If you look at Shinzo Koroki 's profile on Urawa Reds' official website, the first thing listed as his team history is "Miyazaki Higashi Soccer Sports Youth Club" (Miyazaki Higashi SSS).
"In the year above me was Inoha Masahiko, who was my teammate at Kashima Antlers, and in the year below me was Kukino Satoshi, who played for Kawasaki Frontale and other teams. We had a strong team with all the members, and we had a really good experience, including competing in a national tournament. The training was quite strict, but I learned a lot about soccer there."
However, Koroki has an origin that is not recorded in the team's history.
Omiya Soccer Sports Club (Omiya SSS)—.
While at Miyazaki Higashi SSS he learned the depth and rigour of soccer, at Omiya SSS he discovered the charm and joy of soccer and developed a desire to improve.

Let's borrow the words of his mother, Koroki Korogi, about how he first got into soccer.
"I wanted to play baseball," he said, recalling the sight of his young son running across the dirt field, cutting through the air.
"I was very fast at running, whether it was short distances or long distances. Also, from a young age, I was good at handling the ball, no matter what kind of ball game I played."
Influenced by his older brother, who was three years older than him, he started playing baseball when he became an elementary school student, but Sadako had doubts.
"I wonder if there's a sport that would suit Shinzo better?"
It was around this time that I heard from an acquaintance that there was a soccer club nearby.
When I took my son to visit, there were children running around on the grounds.
"That's when I thought, this is it. Soccer could be a good way to put my son's speed to good use."

It seemed to her at first glance that soccer suited her son's abilities and characteristics, but what Sadako valued most was his will.
I asked my son who was sitting next to me.
"Do you want to try soccer?"
"Yeah, I'd like to try it."
Koroki unravels his encounter with soccer.
"Omiya SSS only practiced twice a week and was by no means a strong team. But I learned that soccer is a fun sport here, and that's what I learned."
It was at Omiya SSS that Koroki met a friend he would go on to know for 30 years.
"At first, we were just soccer buddies, but since our houses were close to each other's, we started hanging out together all the time. We often stayed over at each other's houses.
When we entered junior high school, we went to different schools because we were in different school districts, but for some reason, he often hung out with my friends."

Keisuke Yamashita reminisces about those days

It was probably the first time in his career that Koroki played as a pair with Yamashita Keisuke.
Yamashita-san also recalled his memories.
"I had many opportunities to play with Shinzo as a two-top, but it was almost always Shinzo who scored the goals. I knew he played baseball, and I think he was the pitcher and number 4. He was the best at everything, whether it was sports or playing, and I think the only thing he was bad at was swimming (laughs). Because I had a talented player like Shinzo closest to me, I naturally wanted to work hard at practice and Trial. That's how much he inspired me. When we met, I wasn't sure whether to play baseball or soccer, and I didn't feel like I was putting all my weight into soccer, so we often hung out together outside of practice days. I think it was after I moved from Omiya SSS to Miyazaki Higashi SSS and started playing that I started to get seriously into soccer."
Even when we were just playing, I could sense his strong competitive spirit.
"Pro-wrestling was popular at the time, so we used to exchange moves, but he was the kind of guy who wouldn't be satisfied if I used a move on him, unless I used a move back. So when I used a move on him, it was Shinzo next. When Shinzo used a move on me, it was me next. It was like a fight would start from that point on (laughs). It wasn't just pro-wrestling, it was the same with cards. He just wouldn't be satisfied unless he won. I wondered if there really was someone who hated to lose so much."

Korogi (far right in the back row) during Koroki time with Miyazaki Higashi SSS

Since starting to play for Miyazaki Higashi SSS, Koroki has become busier with soccer practice and Trial, but the two continued to be friends and nothing changed.
They went to different junior high schools and high schools. Even as they entered adolescence and became young adults, the two of them remained "Shinzo and Keisuke" just as they had been when they were little.
"I was worried when I heard that he had failed the high school entrance exam. But when I heard that he could enter Hosho High School if he continued playing soccer, I thought that if he could play soccer and attend high school, that would be a good thing for him."
Even though he didn't say it out loud, as a friend he was secretly worried about Koroki and was thinking about him.
"However, I never thought he would become a professional soccer player. I had often heard stories from Shinzo and others about Masuda Chisato, who joined Kashima Antlers from Hosho High School and was a senior of mine in the year before, and he was a serious and stoic guy. That's the kind of person I thought would become a professional soccer player. If anything, Shinzo is the complete opposite. So when I heard he was going to become a professional, I was surprised and said 'Whaaaaaaat?' But then I chose Kashima Antlers to follow Chisato, and when I saw in the news that he was faster than the foreign players at his first physical or something, I thought 'That's true.' When we were kicking the ball together, I thought he was definitely a fast runner and had some outstanding qualities."

Even after becoming a professional soccer player, Shinzo was the same as always when he returned to his hometown of Miyazaki.
"I think there are probably quite a few people who become professional soccer players at the age of 18 who end up with a long nose. But Shinzo was the same, even after he became a professional soccer player, started Trial for Kashima Antlers, and transferred to Urawa Reds. When he was single and had a day off, he would come back to Miyazaki, and when I went to pick him up, he would say he wanted to go to a super public bath. I had to ask him back, "Is a super public bath okay?" His name was becoming known, so it was the one thing for us to be considerate. But Shinzo doesn't give off that vibe at all. Even when he meets local people after he becomes famous, he treats them equally, even if he doesn't match their faces and names. He's just the same as when he lived in his hometown."

