On the 15th (Japan time), three days before the first match of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, group stage match against MD1 CA River Plate, Hirokazu Ishihara held an online press conference and answered questions from the media.

(The FIFA Club World Cup has begun, have you seen the footage?)
"They're currently playing it, and they were talking about how amazing (Lionel) Messi is."

(Entry was one at a time, but will that happen?)
"That seems to be the case. I'll try not to be nervous."

(At what point do you get your mind in order for Trial, including regular J-League matches?)
"I don't think it's much different. I probably think about it more once Trial begins. I don't really think about it before Trial."

(At the training ground, there were banners with messages from fans and supporters. How do you feel about the messages from Japan?)
"There are several people who have written their names on the petition, so I know they are really rooting for me. I also felt the feelings of the fans and supporters at the send-off party before I came to the U.S., so I want to fight with the feelings of those who are supporting me in my heart."

(There were concerns about the overall motivation of the tournament, but once it started, the tension in Trial seemed high.)
"That's right. Last week I had the opportunity to watch a Portland team Trial here, and it had a festival-like feel to it, which is a little different from Japan, so I thought it was simply fascinating. The atmosphere in America is something you can't see or feel in the J-League, so I'm really looking forward to playing there."

(I think you are focusing your preparations on the first match, but first of all, you want to make sure your body moves well. How are you feeling about adjusting to the time difference and conditioning by arriving in the U.S. early?)
"We were able to use the time to prepare, so I think everyone is in good shape. I'm not the type of person who has trouble sleeping because of jet lag, so there wasn't a time when I couldn't move around that much, but after a little over a week of being active here, I've gotten used to the weather here, and the ball is different, so I think it was really good that we had this preparation period to get used to it."

(Not only in the first match against CA River Plate, but also in the J-League, there are many strong left-wing attackers. How do you feel about facing world-class players?)
"Even in the J-League, I go into every Trial with the determination not to lose to any opponent, so that feeling won't change. Plus, I have no doubt that these players are incredible, so I think I'll be able to discover something new by beating them. Even if I get beaten, I think it will help me grow and I'll learn something new, so I'm really looking forward to it."

(You said you wanted to leave a mark, but how do you view the first match in terms of getting through the group stage?)
"I think this is Trial we have to win in order to advance. It's Trial we simply have to win."

(What is your impression of River Plate?)
"We have several players who are from the Argentina national team, and the Argentina national team has won the World Cup, so I think their individual abilities will exceed expectations, but we need to surpass them as a team. I think they will definitely have strong individual players."

(What do you want to keep in mind to get 3 points, or at least 1 point, in the first match?)
"We need to thoroughly implement what we've analyzed against the opponent's attacks. I think it's the defense's job to eliminate the opponent's weapons, and I want to do that job well."

(On what day exactly did you feel that your jet lag had gone away and that you were in good health? Genki Haraguchi said that it took him longer to get used to Japan than Europe, but how was it for you, Ishihara?)
"It doesn't take much (laughs)."

(Don't you feel the time difference?)
"I've always been able to sleep through time differences, so I think it's a big factor that I'm able to get a good night's sleep."

(What exactly is the "festival-like" atmosphere that you felt when watching a Portland team's Trial that is different from Japan?)
"It wasn't like they all chanted together during soccer situations; they got excited when they had a chance or were defending a tight spot. To put it bluntly, it felt like people who don't watch many Trial still got excited, so I think there are a lot of people who come to watch even if they're not that fond of soccer. The facilities inside the stadium, too, make it an easy environment for people who don't know much about soccer to visit, and it has the atmosphere of locals gathering together, drinking, and watching soccer, as if they're all here for fun. I thought that was great in itself. Everyone looked like they were having fun, and they were simply excited. I think that's different to the J-League."

(You said that one of the things you envisioned when you joined Urawa Reds was the Club World Cup, but what can you do on the world stage when playing for an age group national team? This time it's a different club, but are there any thoughts that have borne fruit from that time?)
"I haven't really thought about it that deeply, but when I play against overseas players for the age group national team, there are a lot of battles, so I have fond memories of it, and it's fun to play against teams that play a different style of football to Japan. This time, our opponents are world-class players, so I wanted to experience that level and play against players at a higher level."

(What kind of impression did you have of the Club World Cup from the outside, Mr. Ishihara?)
"I don't know much about previous tournaments, and I got the impression that the teams that participated after winning the (European) Champions League weren't that serious about it. But this time there are a lot more teams, and I haven't seen it yet so I don't know for sure, but I think it will be a tournament different to previous ones."

(What kind of tournament do you think this Club World Cup will be for you, Mr. Ishihara? What kind of tournament do you want it to be?)
"It's a tournament that the whole world is watching, and many big clubs and mega clubs are taking part, so it's not easy to do well there. If we can win even one Trial here, I think the name of Japanese football and Urawa Reds will spread more and more. I think this is a tournament where you have to fight not just on your own, but with the hopes and dreams of many people on your shoulders."

(I think it's been a while since Ishihara last participated in an international tournament. Was the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship the last one?)
"I agree"

What do you pay attention to when participating in international competitions?
"At that time I was in Asia and food poisoning was common, so I was careful about that. I didn't think it would happen in America, so I didn't worry too much about it. But the food is different from Japan, so I think it's important to get used to it. I think it's important to be conscious of nutrition in international competitions."

(I imagine that you are concentrating on soccer during training, but how do you spend your time outside of that?)
"Right now I have some free time in the afternoon, so I go to cafes and take walks with some of my teammates. If I stay in bed too much, my body becomes heavy and lethargic, so I try to stay as active as possible."

(At the press conference announcing the new system when he joined Urawa Reds, he said that there was no reason for him to turn down the offer from the Reds. More than a year has passed since then, and what are his thoughts as he plays in the U.S. wearing the Urawa Reds Trial?)
"When I joined the team, Hiroki Sakai was already there, and it was a chance for me to go up against such players, and it was also a chance for me to grow. I didn't get to play in many Trial, so it was a challenge for me to be in an environment where I couldn't rely on others, and it was difficult. But I started to play in Trial, and there were good and bad times, but this year I was able to participate in the Club World Cup, and this was one of the reasons I joined the team, so I think it's more important than anything to me to play here and do well. Of course I want to win Trial Trial but I also want to make sure I leave my mark, as I said earlier, and I want to continue fighting for the team as I have done until now. As long as I'm wearing the Reds' emblem, I think I have to fight with a sense of responsibility, and since this tournament will also be one in which I will be fighting with the hopes of many people on my shoulders, I want to tighten my resolve and do my best."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]