Report

Atsushi Yanagisawa:
We didn't have our own ground before, so now that we do, the entire academy can train more smoothly. I'm truly grateful for the improved facilities. Moving forward, I believe what's important is how we innovate using this Kashima Antlers Academy Field. With a clear vision, I hope we can produce players who become key figures for Antlers and go on to succeed globally. It's a big goal, but I'd like to see us send such players to the top team year after year. Lately, players tend to transfer overseas quickly, so the existence of an academy that continuously supplies players to the top team will become crucial. If it's well-equipped, we can smoothly fill any gaps. I think it would be ideal if we could establish a cycle where we can immediately replenish the top team's strength. That's our first goal. (We received over 200 million yen in donations.) It's an incredibly large sum, and I'm sure the 2,793 people who donated have a variety of feelings. I want to engrave those feelings in my heart as I coach. This is a long-term plan, so I hope everyone will continue to watch over us for a long time, and together we can build the future of Antlers. I believe the greatest repayment would be for players nurtured at the Kashima Antlers Academy Field, built with your donations, to excel on the Kashima pitch. I also think we can share a strong sense of having raised these players together.

Mitsuo Ogasawara:
(Regarding the crowdfunding campaign to solicit donations) I am truly grateful for it, and it made me feel an even stronger desire to connect this support to the growth of our children. Now that we have such a wonderful facility in the Kashima Antlers Academy Field, and we've had such a fantastic event today, the next step is how we can help these children grow from here. That's why I feel I must work hard, and I strongly want to convey to the children who played on the pitch today how grateful they should be. While this was the purpose of today's match, I believe it's quicker to show than to tell. That applies to every kick, and every defensive move. I think there were many good examples today, and the children definitely gained something from the match, so we will approach them in a way that helps them remember what they felt. I also want the academy children to pay attention to these opportunities, learn from them, and watch as these children progress from here to the top team. As an academy, it's crucial to nurture as many players as possible to stand on the top team's pitch, and from there, to develop players who become key members of the top team. Machida, Shoma, and Koki came today, and I believe there's a lot we need to do to produce players who reach that level. We want to continuously increase the "quantity and quality" of players promoted from the academy to the top team.

Koji Nakata:
I don't think we would have gained the empathy of the fans and supporters if we had simply said, "Please donate," or "We're doing crowdfunding." This time, we had the goal of improving the academy's facilities, and I believe many people agreed with the idea of building it together with the fans and supporters. In that sense, I'm glad we undertook this project, and I was once again able to feel everyone's strong passion for Antlers. Yanagi-san and Mitsuo are coaching on the field, and I myself had to think about this project from a different perspective, so I was able to understand everyone's feelings even more directly than they did. That's why I want to firmly convey everyone's feelings to the two of them and to the academy players. Usually, there's a distance, but I'm truly glad that the OBs gathered like this today and created such an atmosphere together. I think we were able to create the Antlers atmosphere and spirit together with the fans and supporters who came today, so now it's up to the children to see how they connect this to their future. I think that's what it all comes down to.

Yasuto Honda:
For Antlers, the creation of such a wonderful facility (Kashima Antlers Academy Field) meant I was invited to this special match. It's been about 15 years since I retired, but I can only express my gratitude for being able to play at Kashima again. Playing with former teammates I fought alongside brought back the joy of being part of a historic club like Antlers. As someone who has been involved in the club's history, if there's anything I can do to cooperate with other OBs in the future, I'll always be ready. I hope Koji, who remains as a front staff member, and Yanagi and Mitsuo, who have returned to the field, will work hard and once again make Antlers a "perpetually winning team." If I'm given such opportunities, I'll strive to stay in condition so I can play even at 55 or 60. I believe this is also a history that Zico built. It's the role of us OBs to pass on this history and tradition to the next generation, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to do so. Today, I'm frustrated that we were completely defeated by the academy players, but I was relieved to see their passionate play and intensity. I hope they will continue to aim higher and work hard.

Shigeyoshi Hasegawa:
I was delighted to be able to stand on the pitch at Kashima Stadium for such an event. I had knee surgery last year and hadn't exercised for 14 months, so I wondered if I could keep up, but I enjoyed it. I believe the players who played today will become the future of Antlers, and there were many promising players. I hope they work hard in their daily training and approach it with clear goals.

Yutaka Akita:
It was truly a happy feeling to play on the Kashima pitch again after so long. (The academy players we played against) indeed had a lot of movement, and I felt that their deliberate attacking plays were very Antlers-like. (To everyone who donated) Thank you very much for your generous support. I believe your kindness will build the future of Antlers, and today marks the first step towards achieving even more glorious titles in the future. We kindly ask for your continued support for Antlers.