It is this personality that has made him well-liked and loved by his teammates throughout his career.
However, the same was probably true for Koroki as well.
Koroki muttered, remembering his hometown.
"Keisuke also likes soccer, so we end up talking about soccer. 'You were terrible in the last Trial, weren't you?' 'That goal was nice, wasn't it?' He watches every Trial and contacts me afterwards. It feels like we haven't changed at all, so it makes me happy. These aren't friends I met as an adult, but friends I've had since I was little. We've been through hard times together, we've felt frustrated together, so even though time has passed, there's a sense that we understand each other somehow. And the fact that we're still together now makes me feel comfortable, that's the biggest thing."

Shinzo Koroki at his press conference in 2013

Yamashita first sensed Koroki 's determination in 2013 when he decided to transfer from Kashima Antlers to Urawa Reds.
When asked about the reason for his transfer, Koroki was unusually vague.
"Look, Urawa Reds is a big club. So it's all about money."
His smile and deception on his face revealed his determination. No matter how much he joked around with words, his friend who had been with him through thick and thin since childhood could see through him.
"I thought he was a really great guy. He led Antlers to three consecutive league titles and was a consistent player in Trial. I had heard that he wanted to play the kind of football that Misha (head coach Mihailo Petrovic) had created, but I understood that in a way he prioritized what he wanted to do, even if it meant giving up an environment where a position was guaranteed. He was in his 20s, so I was making fun of him out of embarrassment, but I thought his attitude of taking risks and trying to follow what he wanted was really cool. At the same time, I thought it was very Shinzo-like..."
As a friend, I have been watching him play for 20 years at Kashima Antlers, Urawa Reds and Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. "I had heard him say a while ago that he was in pain here and there, and I had also heard him mutter, 'I might not be able to do this anymore,' so I watched him thinking that he was doing his best. But I personally feel very grateful. Thanks to Shinzo, I was able to see a lot of things. So I didn't feel like asking him to play for another year. I would still like to see Shinzo play, but I think he's shown me more than enough in these 20 years."

Their paths are different, and their professions are different. But for Yamashita, Koroki has always been "Shinzo" and the closest role model.
Just as the fans and supporters were energized by Koroki 's play and goals, he was also inspired.
The word "gratitude" came from that feeling.
"But... if I could be greedy, I would like to see him score one more goal."
It was a final message from Keisuke, a friend of 30 years, to Shinzo, the player.

(Text by Daisuke Harada)

Looking at his sleeping face, Shinzo Koroki remembered.
"Without him, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today."
This happened one year.
Hiromi Matsuzaki, who was the coach of the Hosho High School soccer team, fell ill and underwent surgery in Tokyo.
When Koroki heard about this, he visited the hospital room alone.
When he opened the door to his teacher's room, he found him sleeping peacefully. Koroki sat in a chair and, without waking him up, just stared at his teacher's face.
"It was this man who made me realize again the joy of soccer, and he really loves soccer. I hope he gets better soon and goes back to coaching children. I hope he develops teams and players that can fly all over the country."

At the same time, my days with my mentor of nearly 20 years were running wild.
When Matsuzaki woke up a while later, he was surprised to see his student standing in front of him.
"Have you been there the whole time? I wish you'd woken me up."
"He was asleep after surgery, so I didn't wake him up."
Matsuzaki, who coached Koroki for three years in high school, said:
"I hadn't told him about the surgery so as not to worry him, but I guess someone must have heard about it. He hadn't told me in advance that he was coming, and when I opened my eyes, Shinzo was sitting there, looking at me. I was really surprised. He had made a point of coming all the way there to visit me. He's always had that kind of friendliness, that warmth."

Ever since I was in elementary school, I knew of the name "Shinzo Koroki," who often came up in tournaments as the top scorer or was selected as an outstanding player.
He also knew that at Miyazaki Municipal Omiya Higashi Junior High School, there were no professional instructors and so the students did not have the opportunity to undergo rigorous training or learn the necessary techniques.
Nevertheless, after the tournament in his third year of junior high school was over, Matsuzaki asked Koroki to join the practice sessions he held once a month.
"He was fast and good at dribbling. And best of all, he had a soft touch on the ball. He was able to use his speed to his advantage while also handling the ball well, so I thought he was a player with great potential. Players from outside Miyazaki City were also taking part in the training session, and even they looked up to Shinzo."

It was some time later that I learned that the boy had failed the entrance exam to another school and had nowhere to go to high school.
Matsuzaki approached the school and discussed Koroki 's admission. At first, the school was reluctant to approve, but Matsuzaki's passion finally paid off, and Kohrogi was allowed to enter the school on the condition that he join the soccer club.
However, soon after entering the school, Koroki began to complain that he wanted to quit the soccer club. Matsuzaki explains the reason behind this:
"It probably wasn't interesting for him. In those days, players who had been selected for the prefecture's training center were admitted as scholarship students. These scholarship students were invited to participate in expeditions and practice Trial even before enrolling. There was a need to balance the players on the team, and there were also areas where we needed to help each other grow, so naturally we couldn't prioritize Shinzo, who wasn't a scholarship student. So I think he didn't find soccer interesting in the situation and environment where he couldn't play in Trial or practice with the so-called regular players."

Koroki also nodded deeply.
"The scholarship students were all players I had played against on opposing teams when I was in elementary school. Those players were practicing with the top team and playing in Trial. I was absolutely convinced that I was better than those players, so I found the situation frustrating. On top of that, the hierarchy at Hosho High School was even stricter than in middle school, so I got tired of it all, or rather, I got fed up with it."
Kosugi began skipping practice and Koroki about wanting to quit soccer, so Matsuzaki called him over again and again.
"It would be a shame to quit soccer. I know you have the talent. If you work hard, you might be able to become a professional, so you should try your best." "No, I'm fine with that. I don't want to play soccer anymore."

