The view of life I got from the king that day November 16th 18:41

“He had a huge impact on my life.”

Keiji Tamada, the only Japanese player to score against champion Brazil on the big stage of the soccer World Cup.

16 years ago, what I got in that game was not only a jubilant goal, but also a way of life after that.

(Reporter, Sayuri Suzuki, Network News Department)

Keiji Tamada's soccer life "Always try to smile"

Keiji Tamada is 42 years old.

Until last season, he played for the Japan national team for 23 years in the J-League, and continued to play as a forward.

He has four clubs.

Retired from playing at Kashiwa Reysol, Nagoya Grampus, Cerezo Osaka, and V-Varen Nagasaki.

He played 366 games in J1 and accumulated 99 goals (16th all-time).

Mr. Tamada, who became a professional and became involved in soccer as a job, was always trying to keep his smile on his face.

Mr. Keiji Tamada

“I thought it was important to put a smile on your face at any time. That is why it was important to enjoy soccer. I thought it was a job, so it seems like it's not a job.If you approach it as a job, you won't get very good results..."

Mr. Tamada, who started playing soccer when he was in kindergarten, improved his skill level by enjoying it from a young age.

He joined Kashiwa Reysol from Narashino High School, a powerhouse in Chiba Prefecture.

I didn't continue to walk a glamorous path as a professional player from the beginning.

He had never been selected for the Japan national team by age group, and always believed that the World Cup was something to watch on TV.

It was four years after he joined the team that he started playing as a regular player, making the most of his characteristic speed and dribbling.

Tamada:

“I had absolutely no connection with the Olympics or the age group representatives. I really started to think about the World Cup when I was selected for the Japan national team for the first time.”

To the big stage in 2006

It was around this time that I began to see the road to the World Cup.

However, in 2005, before the opening of the season, he suffered a stress fracture in his right leg.

While he was unsure whether he should undergo surgery to prepare for his dream stage, it was Zico, the Japan national team coach at the time, who gave him a push.

Tamada:

Zico told me, ``We can't keep using players like that, so you should have surgery to heal your body so that you can return to the national team as soon as possible''. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to play for about two months, but I'm really grateful that Zico spoke to me.I'm happy that he used the word "family." What Zico says has more weight than what ordinary people say, and I thought, 'Let's follow this person.'"

Tamada, who has recovered from his leg and has been called up to the national team again, has his sights set on the World Cup.

He played an active part as a main force in the transferred Grampus and stood on the stage of the World Cup.

At the age of 26, the German tournament.

Tamada was not included in the starting lineup in the first match against Australia and the second match against Croatia.

After two games, Japan was in a tough situation with one loss and one draw.

The final match of the first league was against Brazil, a powerhouse known as the "football kingdom," the champions of the previous season.

The lineup has changed significantly, and Tamada has a chance to start.

Tamada:

“I was really happy. I was against Brazil, and my condition was really good. I think we were able to do it with the spirit of hitting and breaking."

Japan's first goal from "Kingdom"

0-0 first half 34 minutes.

Santoshu Alessandro's through pass to Tamada on the front line.

I received the pass with “Aun no Breath” and made a powerful shot with my left foot.

It was from the position of 45 degrees left of the goal for Tamada, who is a “lefty”.

The historic goal was the long-awaited opening goal for Japan.

Mr. Tamada:

“Actually, I don’t remember it clearly. When I look back at the video, there are times when I think, ‘Hey, I did this,’ but there were also parts that I really felt. It was Alex, but I don't really remember what I was thinking at that moment.It's not that I don't remember, but I don't remember how I was moving. Or rather, sometimes I don't remember things like that. It might be when I'm very focused."

This goal made champions Brazil serious.

Brazil entered the final round of the first league with two consecutive victories.

Advancement to the final tournament was almost certain, and the members included star players such as forward Ronaldo and midfielder Ronaldinho.

In the end, Japan's only goal was one scored by Tamada.

We lost to Brazil with a score of 1-4.

Brazil, the champion who enjoyed the big stage

Mr. Tamada:

“The Brazilian national team seemed to have a lot of leeway, so there were some smiling players, and I really felt that they were having fun while playing soccer. However, I thought that the Brazilian national team is really the strongest at such times.After all, I felt that enjoying soccer from the bottom of my heart would work in some way positively as an individual and as a team. It made me think again, 'This is what soccer is all about'."

“enjoy” is the magic word

Mr. Tamada, who was selected to represent Japan at the next World Cup in South Africa, continued to play football without forgetting the importance of having fun.

Sixteen years ago, he got it from the powerhouse Brazilian players.

Mr. Tamada:

It was the first time I saw a team having so much fun.It made me think that I should have this kind of feeling in my future. Of course, there were many things that weren't

fun

, difficult, and painful, but there was a part of me that was inspired by the word 'enjoy'."

Even after moving to V-Varen, who decided to retire from playing football, he continued to say, ``Enjoy training and soccer'' with a smile on your face.

At first, there were players who were confused, but it is said that gradually they started to enjoy playing.

Mr. Tamada:

“Even at V-Varen Nagasaki, we started using the word ‘Let’s have fun’, and everyone started using it. So I'm really glad I said the word 'enjoy'."

After announcing his retirement, junior members of the team reacted one after another on social media.

Yuhei Tokunaga, a former Japanese national team player who played with him, spelled out, "I want to see Tama having fun at the end."

Currently, Mr. Tamada runs a futsal field and a stretch specialty store.

I was appointed as an ambassador who plays the role of a billboard for my old club V.Varen, and a coach who provides irregular guidance to the lower organization.

Since September, he has also been appearing on the team's official YouTube channel, where he listens to the real faces and smiles of the players.

Even now that I have become an instructor, what I still cherish is the “enjoyment of life” that I learned that day.

Keiji Tamada

"I'm a soccer boy who has been playing soccer since I was little. As a coach, I think it would be great if I could teach various people about my views on soccer and life, regardless of category. First of all, 'enjoy'. After all, it's better to develop your strengths rather than correct your weaknesses.Disadvantages aren't fun, are they?It's fun to do what you're good at, and by improving your strengths, you compensate for your weaknesses. I think it's something that can be done, and I want to make good use of that balance."

Mr. Tamada describes himself as a “soccer boy”.

With a coaching career in mind, he will always be involved with football "for fun".

Reporter, Network News Department

Sayari Suzuki

Joined in 2009

After working in the sports news department, I'm

running out of time with childcare at my current job, but I'd like to follow in the footsteps of Ms. Tamada and have a lot of fun.