(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 prestigious Distribution University of Kashiwa High School (Chiba) took the playoffs as a challenger and vowed to win the right to participate in the U-16 national tournament, MIZUNOCHAMPIONSHIP (December). The final round of the A-League 2025 Kanto ROOKIE LEAGUE was held on the 6th, and third place, Ryukei University Kashiwa, lost 1-2 to Nihon University Fujisawa High School (Kanagawa). He was unable to surpass Yamanashi Gakuin High School, which is within the range of MIZUNOCHAMPIONSHIP, and was placed third in the playoffs.
Although the goal difference between the two before the game was significantly lower than Yamanashi Gakuin, the points were the same 16. Ryukei University Kashiwa, which is aiming to move up to second place, continued to be on the offensive from the beginning. Turning the opponent over, he gets a rhythm with fast-changing defense. He is said to have lost to a Shizuoka Gakuen High School in the previous match without any energy, but on the day he was trying to swallow his opponent with energetic moves from before, including forward Sugato Yoji and midfielder Oshimoto Yoya.
CB Uno Daichi puts his body on clearing
Midfielder Kasanyoon (1st year, from Club Dragons Kashiwa), who is currently captain, recalls, “In the previous match, there was no individual energy at all. As a team, there was no 'let's do it' at all, but today we were able to cheer up against the top team as challengers and take on the match, so I think that was a bit good. (As an individual, there are people outside the team, so we have to take on the responsibility of those people too. We communicated this to our allies and got into the match.”
He put pressure on the front and recovered midfielder Nakasone Kei and others from a high position. He also put his body in front of his own goal, with left-back Shiroiwa Shota scoring a tackle. In terms of attack, in addition to short counters, there were also scenes where they tried to connect in small pieces and bring them to the finish. 184cm CB Oki Yuu took the lead with an effective feed, and in the 28th minute of the first half, Oshimoto, who broke through right-center position, had a chance to score.
However, his full-powered right-footed shot hit the near post. Immediately after the big turn of events, the team conceded a goal, but in the 34th minute, they were late to loose balls due to the set piece flow, allowing consecutive goals. Kayama regrets that his defense has become more lax. However, in the second half, it was one point behind Kayama's exquisite assist.
In the 15th minute of the second half, Kayama picked up the ball in a close match in the middle and dribbling forward. Then he passed a through pass from the center to the front right to forward Hayashi Go Haruto. Hayashi escapes behind the defender and pursues the goal with his right foot. Kayama explains the play that accelerated the counterattack by saying, “It's also my own strengths. My strengths are those through passes and dribbling, so I think that's what I like about him.”
In the 15th minute of the second half, forward Hayashi Go Haruto pursued the goal with his right foot.
Kayama continued to create a chance by passing through on the left side. Just before the end of the second half, he dribbling through the defender's crotch, which jumped in, and swinging his right foot through the defender. “I've been eating a little with my partner, so I'm good at that kind of thing,” Kayama said. The players from Ryukei University Kashiwa all showed off their hands at once in the blow, which was blocked by the defender, but were not recognized and ended up losing by one point.
Kayama joined Team A after the opening game of the 2025 Kanto ROOKIE LEAGUE in April. Midfielder Shimatani Yoshisumi (3rd year), whose job offers for Mito Inland Sea, and U-17 Japan national team defender Masuda Daisora (3rd year), were keenly aware of the difference, saying, “The press and physical strength are completely different.” However, over the course of six months, the difference in physical and technical aspects of his seniors gradually narrowed, and the match against Nihon University Fujisawa was a strong-looking move. From here, they aim to become a member of the championship, and at the same time, the first-year team aims to win the MIZUNOCHAMPIONSHIP playoffs.
The playoff opponent, where a draw or more will determine whether they will be competing in the U-16 national tournament, will be Komazawa Daitaka (Tokyo), the winner of the B League. Kayama said, “In order to compete in rookies across the country, we need to show more of our good points of Ryukei. I think the other party will probably come as challengers, but since we haven't been able to win lately, we want to continue to challenge ourselves with the spirit of challenger.” As challengers, they demonstrate their traits and win the right to challenge Japan's U-16.
Midfielder Kasanyoon swings the defender and moves forward
(Interview and text by Yoshida Taro)
