform to reconfirm the way of facing soccer. We will approach his thoughts that changed it to a plus, spending a difficult time unknown to people.
Text by Ikiru AOYAMA
Photos by Hikaru ARAI
"I am different from myself until the U-23 Asian Cup. Behind the victory in the tournament, I have some difficult memories personally, but I was able to move forward from there."
A reliable blue and red guardian is about to spread its wings on the world stage. Despite making the squad for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, they were unable to get any playing time. "I was chosen! That's how I feel. I wanted to do my best and above all, I feel a strong sense of excitement," they express their honest joy for the first time in a world tournament since then.
He took over a regular position in Tokyo towards the end of last season, and his performance there was recognized, leading to his first call-up to the Japan national team at the end of the year. Despite suffering an injury during the national team training camp, he also participated in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 at the beginning of the year. In April, he was also selected for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024, which also serves as the final qualifier for the Paris Olympics, and has secured a spot in the main tournament.
It may seem smooth sailing just by looking at the results. However, he was secretly struggling behind the scenes.
The U-23 Asia Cup held in Qatar, I played on the pitch in the third match of the group stage against South Korea, but we lost 0-1. I couldn't play as I wanted and continued to sit on the bench in the final round. He reflects on his mental state at the time.
"During the tournament, I found myself playing a bit passively. I would think, 'I should have done this' or 'I'm trying too hard to fit in' or 'I need to avoid making mistakes'... Of course, I knew that wasn't a good thing, but I couldn't help but act that way."
I don't want to regret anymore. The experience of going through tough times prompted him to return to his roots. What kind of play does he want to make? How can he bring out his best? He repeated self-reflection to overcome obstacles and move forward. What he realized by facing himself every day was to have confidence in himself and mental control to fully demonstrate his abilities. That awareness changed him.
"I realized the importance of both heart and mind. I thought that the mental aspect is necessary to bring out what I have."
Of course, we must acquire skills through daily practice. However, in order to demonstrate our abilities in high-pressure games and make split-second decisions, what is necessary is a confident and calm mentality that allows us to play with composure.
"I started by believing in my own intuition and feelings, and expressing them. After all, I want to play the soccer I love, and the plays I love. Of course, there are failures and mistakes, but I am conscious of getting up from there and trying to play in a way that is fun. What I like is grabbing onto the ball, predicting the opponent's movements, and making saves that seem like they will break the goal. Of course, you need the skills to do that, but if you think about it during the game, it's too late. That's why I face myself and practice every day, but in the end, you need a burning mentality like "I'll do it!" or intuition. Above all, it's good to be able to enjoy every moment of being a goalkeeper."
After returning to Tokyo with a ticket to Paris, there were more games where he clearly grasped the flow of the game from his big save. However, the attitude of fighting as a team without ever breaking down "I didn't win on my own strength" remains unchanged.
I have escaped from being stuck in a rut and am enjoying playing on the pitch. Of course, I also have a desire to improve. The determination to completely eliminate negative elements and contribute to the team's victory has given him confidence in his heart.
"While having a desire to improve is important, it can also lead to negative thoughts of 'not being good enough'. This is just my personal opinion, but I believe it is important to have that mindset while also giving your all on the pitch."
Keep playing with confidence. I face myself every day without fail, never becoming arrogant or satisfied. While accepting changes, corrections, and challenges, I move forward with confidence and determination.
The farewell match for player Nozawa, who will embark on such a journey, will be the Albirex Niigata match held at the Japan National Stadium on July 13th. "Until I join the U-23 Japan national team, I will continue to wish for nothing but Tokyo's victory and play with determination," he says, burning with determination for the team's victory.
"We want a lot of fans to come, and the National Stadium has amazing production. We want to show exciting soccer as a team, whether it's through results or the flow of the game. Some may want to see us win with a goal rush and a clean sheet, but even if we fall behind, there will be moments of excitement when we turn the game around. As a goalkeeper, consistent hard work leads to stable results, but there will be one or two flashy moments in a game. I want to contribute to a victory by staying focused for 90 minutes without giving any openings."
The renewed starting point is the joy of soccer. And his place is in Tokyo. Taishi Brandon NOZAWA's "mental revolution". A positive return to the original point. He wants to face himself, always be aware of maximum output, and firmly witness his presence as he sets off for Paris at National.
