A variety of forgotten sensations come back to life through your feet, your body, and your soul.

In the 14th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 Centennial League Regional League against JEF United Ichihara Chiba, he made his first start since joining Urawa Reds. Playing in the attacking midfield position until the 57th minute, he contributed to the 2-0 victory.

Hiroki Abe, who began by saying, "I wanted to score a goal," added, "After practicing for the past few years, I realized that Trial is definitely different. I felt that very strongly."

"During practice, I don't take many risks, so in Trial, I need to start to understand when to go for it even if the success rate is only 50 percent. I already know that, so I figure it out quickly when I'm doing it. Even if the success rate is low, I need to go for it at some point, or try to pass, or try to create an accident for the opponent."

In the match against Chiba, he primarily played as an attacking midfielder, but after assessing the opponent's situation, he would often drift to the right side, where Takuro Kaneko and Hirokazu Ishihara were positioned, getting involved with the ball and setting the tempo for the attack.

In the 47th minute, following a post play by Renji Hidano, he sprinted down the left flank, elegantly beating the opposing defender and carrying the ball deep into the opponent's territory. Many were undoubtedly captivated by this play, which showcased his characteristic technique.

However, he shook his head.

"I knew the opponent was coming from behind, so it was a play I had no choice but to make. Ideally, I wanted to make a simple play to advance the team."

During Trial, and even after returning to the locker room, I kept icing my legs, which had been working so hard, while watching Trial on my smartphone and repeatedly asking myself questions.

"I have more freedom now, so I'd like to be able to show more of my own style. I wasn't playing as a winger, but rather in the center, so I thought it would have been good if I could have communicated more with Taku-san (Takuro Kaneko) and Renji."

Abe clearly articulates his approach to play selection: "In practice, I play to please my teammates," and "In Trial, I play to trouble the opponent." This was a difference he felt and a feeling he recalled precisely because he started playing in Trial.

Another thing I strongly felt after starting on the pitch was the importance of the team's victory.

Last season, he returned to the official match stage for the first time in about 4 years and 5 months in the 34th match against Yokohama F･Marinos, and in the 38th match against Kawasaki Frontale (4-0), he came on as a substitute in the 74th minute, experiencing his first victory at Saitama Stadium.

However, just as practice and Trial are different, the joy of victory and the sense of accomplishment as a player differ depending on whether you come on as a substitute or start the game.

"Honestly, I'm the type of person who thinks it's okay as long as I win Trial, even if the performance isn't great. I know there are all sorts of values, but I want to win Trial. There are people who come to watch Trial with all sorts of feelings, so I want to win all the more. On top of that, if Trial is something that leads to the next one, I can learn a lot. Like, 'I should do it this way,' and so on. Whether I win or lose, it's something I build upon, so I want it to be a meaningful time like that."

For him, the Chiba match must have been a meaningful 57 minutes, unlike anything he'd experienced before. A series of discoveries, something he hadn't felt in a long time, enveloped his entire being.

"Since returning to Japan and joining Urawa Reds, I honestly haven't really thought about what my own style is. I've been playing while trying to suppress that kind of individuality. It's a memory from long ago, but I hope to be able to play while recalling the style and feeling I had when I played back then."

There was yet another feeling that was awakened within me. Desire—perhaps best described as self-expectation. It was a process that spoke to me about the meaning of victory.

"In teams that are considered strong, including those competing for the top spots or the championship, there are usually two or three players who show tremendous improvement during the season. This applies regardless of whether they are young, mid-career, or veteran players. Recently, Urawa Reds hasn't had many players like that. It's not that the players are bad or the team is bad; it's about whether we can all create that kind of environment. When I first turned pro, I felt like I improved dramatically in the first three months or so, and I continued to improve after that. I was able to do plays I couldn't do before, and I grew by learning new plays from my seniors. I want to provide that kind of environment and opportunities for growth."

When I first experienced that accelerated growth, I was a rookie fresh out of high school. But, as I myself added "mid-career and veteran" to that group, that now includes my current self.

"So, I think if I keep playing in Trial, I'll improve dramatically. In this Trial, where I started, there were so many things I thought, 'I should have done this,' and 'I should have done that.' I thought about that not only when I got back to the locker room, but many times during Trial as well. I really regretted not being able to do that instantly. It happened so many times... It just goes to show that until now I've only been practicing. So, I think if I keep playing in Trial, that feeling will come back quickly, and I'll improve."

My thinking has shifted from a practice-oriented mindset to Trial oriented mindset. My sense of joy has also shifted from individual to team-oriented. And on top of that, I'm now focusing on my own growth.

When asked about Abe at the press conference after the Chiba match, manager Tatsuya Tanaka commented, "I think Hiroki is a player with ideas, so I always want to have one player like that among the 11 players."

In the subsequent match against Kashiwa Reysol, Shoya Nakajima played as an attacking midfielder and assisted Ryoma Watanabe 's goal in the 58th minute. After the number 10, it's now the turn of the number 7. He will reclaim his own style and make it even more prominent to lead Urawa Reds to victory.

(Interview and text by Daisuke Harada)