I Want to Charm from the Pitch, and Give Others Dreams
Hikari Miyamoto Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies
Encourage Myself
So I Can Keep Running
The third season of the WE League, Japan’s first professional women’s football league, begins this November.
What kind of performance should we expect from the Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies, who have achieved their debut in the WE League?
For the third installment in our series of interviews with players shouldering grand expectations, we are joined by the midfielder who darts around the pitch, Hikari Miyamoto.
- Firstly, please tell us about your playstyle and strengths.
- My strength is using my stamina for defense. While making use of my momentum, I predict the next play to steal the ball. I think that kind of play is my strength.
- How did you cultivate that rich momentum?
- When I was in junior high school we played with the boys’ team. During that time, I ran a lot, so I built up my running endurance.
- Even during the endgame, a time when most players, your momentum doesn’t drop. What is your secret?
- In a situation where I think “this is tough, I can’t run anymore,” if I slack off even a little, that could be the time approaches and we concede a goal. So, I encourage myself by thinking “if I slack off at all they’ll score, I have to work through!” (Laughs)
- You currently play as midfielder. What else does coach Nobuhito Toriizuka expect from you.
- He wants me to work well with my co-midfielder, (Reina) Wakisaka, and to always be in a good position. Those are what I think about most during matches.
- Do you learn a lot from working in tandem with captain Wakisaka?
- Wakisaka has great positioning. Good positioning is what allows us to take the ball during defense. I often find myself having to move a lot to adjust my positioning, so I feel like I should learn from Wakisaka’s example.
- The midfielder is a position with the responsibility of controlling the team as a whole through passes. Do you have any thoughts or ideas about how to distribute passes?
- First, I watch out for my opponent’s “arrows.” I try to not pass where my opponent’s arrows are pointing. If the ball is on the left side, I try to switch around to put the ball on the right side. I still have a lot to learn, but I try to keep those kinds of things on my mind.
- Is there anything else that you are consciously trying to improve?
- I think my weak point is my shooting. I try to take mid-range shots, but I haven’t been able to carry through. So, I’m trying to improve my determination by taking more mid-range shots.
A winning team from year one
- For the Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies’ first WE League Cup campaign, the team finished second in the group with three wins, one draw and one loss. Please share your reflections on that tournament.
- We finished second in our group, but while we felt that we could do it, we still lacked in terms of quality, scoring, and stopping attacks by our opponents. That one point is especially important, so I want to work on it thoroughly.
- Please give us examples about “quality.”
- Passing is definitely one example, and quality of positioning. Another is the cleverness of our football. There were some cases where our coordination was off, so we have to do some work on that.
- For the first home game in the WE League Cup, there were around 3000 spectators. What did you think of the atmosphere of Yodoko Sakura Stadium?
- It was more fans and supporters than ever before, it felt so empowering. I wanted to win, to make those fans and supporters happy. I felt “I want to give back to them, with results,” stronger than ever before.
- What do the Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies mean to you?
- Good question… to me, the team is something I cannot be without. It’s the place I belong. I could only play football like this, be cheered on during matches like this, because I could be in this team. I want to repay them by winning a lot.
- What are the expectations you have for the future of the Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies?
- First, I think it’s important to be a team that can win. I don’t at all think “it’s our first year, so we don’t need to win.” I want us to be a winning team from year one. And I want us to be a team who can aim for the championship.
- Leaving results on the pitch will lead to development of the club.
- Of course. I also hope for the club to keep growing. I hope there are more girls who think “I want to join Cerezo.” I want to become a player that charms others from the pitch, gives dreams to young girls, and be admired by fans.
- Currently, you are 23 years old. What kind of player would you like to become?
- I want to be not just a member of Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies, but a core member, someone who can make a game. I want to be a midfielder that can continue to take part in offense and defense, and who can score goals.
- The WE League will open on November 12. What kind of play do you want the Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies to show?
- Our specialty is defense from the front lines. All players, from the front line to the back, will defend without panicking, wait for our chance, and run to the goal. I want to win by making efficient use of our team’s specialty.
- Please tell us about the team’s goals and your aspirations.
- The team’s goal is to make it to the top 5 of the league. That’s the most important goal, but of course we will also aim to take the championship. The key will be to not concede any goals. Concede as few goals as possible, score as many as possible. I want to do my best together with the team.