Ryosuke Okuno:
We were able to compete in a truly excellent environment, where one could envision a bright future for the children, and I believe we were able to pass something on to the next generation. However, I also felt that they respected us OBs a bit too much, so I hope they continue their journey with the spirit of being more aggressive and even beating us thoroughly. Playing with old teammates, and cheering each other on, was a very nostalgic and comfortable time, and personally, I was very happy. (To everyone who donated) I am truly delighted that you supported the activities of the Antlers Academy. As an Antlers fan, I want to continue cheering for them together, and I hope we can build the future of Antlers with all of you.

Akira Narahashi:
You can't play poorly at Kashima, so I intended to give it my all, but it was beyond that. The U13 players we played against were very skilled, and I strongly felt their future potential. I saw some great play. I think I was able to show the children my fighting spirit and such, but I hope they can apply what they learned from us OBs during the match to their future. I already felt their fighting spirit, so I think their future is very exciting. As an OB, I hope many players can rise from the academy to the top and become active members of the Japanese national team. Joining Antlers isn't the end. I hope they always aim higher and work hard.

Tadatoshi Masuda:
Six years ago, Koji and others had their retirement match (ENCORE) at Kashima, but today I played in a different way and truly felt the wonderful technique of the academy children, realizing there are many promising young talents. Also, Kashima Junior Youth has Tenso Nakagawa from Oita, so I was very happy that he scored with the same jersey number (14), and I truly felt his growth as a player, which made me happy as a coach too. I'm currently coaching this generation, and having a dedicated ground is a strength, and by hosting our own tournaments, I think many strong teams will come. It should be positive in many ways. I also observed and I think it's a truly wonderful environment, I'm quite envious. I played hard today hoping that playing with these promising young players would be supportive for them.

Toshiyuki Abe:
It was fun to play at Kashima after a long time, and going up to enter the pitch, lining up in the warm-up zone, brought back old memories. Actually playing against the academy players, I felt that they were thoroughly coached and had their own distinct style. Now that former players are also involved as coaches, I think that influence is present. The intensity in ball contests and hard work were evident, plus I saw individual techniques from each player. With the new Kashima Antlers Academy Field, if they can train regularly regardless of the conditions, I think they can make another one or two significant leaps in improvement. As one gets older, such opportunities become fewer, so it was a very enjoyable event.

Koji Kumagai:
The academy players were truly reliable. And being able to play with my former teammates again, I once again felt the good aspects of the tradition that the Antlers club holds. (With the Kashima Antlers Academy Field now complete) it's the proper way forward to continue building upon what has been established in both the soft and hard aspects of our history. I feel that Antlers is progressing on the right path.

Takayuki Suzuki:
(The academy players) have solid techniques and their level has improved compared to the past. However, to become players who can succeed professionally, I want them to develop more distinctive qualities and to grow to have some kind of weapon. Without that, they won't be able to turn professional or succeed. I felt that they should continuously refine those aspects from now on. Playing at Kashima after a long time, with many of my former teammates, brought back old memories and made me very happy. (To all who donated) I believe that having a strong academy is essential for Antlers to become stronger, so I sincerely thank you for your cooperation.

Toru Araiba:
It was a very meaningful match, focused on nurturing players from the academy, centered around Yanagi-san, Mitsuo, and Koji, who know Antlers' past. However, this shouldn't end as just an event; the question now is how we can continue it. In terms of hardware, the element of attracting people will be extremely important. And in terms of software, I believe good coaching led by Yanagi-san and Mitsuo will foster good players. I think that's what everyone who came today is most looking forward to.

Masaki Fukai:
(The academy players) are all very skilled, and I hope they work hard so that as many of them as possible can become top team players in the future. Playing at Kashima is truly nostalgic and gets my emotions flowing, so I was moving more than usual. (To everyone who donated) I am filled with gratitude for creating such a wonderful ground for the academy children. I pray that in the future, as many good players as possible will emerge from here to lead Japan, and I believe those players will support Antlers going forward. I hope you will continue to support Antlers.

Takuya Nozawa:
I am grateful that we were able to build this ground together with everyone's help. I would be happy to continue to contribute to the future (of Antlers).

Daiki Iwamasa:
It was fun playing at Kashima, and I'd like to participate again if there's another opportunity.

Tsuyoshi Aoki:
I myself am retiring this season, and I'm truly delighted to have been able to play at Kashima Stadium with such great seniors and former teammates at the very end. I truly felt that I had played with some incredible individuals. The academy has Yanagisawa-san, Ogasawara-san, and all the OBs. I believe they are conveying their knowledge to the players in their daily activities. Antlers is currently undergoing a period of transition, and it will be truly important from now on to continuously produce players from the academy. With the new ground, I hope they will produce many players.

