GK Shuto Kikuta / GK Towa Kurosawa
DF Yugo Okawa / DF Daisuke Kondo / DF Towa Asahina
Behind the scenes of the treble, how did the third-year youth players view one another? Guided by themes on prepared cards, teammates tell the stories of their peers. What emerges from practice, matches, and daily life are the distinct profiles of these 14 individuals. It is about the personalities that supported the team—things that cannot be conveyed by numbers or results alone. (Part 2 of 4)
GK Shuto Kikuta
Learning how to support the team between discipline and cheering
"For Kikuta, it has to be that match," says Teruto Takagi.
July 29th, the Club Youth Championship semifinal against FC Tokyo U-18. With no winner after 90 minutes, the match went to penalties. That was when Shuto Kikuta made his presence felt. He saved the second and fourth spot kicks, leading his team to the final. It was the moment he became a "game-changer."
However, that is not the only reason his teammates acknowledge his impact.
He was left out of the squad for the Premier League Final. Shuto Kikuta didn't get to step onto the pitch in the end. Yet, on the day of the match, he didn't try to distance himself or run away. He went to the stands and was the first to cheer louder than anyone else. At the moment of kickoff, he says his mindset shifted in a strange way.
"Once the match started, I had no feelings other than wanting us to win."
The stands erupted with the opening goal, and even after conceding, the cheering never stopped. When the match went to penalties, the players off the pitch continued to scream until their voices were hoarse. When victory was decided, everyone—including those who hadn't played—became one.
He felt the frustration of missing out on the pitch due to his own shortcomings, but he still found a place where he could fight as part of the team. He was a game-changer here, too.
The area between the goalposts is not the only place for a goalkeeper to fight. In 2025, Shuto Kikuta learned the resolve and responsibility of being the one who supports.
GK Towa Kurosawa
No words needed. Leading the way for the best in Japan through his actions.
"Kurosawa leads by example," says Daisuke Kondo.
This sentiment, which emerged naturally during the third-year student discussion, describes the player Towa Kurosawa most concisely.
Physical training took place every Tuesday. On the way back from hill sprints, even when everyone else switched to walking, Kurosawa was the only one who kept running. It didn't look like he was overexerting himself; he just moved forward as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I never thought about trying to lead anyone. I was just doing my best."
That is precisely why his example was so effective. Even without words to inspire someone, a feeling of "if he's doing it, I should too" took hold. He is not a man of many words. Yet, because he is loved by his teammates, everyone follows his lead. As a result, the intensity of practice increased naturally.
According to staff, an unexpected side of him is that he "is actually prone to nerves." He doesn't deny it.
"To be honest, I do get nervous. But I have a strong desire not to let it show."
While holding onto that tension, he calmly does what needs to be done. The fact that he could continue that every day is Kurosawa's true strength.
Training to be the best in Japan is not the result of one person's talent. However, it is certain that there was someone who consistently embodied that standard unconsciously.
DF Yugo Okawa
Refusing to lower the standard. The role of the captain.
Whenever the atmosphere in practice loosened just a little, he was the first to speak up. Yugo Okawa's words were not driven by anger, but by the "standard."
"Whenever the quality dropped, he would immediately urge us to raise it," says Sora Nakagawa.
In a routine where clashing hard during practice is expected, it isn't easy to keep pointing out the standard. Yet, Okawa was consistent. If the quality dropped, he pointed it out; if the intensity fell, he pulled it back up. That attitude defined what was expected of their practice.
His attention to preparation was also second to none. He would even ask AI to check everything from his pre-match routine and meal content to how he consumed caffeine. While teammates were surprised, saying "You go that far?", that mindset was the very definition of "preparing to win."
It happened on the eve of the Club Youth final, during a naturally occurring players' meeting. In a setting meant to boost morale, words of gratitude from Masaki for those who support them changed the mood.
"I didn't intend to, but once I put into words everything about those who support us... it just happened," says Yuto Masaki.
Unexpected emotions overflowed. They hadn't won anything yet. At that stage, tears welled up in the captain's eyes. The weight of what he had carried. The reason they had to win with this team. All those feelings welled up at once.
Being able to cry before winning is a testament to being prepared. Yugo Okawa was the captain who continued to build the core of the team through his words and his attitude.
DF Daisuke Kondo
Building day-by-day with brightness and sincerity
In August 2024, after a match where they won and moved on to the next step, the team decided to pour water on GK coach Jun Sogahata, who had just had a birthday. As everyone reached for their bottles, someone yelled, "Kondo's missing!" Immediately after, Daisuke Kondo appeared with a bucket.
"I dumped the whole thing on him (laughs)."
Not a bottle, but a bucket. There was no hesitation, but no malice either. It happened during their second year, but it remains in the memory of all the third-year students as the episode that best describes Kondo. Teammates describe his character as "always bright" (Teruto Takagi) and "always funny" (Naoto Miura).
On the other hand, Kondo is also a player who never skips voluntary practice. He heads to the pitch in the morning and after practice on weekdays, and after practice on weekends. If anyone went, Kondo was always there.
"Whenever I feel like doing it, I just naturally go to the ground."
There is nothing flashy about the daily routine he silently continues. But that consistency kept him in shape and led to stable performances. He is serious during practice, but at other times, he makes people laugh. That ability to switch modes softened the atmosphere of the team.
Brightness and sincerity. Possessing both naturally, Daisuke Kondo was the person who supported the team by consistently building his day-to-day life.
DF Towa Asahina
Protecting the team's momentum in one-on-ones
Club Youth Championship, the semifinal against FC Tokyo U-18. His opponent was Shin Kitahara, who had broken the record for the youngest J1 appearance. Still, it didn't matter. Towa Asahina kept winning his one-on-ones on the flank.
"I didn't want to lose. That was all."
Every time he won a one-on-one, his teammates could look forward. With a stable defense, the attack could be launched without hesitation. Asahina's presence tuned the rhythm of the entire team. His teammates agree:
"If you're talking about one-on-ones on this team, it's Asahina," and "I think he's the best fullback in Japan."
Sora Nakagawa, who played on the same side in midfield, placed his full trust in him.
"He shut out Kitahara. If Asahina had lost that battle, I would have had to drop back to defend. Because he won all of them, I could focus on attacking. The fact that we were able to score was thanks to the good coordination involving myself, Asahina, Yoshida, and others. I think the momentum was born primarily because of Asahina's defense."
Because he wins on the flank, they can commit more numbers to the attack. That trust naturally expanded the options for the entire team's play.
Last season, he experienced losing the championship after conceding due to his own mistake. He hasn't forgotten that frustration.
"This year, I wanted to be a player who could save the team."
It's not flashy play. But he reliably beats the opponent in front of him. That consistency has turned into trust from his teammates. Asahina's one-on-ones do more than stop the opponent's attack. They were the "quiet starting point" that pushed the team forward.