On another day I called him to the staff room, and on another day I called him to the technical office where he is based, and we talked face to face.
"Still, your feelings haven't changed?"
"Coach, I've had enough. I don't want to play soccer anymore."
"If I work hard, I think there's a chance I could become a member of the Japanese national team in the future."
It is thanks to Matsuzaki's perseverance that Koroki is who he is today.
His mentor reminisces about that time.
"When I told other students to come to the staff room or the technology room, they would come and talk to me. It's true that Shinzo could be a little mischievous, but at an age when the other children could only say things like 'yes' and 'no,' Shinzo would ask me all sorts of things and tell me stories; he was the kind of child you could hold a conversation with. So I felt that if I spoke to him, he would understand my feelings and what I was trying to convey. If I called him, he would always come and talk to me, and I think that it was his strong sense of duty and humanity that led to our relationship continuing even after we graduated, and he was a man with a strong sense of responsibility in many things."

Matsuzaki thought about it and took him on an away trip and had him play in Trial, hoping that it would help him change his mind. Then, however faintly, he noticed that his passion for soccer had been rekindled.
"It was the folly of youth," Koroki recalled with embarrassment.
"The reason I went to talk to him was because continuing to play soccer was a prerequisite for me to attend high school. If I hadn't gone to see the coach, I would have had to quit high school. It was a hassle to be called in every time, but I also thought it would be good if someone would listen to me and understand how I felt. But Coach Matsuzaki kept pestering me and persuading me, so I'm really grateful to him."

The time I spent with my teacher at Hosho High School

As Koroki began to regain his passion for soccer, Matsuzaki thought of a way to further ignite it.
Masuda Chikashi, who was one year older than Kosugi and had stood out from an early stage, was chosen as Koroki 's practice partner.
"I told Seishi to practice together with Shinzo. Shinzo hates to lose. Seishi has been famous since he was in elementary school, and was said to be the number one player in the prefecture even in middle school. J-League scouts often came to watch him, so I thought that if I paired him up and had him practice together, Shinzo would develop a competitive spirit that would make him want to surpass his seniors, because he's the type that doesn't think of his seniors as seniors."
Koroki laughed and said, "I didn't notice (that intention) at all. He was controlling me well." However, Koroki, who was completely conscious of Masuda, continued to grow.

Matsuzaki looks back on that time.
"At first I was training with the B team and playing in B team Trial, but I started scoring goals and joined the A team. I started to get results with the A team too. From that point on, I realized that soccer was starting to become a little more interesting."
It was during his second year at the Inter-High School Athletic Meet (National High School Athletic Meet). With the help of Masuda and Koroki, Hosho High School won their way through the national tournament. In the quarterfinals, they faced Koroki High School in Aichi Prefecture, and after finishing Trial at 2-2, they lost 1-3 in a penalty shootout.
"After losing Trial that would have meant a place in the top four, Shinzo was in tears and frustrated. It was at that moment that I realized he was really working hard at soccer. Chikaji was a real workaholic, and was the type of player who would always stay behind by himself to kick the ball. But Shinzo, on the other hand, would never be on the field after team practice was over. Even back then, he was a player who had a clear on and off switch."

He participated in the All Japan High School Soccer Championship for two consecutive years, and advanced to the quarterfinals in the 83rd tournament in his third year. After showing his talent and being selected for the U-18 Japan national team, he followed in the footsteps of his senior, Masuda, and began his professional career with Kashima Antlers in 2005.
"Seiji had his sights set on Kashima from early on, but to be honest, Shinzo had other teams in mind as well, but ultimately he decided to go to Kashima. Looking back, I think it was good that he was able to learn the basics of being a professional soccer player at Kashima. He wasn't consulted in particular before making his decision, but I think he listened to people from various clubs and made the decision on his own."
He says that there was no formal consultation when he took his first step towards becoming a professional, but after that he was consulted and contacted at various milestones.
Perhaps he wanted his mentor, who had helped him persevere at a crossroads in his life, to give him a push forward.

This was also the case when he decided to transfer to Urawa Reds in 2013.
"I played for eight years, so I feel like I was able to fulfill my obligations to Kashima."
"You've already paid it back. Why don't you go play wherever you want?"
He was also contacted when he was to compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 as an over-age player.
Matsuzaki revealed the exchange, saying, "I think he had made up his mind."
"I've been asked by members of the Olympic team to be an OA, but I'm thinking of turning it down."
"It's the Olympic Games, so there's no need to worry. Why not go?"
In Ikumedai Park in Miyazaki City, there is a stone monument commemorating Matsuzaki's participation in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which was erected with Matsuzaki's initiative.

A stone monument in Miyazaki City with the names of Shinzo Koroki and Mr. Matsuzaki engraved on it

"He scored one goal at the Olympics, but was eliminated in the group stage. He contacted me immediately after Trial. I asked him where he was and he said he was in Brazil. He then asked me what day he would be coming back and if we could have dinner together. So he came back to Miyazaki with his suitcase in hand. He signed a Japan national team jersey and gave it to me. That showed his love for his hometown and his passionate side."
After finishing the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where he later admitted he felt burned out, he likely wanted to return to his familiar hometown and see the face of his mentor.
With Urawa Reds, he won five titles, including two Asian championships. He scored 114 goals in the league with Urawa Reds, and his total of 168 goals in the J1 League is the second highest in history.
"I never thought he'd become such a successful player. He's scored double digits for nine consecutive years. And he's set a new record by scoring in the J1 League for 18 consecutive years. What makes me happiest is that he's become the face of Urawa Reds."

