Shinji Okazaki Exclusive Interview vol.2 "As a soccer player, I want to continue aiming for the top"
The Russian World Cup won the first match in Colombia. Shinji Okazaki will be participating in three consecutive tournaments as Japan national team FW. What kind of spikes will you wear and what kind of play will you show for the Russian World Cup, which will be the culmination of your soccer life? In the second part of the exclusive interview, he talked about the ideal image he pursues as a soccer player and the prospects for "Dream Spike" that he wants to wear once.
Ippei Ippei
|
2018/06/23
vol.1"The" sense of unity with the feet "that Spike sought to compete overseas"
――As I mentioned earlier, the part of the environment that is significantly different from Europe in the part of the spike that comes to your foot is the pitch, that is, the ground, but in the outsole that is also the ground contact surface with this ground, Have you ever had a special request? I think there are various heights and positions of the studs ...
Okazaki: For example, in the case of this spike, the correspondence of the twisted part of the outsole is the part that was requested and improved.
When trying to get behind the scenes, if you play straight against overseas players, there are many situations where you cannot win. On the other hand, I try to move again, move diagonally, and correct the movement over and over again, but in order to flexibly respond to such movement, "outsole that responds to twisting movement" It became.
――Are there any uppers? Especially when it comes to uppers, natural leathers such as kangaroos from a long time ago and artificial leathers with a really high level have recently appeared, and I think there have been many changes ...
Okazaki: I've been wearing wave cup spikes for a long time, and I just went to Europe, and I had no choice but to wear these shoes.
A little while after coming to Europe, as I was aiming for the top, I was asked to propose a new model called Basara when I needed spikes that were lightweight and could follow finer movements.
At that time, I tried various materials, but I didn't think that it was kangaroo because it was artificial leather, but first of all, it fits my feet, fits my movements, and matches my senses. That kind of part was a big part of it, so I was looking at spikes with that idea, thinking that it would be good to actually wear it, try it in practice, and use it in games.
――After all, there is a hurdle to wear it first, try it, squeeze it, wear it in practice, and then wear it in the game, right?
Okazaki: I don't really care about the technical terms in horizontal letters such as upper and outsole. What are you looking for, first of all, rather than having poops and spikes?
From there I was looking at whether Spike would follow it. After all, my legs change as I play more games. There was also something like how much we could handle such a part.
――It's really a crystal of pursuit. How about the new spikes? I think there are many things that I have just received.
Okazaki: I like red as the color. There is a story that I was in good shape in the past when I was wearing red spikes, and there was also a feeling that I would spend my life on the pitch and go to the game, and that is all about spikes. I'm thinking.
――Actually, I have asked many people questions, but I forgot all the various development backgrounds so far, and while I said that nothing had anything to do with it, for Okazaki, the so-called "dream"・ What kind of spike do you imagine when you say "spike"?
Okazaki: Well ... in a nutshell ... it's a barefoot spike. I want spikes that make me feel like I'm not wearing "shoes" anymore.
It's a type that emphasizes sensation, so I want a spike that feels like it's clinging to my feet, rather than a second skin that doesn't feel strange.
――I see, it feels like you're not really wearing shoes. It's such a spike that you can really concentrate on playing without worrying about your feet and you can put 100% trust in your feet!
Finally, please tell us one or two. I think this season was a very difficult season since I experienced the league championship, but can you tell us your thoughts and aspirations again?
Okazaki: It's been 7 years since I came abroad, and I think every year, but I have some regrettable feelings. It's hard to stand at the top. My teammates also have some of the best players in the world, and in front of them.
I was able to participate in CL for the first time in the 6th year, but I still feel that there is something I haven't seen.
I have a strong desire to see the world that is one step higher, such as "I can do more myself" and "I'm still not like this", and that it is possible.
There is a feeling that being in this European land makes me feel that way. And as a soccer player, I want to continue aiming for the top.
That opportunity is rolling in front of me, so I want to keep aiming for it. The feeling of taking on such challenges is getting stronger year by year.
――After all, blood makes a noise. Isn't it something you want to see like that?
Okazaki:I agree. Isn't it that kind of feeling that I want to show you exactly that kind of figure and result, which is said to be "it was amazing, he"?
--Thank you. I will definitely support you! Lol Then, could you give a message to young players who are aiming for Okazaki, such as choosing spikes?
Okazaki: I think you have a preconceived notion that when you choose spikes, you have a cool design or your favorite player wears them.
But not only that, I want you to value your feeling when you wear it. I think it's completely meaningless if the spikes don't fit your feet and interfere with your ideal play.
