A year of unexpected endurance and a steadfast stance
Everything is for a bright future
MF 40 Riki HARAKAWA
Every person and player has a story. '2024 PLAYER’S REVIEW' introduces all the blue and red warriors who fought through the 2024 season, one by one. What thoughts did they carry as they went through the season? Confidence, a sense of achievement, challenges, joy, regret... Reflecting on this season's battles through the words of each player.
This season, after completing a full transfer, Riki HARAKAWA was expected to be a key player in the attack and secured a starting position at the opening match, but he went through an unexpectedly tough season. The moments when he delivered results from the opportunities given to him were impressive, but during times when he was not favored with playing opportunities, he spent his time always focusing on his own and the team's growth. With patience and frustration as his motivation, he diligently trained for the 2024 season wearing the number 40 jersey.
Anyway, I spent a year enduring one hardship after another.
After a loan transfer in the second half of last season, Riki HARAKAWA transitioned to a full transfer and has garnered great expectations as one of the competitors for the regular position in the defensive midfield. If the team establishes a build-up structure and develops a "soccer that values the ball," it would not be surprising for a playmaker with precise kicking and abundant passing sense to become the core of the team.
In fact, the time spent in the regular squad since preseason has been long, and he secured a starting position in the opening match. In the home opener, which was Sec. 2, he was on the pitch with the number 40 jersey at kickoff. However, perhaps affected by the two consecutive draws, he has been left out of the lineup in matches since Sec. 3. After that, even when included in the 18-man bench, he often came on as a substitute, and although he had a few opportunities to start again during the summer, he ended up spending more than half of the season watching from outside the pitch.
Still, he has not rotted away, nor has he expressed dissatisfaction, and he has been working hard on his training. While deciding on themes and challenges within himself, he has always faced himself with arrows and targets directed inward. "It's appropriate, for better or worse. Well, I guess it's just my personality," he said with a smile, explaining the reason for sticking to his stance based on past experiences.
"When looking at it over a long period, I've seen moments where players who have been patient are rewarded somewhere along the way. For example, Tokuma SUZUKI during his time at Cerezo Osaka. At that time, he was enduring a similar situation, and now he has transferred to Gamba Osaka and is thriving this season. I think we need to learn from such players."
Of course, as a professional, I do feel frustration at times, and sometimes expressing emotions can be a turning point. However, Harakawa believes that "there's no point in thinking about things that are beyond my control," so he does not do that.
"It's not about whether it's good or bad to express emotions and play in a match; I prefer players who endure and seize opportunities, so I want to do it that way," he said, envisioning a bright future where he can look back one day and think, 'There was a season like that.'
On the flip side, I also have the confidence that I can deliver results when given the opportunity. In Sec. 7 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League against Kashima Antlers, I scored a difficult left-footed shot at the Japan National Stadium, and in the 2nd Round of the Emperor's Cup against Veertien Mie, I scored a brilliant direct free kick. I have done what I needed to do when I stepped onto the pitch.
"This feeling and experience that I tasted for the first time is something to laugh about someday. Riki will turn all kinds of thoughts into nourishment."
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golasso)