Shinzo Koroki has left an unparalleled record

Matsuzaki, who has watched over Kosugi not only during his impressionable three years at high school but also up until now, was asked about Koroki. His teacher replied that it wasn't his play, but his personality. "It's his humanity. There are many things about his play that are appealing, like his speed and timing when it comes to scoring, but if I had to pick one thing it would be his humanity. I think his personality, being able to treat everyone equally, is what makes him so appealing."
If Mihailo Petrovic, the coach he met at Urawa Reds, is Korogi's "father" in the world of soccer, then Matsuzaki is Koroki his "mentor." "Without him, I definitely wouldn't be who I am today. I really can't look him in the eye."

If he had strayed from his path, if he had strayed from his path, he would have quit soccer. If that had happened, Urawa Reds might not have reached the top of Asia, and we might not have rejoiced and been intoxicated by the goal scored by the number 30.
Koroki said this while reflecting on the sure footsteps he had walked.
"It's a simple phrase, but if there's one thing I can say, it was that during my three years at high school I was reminded of the joy of soccer. And what else...? Soccer is a team sport, so you can't just play by yourself. You have to look out for those around you and make the most of them while you play. Up until then I'd only played with the thought that it was enough if I was doing well, but I feel like I really developed the ability to play for the team during my time at high school."

Thinking back, the No. 30 running around in the Urawa Reds uniform and playing was always thinking about the team. For the team, for his teammates, and for the team's victory -- that all began in the three years of hardship and struggle during his high school years.

(Text by Daisuke Harada)

July 31, 2024, Saitama Stadium.
Shinzo Koroki made the remarks at a press conference announcing his retirement in his home base, where he spent 11 years, more than half of his 20-year career as a professional soccer player.
"Today is my birthday. It's a special day for me, but I have to be most grateful to my mother today. I think today is the day I should be grateful to my mother. I think the biggest reason I've been able to continue playing this far is because my mother gave birth to me with a strong body."

Koroki announced his retirement on his birthday

As the son expressed his gratitude to his mother, his mother, Sadako, who was watching the press conference via screen, expressed her gratitude for her son's dignified appearance and words.
"People around me might laugh at me for saying this, but I really didn't take care of Shinzo. Whenever I travel for work, people ask me, 'How did you raise him?' and I answer, 'He grew up on his own.' I just gave birth to him. That's how easy he was.
At the press conference, you said that you weren't just making lunch for me or taking me to and from work, but that you were "grateful for giving birth to a healthy baby." And that's really true. I wonder if there's a child out there who would be so happy that I gave birth to a healthy baby..."
"That's why," Sadako continues.
"Shinzo grew up on his own. Rather, I think he was raised by the people around him and by society at large."

Koroki was born on July 31, 1986 in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture as the third child.
As soon as I grew up, I remember my mother always being busy running around with work.
Koroki himself laughed and said, "It's just as my mother said."
"Ever since I started playing soccer in elementary school, the parents of the other players were very enthusiastic (about looking after their children), and would rush over to cheer on every Trial. There were jobs for parents to do, so everyone's parents did them too. But my own parents were busy with work, so they never came. Even though I was little, there was a time when I was a little worried about what the people around me thought of me.

But in the end, I think what's important is that I enjoy playing soccer, and how well I can play for the team. I didn't think it mattered whether my parents came or not."
Although Sadako laughs and says she "didn't do anything," she did lead her son closely, because it was her mother who introduced her son to soccer.
"He was just so fast, so I thought a sport where he could make use of that would be good for him, and so I first took him to the Omiya Youth Soccer Sports Club (in my hometown of Miyazaki). There, they told me that he was indeed fast, and good with the ball. However, at the time he was learning both baseball and soccer, and wasn't playing either seriously. I thought it was important for him to make his own decisions, so I let Shinzo make all his own decisions. So when I asked him this time whether he would choose soccer or baseball, he said 'soccer.'"

Shinzo Koroki chose the path of soccer himself

Not only did he create a contact point with soccer, but he also allowed his son to make his own decisions, showing his guidance as a parent.
And if he did choose soccer, it was his mother who opened up that possibility. When Sadako heard from an acquaintance that there was a strong soccer team nearby, she took him to watch a practice session.
And here too, the mother let her son make the decision.
Korogi said Koroki after watching the practice of Miyazaki Higashi Soccer Sports Club (Miyazaki Higashi SSS).
"The level is so high here and the teams are so strong that I don't think I'll be able to Trial."
"So, what are we going to do? Should we give up?"
"I may not be able to become a regular, but I'll try my best here."
Sadako says:
"After I joined Miyazaki Higashi SSS, I improved a lot. I think the team's guidance was a factor in my growth, but I also think the biggest factor was that it was a decision I made myself, not my parents'."

When Koroki entered high school, Sadako became busier with work and had more opportunities to be away from home.
There was no one to take me to practice, Trial, or away games, and I had to travel by myself, so I didn't have anyone make me a lunch box. I always had a lunch box I bought at a convenience store, and when I got home after practice, it was normal to eat a lunch box or side dish I had bought.
He was the one who washed the muddy practice clothes and prepared for the expedition. He did it all by himself.
Sadako said, recalling that time.
"When Shinzo was in high school, I was constantly traveling for work, so we only saw each other a few times a month. That's why I never made him lunch or cooked for him. But Shinzo understood my family situation and never asked for anything. So he never asked me, 'Don't I make lunch?'"

However, Koroki didn't find it difficult at all.
"Personally, I didn't really like it when my parents were too enthusiastic. It's true that when we went on trips, they would take us to and from school and make us lunches, but if there was a train running and we could make the first train, then we should have taken the first train, and if we couldn't make it, then we should have taken a taxi. I should have bought my own lunch too.
My father was self-employed and my mother traveled all over the country for work, so I tried to do what I could. It's not that my parents were indifferent to me, but I watched them work hard to provide for their family from an early age and knew they were doing it."
At the team's graduation ceremony after finishing their activities at Hosho High School, each player expressed their gratitude to their parents.

