(9.6 Kanto ROOKIE LEAGUE A League Round 9 Nihon University Fujisawa High School 2-1 Distribution Economic University Kashiwa High School Tokinosu Susono E2 Grand)
The 2025 Kanto ROOKIE LEAGUE, where first-year students from a strong school aim to grow and achieve results in 90-minute game league matches, held the final rounds of the A, B, and C leagues at Tokinosu Sports Center in Shizuoka Prefecture on the 6th. Nihon University Fujisawa High School (Kanagawa), which has already won the championship and has advanced to the U-16 national tournament, MIZUNOCHAMPIONSHIP (December), will face third place, Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School (Chiba). They won 2-1 and won the unbeaten title.
Nihon University Fujisawa won the ROOKIE LEAGUE A League for the first time since 2017. Coach Kawachi Kensho, who won his first championship in his eighth year after taking over as the first-year team, was pleased with the title winning the first-year players, who have been scouting and cherished by cultivating them, explaining, “What's good about is the thickness of the player base. I think it's a strength that we can compete with players other than the players who are in each position or starting position.” This season they remained undefeated since the start of the season, and won the previous match against Takenan High School (Saitama) 2-1 with two goals from forward Uchida Shio. With 6 wins and 2 draws, they won the final match for the first time in eight years.
Including this match against Takenan, five of the six wins up to the previous match were won by one point. In addition, the two games that were tied were tied at the end of the match, but they kept on drawing. Coach Kawachi pointed out that “there are some parts of the situation where they don't speak or feel bad enough,” but “When they're all together, they're strong. (Also, coaches from other schools) say they're strong.” His strength seems to be a feature of the first-year students at Nihon University Fujisawa.
On this day, midfielder Okada Yuki, the MVP of the tournament, was away due to an injury to his right wrist. In the first half, there were many times when the fast-paced Ryukei University Kashiwa was pushed into their own territory. They struggled with the opponent's high press and were unable to move forward as they wanted.
However, with captain CB Hishinuma Yusaku, CB Murakami Sorasumi and goalkeeper Inagaki Taiyo concentrated on defense in front of the goal. Then, after Hishinuma's left foot change, right-back Aoki Shunya cut in and shot a left-footed shot, and left-back Kimura Naoto attacked with midfielder Ogiwara Takuma's crossing.
In the 28th minute, the opponent's decisive shot hit the post directly. Then, in the 29th minute, Nihon University Fujisawa dropped midfielder Ashigawa Kanade's right cross with just one touch, forward Tanaka Shoto, who is on the left side of the PA, to the rear. Ogiwara aimed with a diagonal left-footed shot, and the ball went to the right corner of the goal. Nihon University Fujisawa managed to score the lead.
Tanaka explains, “Even if they're pushed in, there's a sense of unity that everyone gets excited from the bench and brings in more and more flow, and even in tough situations, it's the team's strength that someone scores a goal and finishes off.'
The day was another difficult development and he ended up taking the lead. That day, Fujisawa, the University of Fujisawa, flies over. In the 34th minute, Tanaka shot a right footed shot while turning around after a set piece. The goal was 2-0 by a striker who had been showing strength in the front line. It is certain that he struggled with pressure from the opponent on this day, but midfielders Umeda Kaiya and Ashigawa also took on the challenge of breaking through build-up. He also boldly aimed for the third goal with the rigging of both Uchida and midfielder Kaneda Hayato.
In the 34th minute of the first half, forward Tanaka Shoto scored 2-0
In the second half, the opponents targeted him more often from the start, and in the 17th minute, forward Hayashi Go Haruto was allowed to pursue a pursuit goal. However, Hishiuma scored a sliding tackle in the 31st minute, and goalkeeper Inagaki and the defenders calmly responded to the opponent's attacks, making them unable to allow the second goal.
Midfielder Mori Kazu, forward Kunichika Takazo, and midfielder Kawakami Suzuo also worked hard. Although there was a crisis at the end of the match, Nihon University Fujisawa, who also showed his strength in his players and his strength in the competition, won 2-1, finishing the league with 7 wins and 2 draws.
Captain CB Hishinuma Yusaku is pleased to win
Okada, who has also worked in Team A, revealed about the current first-year team, “No matter how you watch or play, I don't really feel like losing, that's how it feels.” At the national tournament, he will be the first in Japan since midfielder Uemura Yoto (now Niigata)'s generation. Okada said, “We had practices before we entered school, and we all practiced every day, with the goal of first entering the national tournament, and the goal of winning the best in Japan at the same time, so it's obvious, but I want to work hard to become the best in Japan, and above all, I would like to make it a tournament that has no regrets.” I achieved one result in my first year, but my high school life is still just a long way from now on. They will improve their strengths on and off the pitch to compete in the national tournament.
Nihon University Fujisawa challenges to become the best in Japan in the U-16s
(Interview and text by Yoshida Taro)
