On the 9th, a press conference was held at Ohara Training Ground with Yudai Fujiwara, who had returned from a development-type loan transfer, where he answered questions from the media.

(How do you feel now that you've returned to Urawa after a long time?)
"This opportunity has finally come, so I want to make the most of it. I want to show the fans, supporters and staff how much I've grown."

(What were your honest feelings when you received the news of your return?)
"Honestly, I was very hesitant to return, as I had been with Oita (Trinita) for a year and a half and felt some attachment to them. However, I hadn't had many chances, and this opportunity came up, so I decided to come back."

(I think it's a tough situation where you won't be given a position immediately just because you've returned. How do you want to grow and what skills do you want to use to compete for a position?)
"I don't think it's that easy to play 90 minutes. With less than three months left in the season, I of course want numbers and results, but more than that, I want to use the role I've been given and the experience I've gained while on loan so far, and do my best to do what I can and fulfill the role I've been given without being greedy. As for my weapon, in my first year I said that heading was my weapon. Even now, heading is still my weapon, but even against J2 forwards who are 180cm or 190cm tall, I couldn't win just by competing head-on, so I played while thinking about tactics and other things. Even as a centre back, I want to be able to move around and play the role of an extra player in attack, and use that as a weapon."

(During your time at three clubs (S.C. Sagamihara, FC Machida Zelvia, and Oita Trinita), you have played in both three-back and four-back formations. What do you think is important when playing as a center back in a four-back formation?)
"First of all, I think it's important to talk and move the players up front so that it's easier for me to defend. From my impression of the last two Trial, I think that sliding and the full-backs' coverage will be important."

As a centre-back in Maciej Skorza 's team, is there anything you need to demonstrate in order to impress?
"In terms of offense, he always needs to look far into the distance. In terms of defense, my impression is that he spends a lot of time defending by dropping back, so I think he will be asked to use his body in the penalty area and go at people more forcefully."

(Last year at Oita Trinita, you often sat next to Tomoya Ando (currently Avispa Fukuoka), who has since been selected for the Japanese national team. Is there anything you learned from Ando?)
"Ando is versatile, with size and speed, and he was the easiest center back I've played with so far, and I have a lot of respect for him. He's not only good at attacking, but also at putting his body on the line for the entire 90 minutes on defense and covering, so I've learned a lot from him. I played with him last year, so he's been a great inspiration to me."

(Ando has also been transferred, so I think he was expected to take on a leadership role at Oita this year.)
"That's right. I was in the middle of the three players, so I was expected to get the whole team moving, and I was conscious of that."

(By getting more playing time, what areas have you improved in compared to before the transfer?)
"My impression is that rather than growing exceptionally in one area, I have grown little by little in all areas. I turned professional with confidence four and a half years ago, but that confidence was shattered. However, I was not completely unable to play in Trial during the four and a half years I was loaned out to, so I am grateful to all the teams for that."

(How do you feel about playing in J1 and the difference from J2?)
"I've only played against J1 teams in practice Trial, so I'm not sure. But I had a hard time dealing with the J2 attackers, they were amazing. The Japanese players were great, but Juanma Delgado and Matheus Jesus (both V-Varen Nagasaki) were also really tough players, and I was beaten by them, so I learned a lot from that."

(Speaking of Japanese attackers, I think he faced Hiiro Komori last year.)
"That's right. He was a really tough guy. Foreign players don't play defense but tend to score in front of the goal, but (Komori) was always running around and always making moves to aim for the back, so I remember being on my toes. I think he even scored a goal for me. (We'll be teammates from now on) I hate having to face him even in practice (laughs). I'm looking forward to it."

During the transfer period, the team won the AFC Champions League and participated in the FIFA Club World Cup. What was your impression watching that from the outside?
"Every time something like the Emperor's Cup victory happened, I felt like he was a distant presence, to be honest. Rather than returning with a strong resolve, I felt more like I admired him."

(I think the team has changed since the transfer)
"It was a different team. There were four of us there at the time: Shu (Shusaku Nishikawa), Kai (Shibato), Tomo (Tomoaki Okubo), and Taka (Takahiro Sekine)."

What did the member say to you when you returned?
"They said, 'Welcome back,' but Taka-kun said, 'Who are you? Nice to meet you,' playing dumb (laughs)."

(Looks like he's grown up so much)
"I often hear that, but surely after four and a half years, my appearance will have grown a little (laughs). I'll do my best without being greedy."

(Message to fans and supporters)
"For the past four and a half years, I have not been able to return and have not been able to live up to their expectations, but many people have said 'Welcome back' to me. For those people, I want to take to the pitch and show them how much I have grown, and to achieve that, I would like to do what I can, so I would appreciate your support."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]