"Thank you for taking me to and from school every day and making me lunch."
"Thank you for always coming to support us at Trial."
Sadako managed to take part in the ceremony despite her busy schedule, but her heart ached as she reflected on the fact that she had not been able to do anything.
"I wonder what Shinzo will say. Is there anything he can say in front of everyone?"
When it was his turn, Koroki stepped forward and said.
"I wasn't allowed to have my lunch made, or my meals cooked, but we have our own way of doing things. So, no matter what anyone says, I think my way is the best, and that makes me happy."
Sadako thought as tears welled up in her eyes at the unexpected words.
"Thank you. What good is it for a parent to be helped by their child..."
Koroki says:
"I barely remember anything. I might have said something like that, but I guess I don't remember it because I just took it all for granted."

Sadako clearly remembers when her son first began thinking about becoming a professional soccer player, a time when he was a talented player at Hosho High School, competing in national tournaments and attracting the attention of J.League scouts.
That day, I had just returned from a business trip and met my son for the first time in a long time.
"Are you working hard on soccer?"
"I'm doing my best"
Then, Koroki said:
"Mom, let's have a contest. Will you achieve your current goal of promotion at work first, or will I become a professional first? Let's have a contest to see who will do it first."
Sadako replied, "That's good. I wonder which will come first," but she also sensed her son's determination when he uttered the word "professional" for the first time.
"Shinzo got there earlier than me. When he decided to join Kashima Antlers, I thought, 'I've been screwed.' But soon after, I was also promoted, and Shinzo came to our celebration party and spoke in front of everyone, which was really moving."

Koroki also remembered that.
"I think my mother definitely had a more difficult mission. She seemed to have a really tough job, and was always flying around, so she was hardly ever home, but I thought she was amazing. Whenever I met her coworkers, they would always say things like, 'I respect her,' or, 'Shinzo's mother is amazing,' and I was always so proud of that."

Not only those around them, but the two of them as parent and child also respected each other.
Even when he chose Kashima as the first step in his career, his mother respected her son.
"Why did you choose Kashima?"
Koroki nationwide, was approached by several clubs. When he was present at the negotiating table, some of the clubs whispered sweet words to him. Among them, only Kashima told him the harsh words, "It will be difficult to play in Trial right away" and "Please prepare for five years until you play in Trial."
Then Koroki answered simply.
"That's because Kashima is a club full of amazing players. I thought that if I couldn't make it at Kashima, I wouldn't be able to continue as a professional."

Sadako saw her son's strength in those words.
"I thought it was amazing. Even as a parent, I thought to myself, "This child is choosing the tougher path. It was the same when he was in elementary school, but he's always made tough choices and that's how he got to where he is today. I think that's what's led to his current results."
His determination and resolve could be sensed not only from his words but also from his facial expressions. This was also the case when he joined Urawa Reds in 2013.
"I don't know much about soccer, so I had no idea how difficult it would be to transfer from Kashima to Urawa Reds. He told me, 'Right now I'm a bit worried, and I'm thinking of transferring to Urawa Reds.'"

My son, who had never confided his worries to me before, was now relying on me for the first time. I wanted to respond to that feeling.
"As a parent, I couldn't cook meals, but I wanted to have the words to help my child move forward when they were confused or worried."
That's why Sadako gave her a push.
"That's fine. My life as a soccer player isn't long, so I think it's fine to play somewhere that needs me. I think it's important for my life to make a choice that I won't have any regrets about. Well, in the end, it's up to me to decide."

The weight of his resolve and determination was apparent when he went to watch the pre-season training camp being held in Miyazaki Prefecture at the time and was reunited with his son.
"She was thinner than I'd ever seen her before. That's how desperate she was to be recognized by those around her."
Just a little conversation, a glance at her expression, and you can understand her inner thoughts, feelings, determination, and resolve, because even though she says she "just gave birth," she is still a mother.
"When you think of soccer, you think of Urawa Reds," he always said. "The whole town is passionate about the team, and some fans and supporters even come all the way to Miyazaki to visit. I really feel that Urawa Reds Urawa Reds the power to generate that kind of energy and create that atmosphere, so I think it was good for Shinzo to be able to play for them."

Fans and supporters create an energetic and passionate atmosphere

What did her mother think of the soccer player Shinzo Koroki?
"If I had to say, she's not the type to want to stand out. So, rather than scoring goals to stand out, I think she scored goals so that the team could win. After she became a forward, I think she thought that if she didn't score, the team wouldn't win..."
Just as his mother had said, he was thinking that, as he scored his 114th goal in the J1 League for Urawa Reds.
I also asked Koroki what his mother was like to him.
"I'll say it again, my mother was right; she really did nothing for me. When my uniform or practice clothes got muddy after practice, my mother would normally wash and hang them out to dry, but I washed them myself. And in the morning, she would wake me up, but I got up and went to practice myself. I did everything myself.

But. When I was a student, spikes were expensive and I was able to buy things that were hard to come by because my mother supported Koroki. I have always seen her working hard, so I really respect her.
I heard people who worked with my mother say they wanted to be like her, and I thought to myself, I want to be that kind of person."
Perhaps that is what would have happened if he had been loved by his teammates, fans and supporters at Urawa Reds.

