(9.6 Kanto ROOKIE LEAGUE A League Round 9 Yamanashi Gakuin High School 3-0 Kirigakuen High School Tokinosu Susono E1 Grand)
The final A-League match of the 2025 Kanto ROOKIE LEAGUE, where first-year students from a strong school aim to grow and achieve results in a 90-minute game league match, was held on the 6th, with Yamanashi Gakuin High School (Yamanashi) in second place. He has been selected to participate in the national U-16 tournament, MIZUNOCHAMPIONSHIP (December).
At this point, it is not as powerful as usual. However, the team set clear goals for points and goals conceded, showing the strength to move towards that point. Coach Shimamura Ryuta said, “We were talking about setting a point (referring to past data and league goals) at 18, definitely getting 6 points in three games, and going to the country with 18, so it was great that we managed to get 19.” Over the past six months, he has been taking on the challenges he has faced every game, and has been challenging himself to win 18 points in nine games, with an average of less than one goal per game. He competed in the national tournament with 19 points, conceded the league's second place finisher and the league's lowest score of 8 runs.
Yamanashi Gakuin took the lead in the match against Maebashi Ikuei High School (Gunma) on August 31st, but lost 1-3. With only one game remaining, the score difference between Nihon University Fujisawa High School (Kanagawa), the leader, was four, and they were unable to reach their first victory in two years. Before the match against Kirigakuen High School (Kanagawa), Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School (Chiba), which competed for second place, both lost, and Maebashi Ikuei, and before the match he was confirmed to be within the top two in the MIZUNOCHAMPIONSHIP range. Still, they didn't let loose, focusing on winning without conceding goals and clearing their goals, and finished the final match with 3-0.
Yamanashi Gakuin took the lead from the beginning by pushing the opponent into control. Right SB Sato Teruma, who has a strong presence with his flexibility and high interpersonal abilities, puts pressure on his opponent with his crosses and consecutive long throws. In addition, powerful forward Yamazaki Yo has moved forward with his outstanding keeping power. The team approaches the goal by attacking with both wing rigs from midfielder Konuma Ryunosuke and midfielder Fujii Ryosei, but is blocked by good defense from Kirigakuen's goalkeeper Kobayashi Teruru and left-back Summono Masaya.
Right SB Sato Terume took the powerful offensive. He assisted the first goal
Although there was a scene where the opponent was hit quickly, midfielders Ebina Shota and midfielders Ichina Mitsuki, who were “can do their job for the team” (Coach Shimamura), were able to demonstrate their recognizing capabilities. He then continued to aim for the goal without panic, and in the 31st minute of the first half, Sato's pass led Konuma to break out, and in the end he won a one-on-one with the goalkeeper to take the lead.
Konuma, who also participated in the Inter-High School Championships, finished 1-0. In the 7th minute of the second half, Yamanashi Gakuin made Yamazaki get a pass from the opposing defender with a high press. Finally, he dodged the goalkeeper and shot a left foot. He made a valuable addition.
In the second half, the number of times Kirigakuen was hit by space on the side and then crossed the ball and took the shot increased. Still, notable goalkeeper Ishii Naki cut off the opponent's momentum with a stable catch, and both Mochizuki Ruki and Ishizuka Rinmu showed their height, making it unstoppable.
He then created a shooting scene with midfielder Miyashita Ryu from left foot free kick and left-back Kikuta Yono cross. Yamazaki also broke through the center and got a chance to score. Then, in the 29th minute of the second half, Yamazaki's cross passed to the left and invited the opposing defender's hand and won a penalty kick. Although Yamazaki was stopped by the goalkeeper once, he pushed the gap in and made it 3-0.
He was selected to participate in the national tournament before the match, but captain Ishii recalls, “If we won today and score three points, and if we had no goals, we could achieve our goal, so we had decided to (play in the national tournament), but on the other hand, there was an atmosphere throughout the team that we were thinking of focusing on those goals and achieving them.”
At the end of the match, there was a critical crisis before Kiri Gakuen's side attack. However, I think everyone shared the same understanding and conscious of the fact that they had no goals in all nine games, not just in today's match, and I think that was the reason they were able to protect themselves with zero today,” and the team was entitled to Ishii, including midfielder Morishita Asahisho, midfielder Haga Ikki, and forward Ichikawa Reidai, who were substituting midfielder Morishita Asahisho, midfielder Haga Kazuki, and forward Ichikawa Reidai.
Yamanashi Gakuin achieved its six-month goal. However, coach Shimamura said, “(2nd place) is currently in the ranking, so if you're satisfied with this, you'll definitely be slow to improve. As with all coaches, I'm sure the competition will be the championship two years from now.” We will continue to strengthen our efforts with an eye on the future two years from now and beyond.
In the process of this, players will be able to surpass the top four seniors' highest scores and win the best in Japan with “MIZUNOCHAMPIONSHIP.” Ishii said, “This team has a sense of unity, and it's a team that is unique to all defending defense, so I want to continue participating in the national tournament. My seniors didn't win last year, so I want to be able to win that much.” This is the third consecutive year that has been competing in the fierce battleground Kanto region. Yamanashi Gakuin, which has also shown its individual growth, will become the team that will win the number one in Japan and take on “MIZUNOCHAMPIONSHIP.”
(Interview and text by Yoshida Taro)
