Kageyama Yuuka interview w/ Soccer Digest

The "soccer love" of Kageyama Yuuka of Keyakizaka46, and her personal "Sanfrecce history best eleven"

From the time I first became aware of my surroundings, soccer was with me. When we talked about soccer, everybody was smiling.

My parents are my soccer roots. My father has always liked soccer so much that he even travels to national team away games. I think it was from going to matches with him that my mother came to love soccer, too. From the time I became aware of my surroundings, there was soccer in the Kageyama home. No matter when, whenever we talked about soccer, everyone was smiling. For my family and for me, soccer was a big presence.

I even went to an overseas match when I was a baby, but unfortunately I don't remember it (ironic smile). Even when I was in my mother's womb, it seems we went to the (2000) Sydney Olympics to see a soccer match. I well remember my mother saying: "We went to see matches together even before Yuuka was born." Going to watch matches and cheer are some of the deepest memories I have.

When I started watching soccer, I didn't understand the rules, so I just enjoyed cheering with everyone. I liked giving high fives when a goal when a goal was scored. But I would hear my father give analyses such as that a player "made a good move there." And when the family watched soccer shows together I'd hear, "Wouldn't it have been better if that move had gone this way?" or: "It feels as if the defensive line is backing up too far." So in order to follow better, I'd study highlight videos. I think the reason I can follow tactics now is mainly due to my parents. So now my eyes naturally go to the positioning of the defensive line and to line control (laughs).


Recently, I've been happy that fans who read my blog or watch shows will wear uniforms when they come to handshake events, and say things like, "I love soccer, too," and: "What do you think of these tactics?" Because we can talk about soccer, and I'm an idol who loves soccer, the number of people who remember me is growing, and that makes me happy.

"I was drawn to Sanfrecce Hiroshima by their sense of all working together in a match."

Naturally outstanding individual skills are cool in soccer, but I think in the end it's a sport that involves teamwork. It's really exciting to see a goal scored from well-coordinated linkage starting from the back line. I love Sanfrecce Hiroshima サンフレッチェ広島, which is in my opinion the J-League club that best shows this style of play. The sense that the whole team is playing the match together is very attractive to me.

You've given me the opportunity to choose my own Sanfrecce best eleven ever.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima best eleven over the years, selected by Kageyama Yuuka-san:

(system: 3-4-2-1)

Goalkeeper: Nishikawa Shuusaku 西川周作 (2010-13)
Defense: Tanaka Marcus Tulio 田中マルクス闘莉王 (2001-02), Chiba Kazuhiko 千葉和彦 (2012-), Moriwaki Ryouta 森脇良太 (2004-05, 2008-12)
Defensive midfield: Sampaio サンパイオ (2003-04), Aoyama Toshihiro 青山敏弘 (2004-)
Wingbacks: Makino Tomoaki 槙野智章 (2006-10), Mikic ミキッチ (2005-16)
Wing forwards: Kubo Tatsuhiko 久保竜彦 (1995-2002, 2008-09), Satou Hisato (2005-16)
Centre forward: Asano Takuma 浅野拓磨 (2013-16)

Goalkeeper has to be the Guardian God Nishikawa. He doesn't just make super saves, his long feeds can start attacks, and I think he played an important role in the side's team play. Normally, the image of a goalkeeper is of someone holding on to the ball. But his skill with his feet makes him a "whole-body" player, and I think that's fantastic.

The three backs are the libero Tulio, and the stoppers Chiba and Moriwaki. Tulio wasn't with the side long, but his game in the air was strong, and with his strong long balls he could start counterattacks. He was full of fighting spirit and was the leader of the back line. Chiba and Moriwaki were, in fact, the ones who first made me like Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The way their gags lifted the whole team really made an impression on me, when I saw them on Yabecchi FC [note: a soccer program on Japanese TV]. I loved them, they were so funny. But it's not just their personalities, they were also good in creating the build-up.