Yuji Funayama:
It's a great pleasure to play at Kashima, very nostalgic, and truly an honor. (The academy players) had more speed and strength than I imagined, and there were many promising players with future potential, so I hope they experience the Antlers spirit and continue to grow. (To all who donated) It is thanks to all of you that we were given this opportunity and that we have such a wonderful facility (Kashima Antlers Academy Field). Please continue your support for Antlers.

Naoya Ishigami:
There were many talented kids compared to when I was young. With the new Kashima Antlers Academy Field, I think the training environment will improve even further, leading to an even higher level of play. I hope that some of the players who competed today will make it to the top team and lead Antlers to victory. Since I was a late call-up, my conditioning was so bad I couldn't move at all (laughs), but I was so happy to reunite with teammates I had fought alongside on the pitch, and I'd be glad if they invited me again for such activities.

Atsuto Uchida:
Playing at Kashima again was nostalgic, and there were many senior players whom I had looked up to since I was in elementary school, so I was very happy to be part of this group. While the pandemic might have created some distance between us and the fans and supporters, you all supported us for the team to become stronger. Even though players change, the supporters continue to cheer us on without fail, and I am grateful for that. From now on, I'm on their side, so (as a supporter) I hope Kashima Antlers becomes stronger.

Ryota Sasaki:
It was fun playing with people I hadn't played with during my active career. It's rare to meet young active players, and Ichikawa-san was my GK coach when I was in junior youth, so it was a valuable experience. It was my first time playing at Kashima in 9 years. The atmosphere is truly the best. I'm currently with an amateur team and we play on artificial turf, so the ball didn't stick to my feet... I also grew up in the youth system, but such an experience is rare, and their technical skills are solid, so I think the future of Antlers is bright.

Shinichiro Kawamata:
With teammates I've played with, and both seniors and juniors present, I was reminded again what a great club Antlers is. I hope that by having more and more players from the academy rise to the top team and succeed, they will build a new tradition. Many J. League clubs don't have their own training ground for the top team. In such a situation, the fact that we now have a dedicated academy ground is truly thanks to all the fans and supporters who cooperated. Precisely because they are in such an environment, they must deliver results. I believe the excellent seniors will continue to teach them, so I hope (the academy players) will make the most of this environment.

Hitoshi Sogahata:
When I was in youth, we didn't have events like this, and I never had the opportunity to play together with seniors. Today, from 6th graders to 2nd-year high school students, they had the experience of playing at Kashima with a crowd, and I hope this becomes a great catalyst for them to reach the top. Currently, there are players like Shoma, Machida, Oki, and Yamada who have been playing here continuously, while others like Someya and Koki left the academy once and then returned. There are many paths, so I hope they pursue them, and I wish today's match serves as such a turning point.

Yuma Jo:
Even though I was only enrolled as a player for one year and didn't play in a single match, I want to thank Koji Nakata (who was the initiator and my colleague) and others for allowing me to participate in this game. I'm currently working as a staff member in the club's sales team, and I'm truly delighted that our corporate partners also supported the donation and came to cheer us on at this match. I tried my best to live up to those feelings, but well, this is my real ability (laughs). It was fun. The fans gave warm applause for each play, and I felt that this is what Antlers is all about. (With the Kashima Antlers Academy Field now complete) I don't think a strong team is built by environment alone, but having the freedom to use this facility will greatly expand possibilities. I also coached in the academy for about 10 years, so I am deeply moved that such a magnificent facility was built for the club's 30th anniversary. Thank you very much.

Tomoya Ichikawa:
To be honest, the academy players were very skilled. Their technique was high, and they had good awareness of their surroundings. Moreover, they were proficient at "stopping and kicking," so I think they personally felt the cumulative effect of their daily training, which was excellent. Being at Kashima brought back nostalgic feelings, and since I didn't achieve much as an active player, I'm truly grateful to have been allowed to stand on the pitch. With the cooperation of many people, such a wonderful match and (Kashima Antlers Academy Field) facility were made possible. We coaches also want to always remember that gratitude, convey it to the children, and hope to become stronger. Thank you very much.

Kosei Nakamura:
I want the academy players to absorb the fighting spirit and DNA of the legends who have won titles over the past 30 years and to build and connect the Antlers of the future. The creation of our own ground (Kashima Antlers Academy Field) as we improve the environment will greatly enhance the activities of the youth, junior youth, junior, and school teams, further promoting the growth of the players. This ground was made possible thanks to everyone who supported this crowdfunding and provided significant donations. With those strong feelings and the club's values etched in my heart, I now want to give back to the club and connect it to the academy players.

Kenta Kasai:
It was simply fun. There was a sense of family, which is also Antlers' philosophy, and the fans were warm. I felt that nothing had changed from 10 years ago when I was an active player. That's Antlers' strength, and if that strength gets even stronger, the top team will get closer to titles. I felt that Antlers' philosophy had permeated even the academy players, but I wasn't calm enough to strongly say, "I felt that" (laughs). I think raising the level from the academy is the club's ideal, so I believe that improving the environment, among other things, will have a big impact on the top team. I feel this is a big step for the club's future as well.