In that sense, I would like you to find a spike that suits you and that will be your foot. (End)
◆Click here for more information on REBULA 2 worn by Shinji Okazaki
Click the banner!
Interview / Hiroyuki Sakai
Shooting / Keisuke Yoshida
――As I mentioned earlier, the part of the environment that is significantly different from Europe in the part of the spike that comes to your foot is the pitch, that is, the ground, but in the outsole that is also the ground contact surface with this ground, Have you ever had a special request? I think there are various heights and positions of the studs ...
Okazaki: For example, in the case of this spike, the correspondence of the twisted part of the outsole is the part that was requested and improved.
When trying to get behind the scenes, if you play straight against overseas players, there are many situations where you cannot win. On the other hand, I try to move again, move diagonally, and correct the movement over and over again, but in order to flexibly respond to such movement, "outsole that responds to twisting movement" It became.
――Are there any uppers? Especially when it comes to uppers, natural leathers such as kangaroos from a long time ago and artificial leathers with a really high level have recently appeared, and I think there have been many changes ...
Okazaki: I've been wearing wave cup spikes for a long time, and I just went to Europe, and I had no choice but to wear these shoes.
A little while after coming to Europe, as I was aiming for the top, I was asked to propose a new model called Basara when I needed spikes that were lightweight and could follow finer movements.
At that time, I tried various materials, but I didn't think that it was kangaroo because it was artificial leather, but first of all, it fits my feet, fits my movements, and matches my senses. That kind of part was a big part of it, so I was looking at spikes with that idea, thinking that it would be good to actually wear it, try it in practice, and use it in games.
――After all, there is a hurdle to wear it first, try it, squeeze it, wear it in practice, and then wear it in the game, right?
Okazaki: I don't really care about the technical terms in horizontal letters such as upper and outsole. What are you looking for, first of all, rather than having poops and spikes?
From there I was looking at whether Spike would follow it. After all, my legs change as I play more games. There was also something like how much we could handle such a part.
――It's really a crystal of pursuit. How about the new spikes? I think there are many things that I have just received.
Okazaki: I like red as the color. There is a story that I was in good shape in the past when I was wearing red spikes, and there was also a feeling that I would spend my life on the pitch and go to the game, and that is all about spikes. I'm thinking.
――Actually, I have asked many people questions, but I forgot all the various development backgrounds so far, and while I said that nothing had anything to do with it, for Okazaki, the so-called "dream"・ What kind of spike do you imagine when you say "spike"?
Okazaki: Well ... in a nutshell ... it's a barefoot spike. I want spikes that make me feel like I'm not wearing "shoes" anymore.
It's a type that emphasizes sensation, so I want a spike that feels like it's clinging to my feet, rather than a second skin that doesn't feel strange.
――I see, it feels like you're not really wearing shoes. It's such a spike that you can really concentrate on playing without worrying about your feet and you can put 100% trust in your feet!
Finally, please tell us one or two. I think this season was a very difficult season since I experienced the league championship, but can you tell us your thoughts and aspirations again?
Okazaki: It's been 7 years since I came abroad, and I think every year, but I have some regrettable feelings. It's hard to stand at the top. My teammates also have some of the best players in the world, and in front of them.
I was able to participate in CL for the first time in the 6th year, but I still feel that there is something I haven't seen.
I have a strong desire to see the world that is one step higher, such as "I can do more myself" and "I'm still not like this", and that it is possible.
There is a feeling that being in this European land makes me feel that way. And as a soccer player, I want to continue aiming for the top.
That opportunity is rolling in front of me, so I want to keep aiming for it. The feeling of taking on such challenges is getting stronger year by year.
――After all, blood makes a noise. Isn't it something you want to see like that?
Okazaki:I agree. Isn't it that kind of feeling that I want to show you exactly that kind of figure and result, which is said to be "it was amazing, he"?
--Thank you. I will definitely support you! Lol Then, could you give a message to young players who are aiming for Okazaki, such as choosing spikes?
Okazaki: I think you have a preconceived notion that when you choose spikes, you have a cool design or your favorite player wears them.
But not only that, I want you to value your feeling when you wear it. I think it's completely meaningless if the spikes don't fit your feet and interfere with your ideal play.
In that sense, I would like you to find a spike that suits you and that will be your foot. (End)
◆Click here for more information on REBULA 2 worn by Shinji Okazaki
Click the banner!
Interview / Hiroyuki Sakai
Shooting / Keisuke Yoshida
