午夜剧场

Three months have passed since the Qatar World Cup, which captivated all of Japan. The Japanese warriors who thrived on that grand stage have continued to perform consistently around the world immediately following the tournament. Many Japanese players, such as Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton and Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad, are producing results. I am already looking forward to the 2026 World Cup.

After graduating from university, I worked as an announcer for five years at a broadcasting station in my hometown of Kagawa Prefecture, and two years ago, I became a freelance announcer. Currently, I am based in Tokyo, primarily providing play-by-play commentary for overseas soccer such as the UEFA Champions League and Premier League, as well as the J.League.

I first aspired to be an announcer in my second year of junior high school. It started for the simple reason that I loved television and talking, but the desire to be involved in soccer commentary was there from the beginning. The catalyst was the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan. As a fourth-grader, I was moved by the sight of players from various countries fighting for their national pride, and I experienced firsthand the excitement that swept across Japan. From then on, whether watching a match or playing a soccer video game, I found myself imitating the commentary. Thinking that such imitation has now become my profession, life is truly mysterious.

Now, when people think of play-by-play commentary, they often have a strong image of describing plays and shouting excitedly during goal scenes, but it is more than just that. I believe that a commentator is a "guide." Just as listening to an audio guide in a museum deepens one's understanding of the artwork, watching a match while listening to commentary makes it significantly more interesting. Such commentary is my ideal. To achieve this, it is necessary not only to watch recent matches of both teams but also to keep in mind tactics, player characteristics and backgrounds, the club's origins, and the history and culture of the country or city. I approach each broadcast after accumulating such preparation.

I have a dream I want to fulfill through this work. That is to "strengthen Japanese soccer through commentary." Through my commentary, more people will become interested in soccer, and the number of discerning fans will increase. Children who watch the broadcasts will look up to soccer players and play to reach new heights. In this way, the number of wonderful players will increase, and the Japan national team will become stronger. It may be a roundabout way, but I work hard every day hoping to make such a contribution.

Dreaming of the day when our Japan national team lifts the golden World Cup trophy, I continue to speak today.