Tomiyasu interview on a Japanese channel

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Unfortunately only available in Japan(VPN) and has no subtitle but it is quite interesting and they showed different game footage while Tomiyasu explained the thought process behind his actions and how he sees the game

Not fluent in either English or Japanese but will try to write some key takeaways from the video, please correct me if I got something(all) wrong

  • Lost confidence after the World Cup but the friendly against Germany helped him regain confidence
  • Asking the coaching team which position/area he should focus on listening to before each team meeting as he has been playing in so many different positions
  • The thing he wants to improve the most: defending as a CB with the ball side full-back, talked briefly about the importance of how to position himself when the full-back stepped up - He usually plays the left side CB for the national team. Highlighted that the off-ball movement of a player shows the level of the player
  • Playing in Arsenal is like solving a puzzle, the goal is to find repeatable patterns and keep recreating them in the game. Arsenal prioritizes repeatability while Japan prioritizes freedom. He doesn’t think one is better than the other but you will be better if you can excel in both
  • The winger that impressed him the most was Grealish in the 2022/23 season
  • Endo: Used to play in the same team in Belgium, like the engine of the national team who provides stability to the backline. Like a father figure to him, told him to loosen up a little bit when they played in Belgium as he was only thinking about football all the time. Learned to enjoy other things in life which helped him get along with his teammates, relax and in turn, become better at football. Usual topic: why are they still single
  • Wants to give everything he has for the next World Cup. Wants to become a regular starter/core player in club football going into the World Cup as it helps with his form and state of mind. This is what he has been thinking a lot and planning ahead

Common topic: why are they still single

lmao, real

the video

Reading this really gives insight about how much everyone likes him. Model professional and very humble.

Based on the summary above, i think Tomi is committed to being a Shokunin. Dedicating himself to the art of football.

Shokunin represents a cultural and philosophical concept deeply ingrained in Japanese society, reflecting a commitment to mastery, craftsmanship and a profound connection to one’s work. At the core of the shokunin spirit is the pursuit of perfection and continuous improvement in one’s craft.

Wants to become a regular starter/core player in club football going into the World Cup as it helps with his form and state of mind

uh oh

Hmmm, can’t really see him becoming one of the star player or regular starters here tbh

He’s literally me fr

Answer: to be relatable

Yeah, it’s not universal, but definitely a very common question in Asian cultures.

as good as he is, don’t think he can get the playing time he wants here

You never know, the left back spot isn’t sealed shut yet

true, that is probably the best chance he gets in our team. Although we have big Gabi, I am also quite interested in giving Tomi some game time in the LCB to see how he does, he seems really solid when playing for the national team there

Didn’t he play as a Cb in one of the cup games this year ?