However, Koroki shook his head.
"I may have come a little closer, but what my mother had that I don't have is that she was someone who worked incredibly hard. That's something I still lack. I don't think I was ever able to catch up with my mother as an athlete, so I hope that in the future I can get a little closer."
It was his mother's back that he was chasing. That's why Koroki kept running, and was able to keep running.
On December 8th, Shinzo Koroki 's journey as a player will come to an end. Now, I will continue to follow in his footsteps as a coach.

(Text by Daisuke Harada)

Who on earth should I rely on now?
That was what I was thinking about four months ago at Shinzo Koroki 's retirement press conference held at Saitama Stadium, as I took photos of Shinzo Koroki changing into a suit in the dressing room.
The number of goals Shinzo Koroki has scored so far with Urawa Reds speaks volumes about his greatness, including the second-highest number in J.League history and the most goals scored by a Japanese player in the ACL.
However, I feel that Shinzo Koroki 's true greatness lies in the plays that don't show up in the numbers.
It was some season. I once followed Shinzo Koroki in my viewfinder for 90 minutes in Trial, and it was a very interesting experience. For example, the time he waited after receiving a pass in the front line, the free run he made to attract the opposing defender, or the seemingly easy pass he made to the opposite side.
(There is only one Trial left, and it is not clear whether he will play, but if he does, it might be nice to view it that way.) Anyway, to us, Shinzo Koroki was the guy who always managed to do something for us when we were in trouble, but I think to the opposing team he was always the guy who might do something to them.
It would be a shame to lose a man like that, so on the day of the press conference, as he was tying his tie in the Saitama Stadium dressing room, I asked him one more question.
"Aren't you ever thinking about quitting after all?"
"No, no, no!"
Shinzo Koroki smiled as usual, put his arms through his jacket, and started walking down the corridor leading to the press conference room. I see, that's true after all. Even if you're Shinzo Koroki, you can't keep playing soccer forever.

December 3, 2024, was the last open practice day of the season. I got off the train at Saitama-Shintoshin Station, passed through Keyaki Square, and started walking to the Ohara practice field. It was 9 a.m., and the warm, dazzling light on the asphalt was more like the beginning of spring than the end of autumn. I thought to myself, "I wish the 2024 season could start right now." (The results probably wouldn't have changed that much.)

To tell the truth, I had taken a portrait of Shinzo Koroki a few days before his retirement. He was wearing his Trial uniform and in front of a red backdrop. But as always, it was difficult to take a photo of him. That's because Shinzo Koroki always has the same face. It's not that he has no expression. If you ask him to look cool, he'll make a cool face. If you ask him to smile, he'll smile. (It was hard for him to smile for a while after he joined the team, so this is a big improvement.)
But every time, the same Shinzo Koroki appears in the photo. That's because he has no two sides to him.

Practice started just after 9:30. First, everyone did a light jog, followed by interval training. Even though it was a weekday, the stands were full of fans who had come to catch a glimpse of the last practice of the season, or rather, the last practice of Shinzo Koroki and Tomoya UGAJIN. I sat down in front of the net separating the stands from the field, prepared my lens, and briefly thought of Misha.

Shinzo! Shinzo! Back then, whenever you sat in on practice, you'd see coach Mihailo Petrovic, perched on a box in the middle of the ground, calling his name over and over, giving instructions on his positioning and movement.
I want to play soccer with this guy! I've heard that it was this famous coach born in the former Yugoslavia who gave Shinzo Koroki the courage and determination to move from Kashima Antlers to his arch rival Urawa Reds. And it was also because of Misha that he left Urawa and spent a year in Sapporo.

Under the gaze of the fans and supporters, Shinzo Koroki sweating profusely as usual, completes each menu without skipping. After the interval, they do rondo (ball rotation) for about 10 minutes, and then the game using almost the full court begins.

Koroki is in the top position of one team. When I see his unique movement with its slow and fast speed, which is hard to describe, I think he can still do it, but he already has an answer for this. He stated it clearly in a press conference four months ago. He said that he no longer has the power to make the team win. That is probably true, and it is also probably true that the team was not good enough to make him think that he could still make them win.

After the game, which lasted about 30 minutes, the team formed a circle in the center of the field and ended practice with a round of applause. Shinzo Koroki returned to the clubhouse, sweat running down his forehead, took off his shoes, changed into a windbreaker, and returned to the field to meet the fans who wanted his autograph and a commemorative photo. By the time he politely greeted each person, finished signing his final autograph, and smiled as he posed for the final commemorative photo, it had already been over an hour since practice had ended.

So, I know I'm being persistent, but this is really the end.
"The truth is, I had thought about quitting last year. It was a bit unclear, but I thought this was the best possible outcome. It was 5:5, or maybe 6:4, with 6 for quitting and 4 for staying. But the team asked me if I could stay for another year because they were changing the manager in the new season. I was grateful that they needed me, so I thought this really would be my last year."

What is a beautiful shape?

"As for last year, we won the ACL. The reason I came back from Sapporo was because of the ACL final. At first, I didn't think we'd be in the ACL final. It was the same with J-League Trial, I didn't even think about being in the starting line-up until around summer. But, since it was Maciej 's first year as manager and the team wasn't getting results, when I played we continued to win, so I felt that I had done a big job."

The team also told us that they wanted a veteran who could be a role model off the pitch and during training. Until just a short time ago, Shinzo Koroki was not the type of player to be a role model for others, though.

"I think that too, haha. But I thought that just training hard would have an effect. I'm not the type to say a lot, but even during my time at Kashima, there were many seniors who showed me by example rather than by words, so I thought that I should do the same."

Could it be that he couldn't imagine himself after he stopped being a player, and so the timing of his retirement kept getting postponed?