Akihide Sato:
Participating in this event, my first thought was to be grateful for returning to Antlers and being involved with the academy, and to play my best for those who donated. Since I regularly coach these children, I knew how capable they were, so I personally couldn't let my guard down and played hard to win. However, they ultimately surpassed us, leaving me with mixed feelings of half happiness and a lot of frustration. I met people I hadn't seen since leaving Antlers, and also met legends I'd never encountered before, which was a great experience for me, and I learned a lot. Moving forward, as Antlers, the spirit of dedication, sincerity, and respect will remain unchanged. I want to dedicate myself every day to working with the children, hoping to contribute even a little to instilling the values that our predecessors have left behind.

Tatefumi Toka:
(The academy players) were not afraid and came to fight with their own style, which I felt firsthand and thought was wonderful. It was great to play with my old teammates again, and I was very happy. (To everyone who donated) As you saw, I think the future is bright. Each player has potential, and we coaches will continue to strive not to extinguish that potential.

Yasushi Endo:
I wanted to participate in this special match, which was the culmination of a project launched by Mitsuo-san and others who have done so much for me. The Kashima Antlers Academy Field has been built, but I believe Antlers exists because of all the supporters who have helped us. I trust that good players will grow from the academy and Antlers will become even stronger, so I hope for your continued support.

Shoma Doi:
It was truly a happy experience to play with the senior players I admired as a child, something I rarely get to do. I hope to become a player who makes others feel the same way. This club exists thanks to everyone involved with Antlers, so I want to continue this kind of work.

Koki Machida:
It was fun and a good experience to play with players I watched when I was little. I myself joined the junior youth when the Tsukuba Academy Center was established, and I was able to play in a wonderful environment. So, I don't want them to waste that environment, and since many people donated, I want them to play with gratitude. I want more and more players to rise from the academy to the top team, and I believe that will make the team stronger. To do that, I feel I need to become a benchmark player myself, so I want to keep working hard.

Ayase Ueda:
(Playing against them) was refreshing. Playing with Yanagi-san, Taku-san, and Mitsuo-san, we made eye contact often, and it was easy to get the timing right, and I really thought they were amazing. Taku-san said it was his first time playing in a year, but his quality of play was incredibly stimulating. I was somewhat able to match Yanagi-san's movements, so I want to become that kind of player. When I was in junior youth, we used to practice in rented dirt fields or parks. I don't remember playing on a flat ground, which is why (the Kashima Antlers Academy Field) is such a blessed environment, and the academy players have an environment where they can challenge themselves thanks to the efforts of many people. I hope they will appreciate the environment and refine themselves daily.

Yuya Oki:
While we only know a small part, we were able to feel the legacy built by various seniors over 30 years in a short time. Beyond that, we must be grateful to the fans and supporters who created this opportunity. Also, if players from the academy don't succeed, there's no meaning in having events like today or the ground being built, so I felt a responsibility to work even harder. The academy players were very aggressive, and I myself realize that you can't succeed as a professional without that kind of spirit. I hope they don't forget that feeling and utilize it in the future.

Itsuki Someno:
All the academy players had high technical skills, and I felt their level was higher than when I was in the academy. I felt I needed to work harder too. It's wonderful that it can be used anytime, and being able to play on a dedicated ground is extremely beneficial. I'm really looking forward to playing with the players who will be promoted from the academy to the top team in the future.

Daiki Yamada:
I strongly felt the desire to "win the game" from the OBs. We, the current players, must now inherit what our seniors fought for and built, and work hard to win the title next season. When I was in the academy, I didn't have experiences like playing against OBs, so I'm envious. I hope the current academy players see the play of the seniors who brought many titles and feel firsthand that these OBs are not just ordinary OBs. With such a wonderful pitch (Kashima Antlers Academy Field) now available, similar to when the academy house was built, it's an environment where there are no more excuses. I believe that players with a strong desire to "aim higher" will now come up to the top team.

Yu Funahashi:
(Playing against the academy players) I honestly felt they were more skilled and agile than I was during my junior youth and youth days. As a professional, I was reminded by my juniors that I need to do more. I want to tighten up and prepare for next season. I played at the Tsukuba Academy Center until I moved up to youth, but having a ground definitely allows for focused training, and the benefit of being able to play on the same ground without changes in environment was significant. Now that (the Kashima Antlers Academy Field) has been built in Kashima as well, I think we can become even stronger. I also strongly felt today that "I can't afford to lose." I hope the academy kids work hard, and I work hard, and we push each other to make Antlers even stronger.