The Emperor's Cup JFA 99th Japan Football Championship will kick-off on Saturday 25 May. We have conducted an interview with Mr. NARAZAKI Seigo (Nagoya Grampus Club Special Fellow), who has the experience of winning back-to-back Emperor's Cups in the 78th and 79th tournament.

*This interview was conducted on 26 April.

――You have played in 49 Emperor's Cup matches. Which match do you remember the most?

Narazaki　The match we lost to Sagawa Express SC 0-4 (Third round of 81st tournament).

――I remember that match. Is the Emperor's Cup a difficult tournament?

Narazaki　Until then, I didn’t think it was difficult at all. I always had a good image of the tournament.

――You personally have played in three consecutive finals (77&78th: Yokohama Flugels, 79th: Nagoya Grampus). Do you remember your first final appearance?

Narazaki　It was the match against Kashima Antlers. I remember vividly. I was so excited to play at the highest stage, but I tweaked my back during the warmup session. I ended up playing the match, but after the match I couldn’t move for about five days.

――In the following tournament, you won the title with Yokohama Flugels in their last match of the franchise.

Narazaki　That year, a loss would have literally meant the end for the Flugels, so it must have been difficult for our opponents, but we felt unbeatable at the moment.

――By winning the title at the end, we thought it might change the circumstances.

Narazaki　We had small hopes, too, but in reality, that never happened. I don’t want to end it as a heroic tale, but I felt like I left everything behind and we were able to celebrate as a team. A loss would have left us with a much gloomy feeling.

――Then you appeared in the 79th tournament final as a member of Nagoya Grampus. What was it like then?

Narazaki　Our semi-final was a match in the presence of the Emperor. We all looked at the Royal Box before the start of the second half and I was able to catch a sight of His Majesty. After the match, I was told that His Majesty mentioned my name, so felt very honoured.

――Your team won 2-0 against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at the final and you lifted the Cup two years in arrow.

Narazaki　Ahead of the Emperor's Cup, the team was in great form and it was our defender TORRES’ final match with the team, so we were even more motivated to win. I felt like I have done well throughout the tournament, but Piksi (Dragan STOJKOVIC) scored a wonderful goal at the end to be named as the MVP. It takes a super star to be able to showcase such performance at the final. He is truly one of them.

――You managed to put up great results after transferring to a new team?

Narazaki　Honestly, there were tons of pressure. Earlier that year, we weren’t winning as much, and I was side-lined due to injury. Our coach was fired during the season and it left me thinking, “What am I here for?” However, we started winning matches in the second half of the season and I entered the Emperor's Cup with a strong intention to earn the trust of my team and our fans by winning the title. I was fully committed for the cause, so it made me that much happier when we won the tournament.

――What’s the significance of the Emperor's Cup?

Narazaki　Giant-killing is always the emphasis of this tournament, but it adds another burden over the players. The players of the lower divisions are fully motivated for the match, but we have to play during our league schedule, so it was hard to maintain our conditions. The atmosphere of each venue was different, and the pitch conditions weren’t always great neither. And of course, everyone is rooting for an upset.

――Does the knock-out format make it even more difficult for the goalkeepers?

Narazaki　Simply put, if we don’t concede any goals, the team will not lose. However, for any goalkeeper, there are shots we can’t do anything about, so we just have to do our best to give ourselves the best chance to keep a clean sheet. It’s important to keep the same routine while keeping your focus at a high level to get yourself energised.

――What is your expectations at this year’s tournament?

Narazaki　I want the J. League teams to prove why they are in the upper category and showcase their strengths as professionals. As a recent trend, the players who aren’t playing in the league matches are likely to get their opportunities at the cup, but I still want the J clubs to display their strengths. The Emperor's Cup is a prestigious tournament and I want all the players to keep that in mind when they take the pitch. I hope this tournament will remain as one of the most influential tournaments in Japan.

Fixtures and Results through the 3rd Round

【1st Round】Sat. 25, Sun. 26 May
【2nd Round】Wed. 3, Wed. 10 July
【3rd Round】Wed. 14 August
【Round of 16】Wed. 18 September
【Quarterfinals】Wed. 23 October
【Semi-final】Sat. 21 December
【Final】Wed. 1 January 2020

Tournament Information