"That may be true. If I had a perfect idea in my head of what I wanted to do next, I might have been able to quit easily. Even now I'm not sure what I should do next, but I would like to give back to Urawa Reds. It's such a big organisation, the environment is good, and the budget is far better than other teams. That's why I think Urawa Reds are a perennial winner, a team that should always be competing for the championship. I have a strong desire to help make that happen, to build the foundation."

Unfortunately, Urawa Reds have been far from competing for the title this season, and the number 30 has had to spend much of his time watching the pitch from the stands.

"Looking at it from above, there are a lot of things that make me wonder, 'Why?' Like, 'If it were me, I would do it this way.' It's not like they're saying he's in the wrong, but rather, 'I'm going to get results!', 'I'm going to do my best for the team!', I don't really get that kind of spirit. I think it was the fact that it wasn't about technique or anything like that that really stood out."

But of course the players on the pitch are fighting to win, so why do they seem to lack spirit?

"Hmm, I wonder why. That's the strange thing about soccer, the difficulty. Of course the players are doing it, but that doesn't come across. Sure, they're running, but is it enough to just run? You have to think while you're running. Nowadays we collect data, but if you run 14km and still lose, that running is wasted. So it's better to run 8km and think carefully before you win. It's not enough to just stand out a little, you have to produce results. I guess there aren't any greedy people there."

Not only during Trial, but also during practice, there is little voice, which is also a point that bothers me. We practice applying high pressure, but there is no voice from the back. When do the players give the go? One or two people go, but the whole team does not follow, and there were many scenes like that. Koroki, Ugajin, and other veterans convey the importance of voice, but in the end, no players appeared who shouted loudly to try to move their teammates.

"It's not about those small details, or technique or anything like that. Also, everyone is very serious. Of course, what the coach says is absolute, but I think that you have to add your own touch to it. The coach wants you to play defense, but many players are good at attacking. So if you play 100% the way the coach wants you to play defense, you won't be able to play offense. Instead of working 100% on defense, you just need to slack off at 70%, and instead of trying to steal the ball, you just need to limit it. That way you can get the ball from behind."

It seems Shinzo Koroki might actually be suited to being a manager.

"I didn't think that way when Misha was the manager, but after the manager changed, it became difficult to win Trial. So when I thought about why we couldn't win Trial, I wondered why we couldn't easily break away from the defense and go on the attack if we did it this way. Rather than complaining about the manager's tactics, I started to wonder in my own mind why we couldn't do this. So I started to think more and more that I wanted to become a manager."

When you watch from the stands, not only does the pitch look different but the way the supporters look has also changed, right?

"When you're on the pitch, you don't hear much of a roar of cheering, but when you're in the stands it's so powerful. Of course we get excited when there's a goal, but we also get all excited at every good play, so I think the supporters really have an eye for it."

After the 37th round, Urawa Reds are Pos 12th from the top. No matter how you look at it, this Pos must be too harsh for the people shouting their heads off in the stands, so I complain to the great player who will be leaving the pitch with one Trial left.

"They have always supported us with all their might, in good times and bad. When you think of Urawa Reds, it's the supporters. I really think that Urawa Reds exists thanks to the supporters. That's why I've come this far with the desire to give our supporters a title. In the end, we didn't win the J.League title, but I want the young players to win that title and give these supporters the gift that I couldn't give them."

Well, it's about time for the next one. A club staff member called out to Shinzo Koroki stood up. There were only four days left until the last game, and there were still many people who wanted to talk to Shinzo Koroki.
Looking at the chair where he had been sitting a moment ago, I thought the same thing again.
Who on earth can I rely on from now on?

Or perhaps, now that they no longer have a reliable man, it is a good opportunity for the club Urawa Reds to reexamine itself.

(Text/photo by Atsushi Kondo)

Shinzo Koroki to have been able to witness the final season of a player who held numerous goalscoring records, won many titles during his playing days, and left a strong impression on Urawa Reds' all-time legends.

Last season, in the 2023 season, he played in 29 J.League Trial, starting in 15 of Trial. Although he did not reach double digits, he scored four goals. He also scored the goal that led to his second ACL victory. Considering that he only scored one goal in 2021 before his loan transfer to Sapporo, it was a sign of his revival as a striker.
One concern was that his appearances were decreasing towards the end of the season, but that concern was dispelled early this season. In training Trial at the Okinawa camp, he was always the first substitute, even though he often had to give up the starting position to Thiago Santana, and he also sometimes started.

This season, he came on as a substitute in the opening match and the second round of the J.League, and started in the third round. In the next match against Shonan, he scored his first goal of the season by connecting with a right cross from Naoki Maeda.

Shonan again?

Speaking of Koroki, he is famous as the ``Sendai Killer,'' but I am more impressed with Shonan.
It is well known that his first goal after transferring to the Reds was on April 14, 2013, in the 6th round of the J1 League against Shonan at home, but he also scored goals in the opening match of the J1 League in 2015 and in the opening match of the same league in 2020, both at Shonan. And while he has scored more goals this season against Sendai, in his 11 years with the Reds, he has scored his first goal of the season against Shonan four times. For a striker, the first goal of the season may be like opening a ketchup bottle. He himself said, "I have the impression that I score a lot against Shonan," but perhaps that is because he has scored so many first goals of the season. By the way, he also said, "I don't agree with the 'ketchup theory'."

However, although he scored his first goal of the season in the match against Shonan, his playing time decreased after that, and he only started in the Levain Cup match against Nagasaki. He was further removed from the team and gradually moved away from the pitch in official matches. While I was wondering when he would return and score his second goal, I received an email from the club on July 29th.

"The club has some important news to announce regarding its players, so we will be holding a press conference at Saitama Stadium on Wednesday, July 31st at 2pm."