Left wingback is Makino and right wingback is Mikic. Makino rushes forward to take part in the attack, but he also fulfils his defensive responsibilities, and you see him stopping his opponent at the front line. Mikic is an amazing sprinter, breaking through and making solid crosses from the outside. Even though it's a side I chose myself, I believe it would control both attack and defense, centering on the attack.

Who does Kageyama-san say is the "best defensive midfielder"?

The defensive midfielders are Sampaio and Aoyama. Even though I never saw the former Brazil national team member, Sampaio, live, I know his playing style. His resolute defense and accurate passing were outstanding, and he had the ability to make good decisions. I think he was the strongest defensive midfielder. His partner Aoyama has high playmaking ability and a wide field of vision. I'd love to see how he and Sampaio would work together.

For the front line I chose the shadows Kubo and Satou, and the centre-forward Asano. Satou, "Mr. Sanfrecche," isn't just an attacker, but can come back to help the team in defense and take the ball. I love his devotion, and my team couldn't do without him.

Kubo is a dependable weapon who is a strong shooter and good in the air, the image of an attack specialist. Satou, however, plays a different style, and I think there would be good chemistry between them. He's basically a centre forward, but I think he would be very active on the wing.


As for Asano, whatever else you say about him, he's fast! He always cooly adjusts to the movement around him, and of course to feeds from his wingers, and his decision-making ability is at a high level. I was not sure whether to put Asano at wing and Satou at centre.... But I have confidence in Asano as the one who would be best at scoring.

I worried a lot over who to pick for this eleven (ironic smile). I wanted to include this player, or that player... If I had a "super sub" category, I'd put in Peter Utaka. For Sanfrecce Hiroshima's style of play, it's very important to have a scorer. Passing alone doesn't score goals, and won't win matches. Last year's J-League goal leader Utaka is very appealing.

Sanfrecce's style is based on strong defence from the three backs, who then connect forward to the midfielders. Sarting from Sampio as a defensive midfielder, I'd like to have attacks equally from both sides.

"I hope to become known as Kageyama Yuuka, the soccer-loving girl and idol."

To connect soccer with my own activities in the entertainment world with Hiragana Keyaki...in fact, teamwork is important in both. No matter how hard we work on our own, unless we come together as a unit, I don't think Keyakizaka46 and Hiragana Keyaki can truly shine as a group. For every single member to understand their own role, work hard and actively, do what they can.... I keep thinking that when everyone's hearts are one, we will all shine, and our ability to unite will make the group sparkle.

Calling me "the girl who loves soccer" gives me such a wonderful catch-phrase. It's a real blessing to get work because of soccer. I would love to bring many people to know and to participate in soccer. It's still just a dream of a dream, but someday I'd like to be something like a supporter/manager for J-league and high school soccer, as the "soccer-loving girl and idol Kageyama Yuuka." For that reason, I have to study hard, in order to love soccer more and more. Let's all get excited about soccer! And to all of you who love soccer, I would be very happy if you could give Hiragana Keyaki your support.

Profile

Kageyama Yuuka 影山優佳, born 2001/05/08, from Tokyo. In April 2016, she passed the auditions for Keyakizaka46's undergroup, Hiragana Keyaki. Depite her busy schedule, she finds time to watch matches and has become known as "the girl who loves soccer." Her favorite clubs are Sanfecce Hiroshima and Dortmund. She holds a qualification as a soccer referee, level 4.

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I only more or less understand the game of soccer, but she convinces me that she has a good understanding of it, and a knowledge of and love for her favorite side, Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The name Sanfrecce combines the Japanese word for three with the Italian word for arrow, and comes from a story of a lord who told his sons that while a single arrow could be broken, three arrows together would be strong.

She has said that she never made her knowledge of soccer part of her presentation in the auditions, because she had no idea it would be a plus. It has turned out to be a big plus, establishing an image for her right from the start.

But such a strong image has its downside, too. I get a somewhat masculine impression from her, partly due to that. So it is good that recently I have read comments that she has great "joshiriki," which is defined as a woman's "level of motivation and taste" in fashion, makeup, clothes, etc., as well as cooking. She appears to be one of only two Hiraganas who made sweets for Valentine's Day.

original interview