I was foolish enough to not even think that this was Koroki 's retirement press conference at first. What was it? I even foolishly imagined that someone had been involved in a scandal.
If this had happened in October or November, near the end of the season, I would have thought of it. In the case of Yuki Abe three years ago, it was November 14th, the day the Reds won the Asian championship for the first time. Even after I heard that it was Koroki 's retirement press conference, the question remained. Why so early?
I don't know much about players' birthdays, so I didn't realize this until the day of the press conference. So I raised my hand to ask the first question, the usual "Why did you decide to retire?" and the biggest question of all, "Why was the announcement made on this day?"

July 31st is my birthday. It's the day I thank my mother for giving birth to me. I chose this day because I wanted to express my gratitude to my mother when I retired.

What a wonderful reason.
From now on, the phrase "I have announced my retirement at the end of this season" will follow Koroki. There will be more interviews from the media and more requests from partners. If he had announced it in November, the "retirement fever" would last about a month, but it will continue for four months. Considering Koroki 's character, that is not what he wants. However, I was impressed that he decided to announce it on July 31st.
A few days later, Koroki told me, "That was a good question." It may have been hard for me to ask it myself. It was just a simple question, but I'm glad I was able to assist him in the end.

There was some debate at MDP about how to handle Koroki 's retirement.
One idea is to do a big one on the last day, that is, the final round. However, the manager has been replaced by Maciej, and it would be better to see that preparations for next season have already begun. I would like the final round to be something that will make people look forward to the start of the 2025 season in two and a half months. It seems inappropriate to feature players who will not be active next season on a large scale. The number of pages in the MDP has already been greatly reduced compared to the past.
Also, the official media is now quite extensive, and there will likely be a variety of special features by the final round. We also need to think about how to make the event more in line with those.

At that time, the second half of the match against Kawasaki, which was cancelled due to a thunderstorm, was to be held on November 22nd. Of course, MDP was published for the original Trial on August 24th, but it was decided that this second half should also be published. In a sense, it could be said that one more issue was suddenly added. This issue was to feature a large-scale article on Koroki. It was called "Shinzo Koroki- 30 Questions to Ask at the End." What would have happened if Koroki 's uniform number had been 88?

November. He must have been busy at the time, but he gave me plenty of time for the interview. And it didn't end on the first day, it took two days. It was about an hour and a half in total. He's the kind of guy who usually turns down even a 2-3 minute interview.
I wrote about the contents in MDP No. 689, but I felt that the length of the interview itself showed how grateful Koroki Shinzo Koroki.

In the final round of the MDP, we decided to publish an article titled "About Shinzo Koroki." We wanted to ask all 28 players, but we had no choice but to select players who have known each other for a long time and who play the same position.

I didn't have many opportunities to see Koroki talking to anyone during regular practice, but I think most of the players received some kind of advice. However, as Genki Haraguchi said something similar, it would be extremely difficult to steal or imitate Koroki plays. As I felt in "30 Questions," he easily pulls off plays that others would find "amazing," and it seems that he doesn't think of it as anything special. Just as many great forwards each have their own unique characteristics, only Shinzo Koroki Shinzo Koroki play the way he does.

However, there are some plays that we should emulate.
He entered the match against Fukuoka in the 37th round from the 64th minute. When he received a pass from Sekine in the 81st minute, he made a big trap and the ball was about to be passed to the opponent, but he quickly closed the distance and put his body between the ball and the opponent to protect the ball. In the 90th minute, when he saw that Segawa's feed was about to be passed to the opponent, he made a mad dash back from the front line, and when he was quite far from the halfway line in his own half, he beat the opponent and passed the ball to Takeda with a header.
It was as if he was showing an example of what it means to win in close quarters. I hope that the whole team will inherit that feeling.

Going back a little, the reason for his decision to retire was first stated at his retirement press conference.
"To be honest, I felt that I couldn't help the team win with my own strength."
I didn't want to admit it, and I don't know specifically what is different from the previous Koroki, but it is true that he couldn't score points. One reason is that he no longer had a good match with Yosuke Kashiwagi. But it's not just that. For example, I think that the ball that was in the post play was no longer in the position.
Koroki described this as "I can't let the team win."
This is probably the exact same stance he took when I asked him which of his numerous records he liked best - "114 goals, the most in Reds history," "double-digit goals for nine consecutive years," "18 consecutive years of goals," "168 goals, second-highest overall," and "27 goals, the most by a Japanese player in the ACL" - and he replied, "I don't care about my own records. I've only ever thought about the team winning."

Even in the final game against Niigata, there were scenes where Kosugi would have at least taken a shot if it had been in the past. For example, in the 16th minute, he ran to the front of the goal to receive a through pass from Sekine. Koroki himself was the one who felt the most that his body was different from a few years ago. However, he tried his best to score a goal even if it meant pushing himself too hard, and he did his best until he was substituted in the 63rd minute. This was not to decorate his own way, but to help Urawa Reds finish the season with a victory. It was to share the joy with the more than 50,000 fans and supporters.

I think that when a player decides to retire before being told by others, it must be very painful and he must have a strong will. Despite that, he continued to do what he could for the team, and showed his behavior to the younger players. This season, he scored a goal early on, bringing joy to the team and the fans and supporters. He fought together with us until the very end. And speaking for the feelings of many players, he also mentioned the disqualification from participating in this season's Emperor's Cup.

His tenure of 11 seasons in total is not that long. But those 11 years were very intense. His final season in 2024 was not a fade-out, but more colorful.
I have been honored to have been able to watch Shinzo Koroki closely for the past 11 years. I hope that he will live up to his word starting next season.

(Text by Jun Kiyo)