The Old Dog, New Tricks? (オールドルーキー)

JUNE 16TH, 2009 WORLD CUP ASIAN QUALIFIERS

Second half additional time, three minutes left.

It's one to one. Can they break this tie?

Japan has to win this match.

Isesaki has the ball. He passes.

-Go! Take the shot! -Masaki

Kaneko kicks it inside! It's intercepted!

-This is bad! -A pinch!

Go back!

Shinan carries the ball.

He's fast. They have to watch out!

Qais dribbles in! And there's Takakura!

Nice cut!

Takakura stopped him.

Great job!

That's Shinmachi, number 13!

Player substitution.

That's Shinmachi subbing in.

Shinmachi, number 13, will be replacing Yamada, number 11.

Japan is replacing the forward. Shinmachi joins the game.

Come on, score some points!

Ryotaro Shinmachi was called in as a super sub.

It's his second international match. He almost scored in the last game.

You said it! Show us what you've got!

-We need him to turn the tables. -Watch out!

-No good! -He shoots!

-Yamaya stopped it! -Nice!

-That was close! -Nice save there.

The ball is passed from Yamaya to Katsuragi to Isesaki.

Connecting the ball...

-Japan attacks! -Come on!

Uda is there on the other side.

This looks good!

Isesaki and Shinmachi are on the inside!

He crosses the ball!

It's parried! There's Shinmachi!

-It's a goal! -Shinmachi did it!

It's Shinmachi!

Shinmachi scored! He brought everyone in Japan closer to the World Cup!

-Yes! -He did it, Mr. Matsuki!

He's got it!

The fans are overjoyed too!

The Japanese national team has forged their way to South Africa!

They're in the World Cup four times in a row!

FROM HACHIOJI TO THE TOP

JUNE 2022

GO! GO! Gemma!

Welcome to this week's GO! GO! Gemma.

The 14th season for the J3 League is over and Gemma Hachioji is in 11th place.

Yesterday's match was a close one!

But today, we have an amazing guest!

Player number 13, Mr. Ryotaro Shinmachi.

Applause!

-Ms. Rio, thanks for having me. -Thank you!

Hi everyone.

Hey, guys. How's it going?

Come on! Are you still dwelling on yesterday's game?

-Get over it. -We lost three games in a row.

You saw the manager's face too, right?

Don't worry about him.

It's not anyone's fault.

Our fans know we're doing our best.

Okay? Come on, move on! It's a new day!

Here's Mr. Ryotaro Shinmachi's profile.

No need. It's the fifth time.

Just let me read it.

Ryotaro Shinmachi. Born in Kurume, Fukuoka.

Started soccer at five.

He gained fame as a genius striker during his Kurume Kita High School days.

He then went pro and won the J.League Rookie of the Year award in 2003.

He also played four games as a Japanese national team member.

We could never forget that winning goal!

And in 2011, he married Kanako Itoyama, a very popular female newscaster.

After that, he played in J1 for 16 years and transferred to J2 in 2020.

In 2021, he joined J3 Gemma Hachioji.

At 37 he's our oldest player, a forward who leads the team.

Don't mention my age.

You'll be fine even if you retire, Mr. Shinmachi.

I'm sure you can be a TV star.

I'm not retiring.

I'll play until I'm 60.

Sixty?

I'll surpass King Kazu.

Yeah, right.

The best moment, voted by Gemma fans!

-That really was incredible! -Thank you.

I mean, that hero interview.

Enough of that!

Here it is.

There's one important thing I always keep in my mind. Say it with me.

I have a dream!

I have a dream! Thank you!

I want to hear it again and again!

Oh, time flies when we're having fun.

Let's close with a message to your fans.

Okay. Ready everyone?

I'm serious. I'll be on the national team again.

Whatever.

-Huh? -What?

-Whatever? -What?

There they go!

Hey! Don't run!

-You brat. -Be careful!

Good morning coach.

Gather around!

-Bring it in, guys! -Yes!

Why is the owner here?

-Good morning. -Good morning.

I'm sorry for the sudden notice, but the team will be disbanded.

What?

Disbanded?

There was a board of directors' meeting

and it's been decided that we can no longer keep a losing team.

As of today, Gemma Hachioji will be disbanded.

Come on, sir. Hang on. It's a joke, right?

No way that's happening. No.

I know! It's April Fools'.

Is today the first of April?

It's June.

I have a dream!

You gotta be kidding me.

Disbanded?

Yeah. Everyone was in shock.

But it's a done deal.

They're announcing it at a press conference tomorrow.

What are you gonna do?

Huh? Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.

When it's out on the news tomorrow, everyone will call me to be on their team.

-Are you sure? -This might be a great opportunity.

I could be returning to J1. Yeah!

Um, I doubt that'll...

I'm Ryotaro Shinmachi. I was on the Japanese national team.

-Welcome home, Daddy! -Daddy, let's play!

Hi! I'm home.

Hi Daddy. Let's play a game.

What do you wanna play?

A soccer game!

The one with you in it.

Okay. The one with Ryotaro Shinmachi is...

-Super Eleven 2011! -Yeah!

Alright. There.

TWO DAYS LATER

GEMMA HACHIOJI DISBANDED DUE TO POOR PERFORMANCE OF PARENT COMPANY

TRANSFER TO FC KANAZAWA

Yuta, good for you.

But no calls for you, huh?

It's been two days already.

-Hey, you know... -Ah!

-You scared me! -So, that's it! Good thinking, Kanako!

-What? -Well...

They don't know my phone number.

No wonder I'm not getting any calls.

Hey, Shinmachi. I saw the news. Must be rough.

Sorry for not calling you sooner.

But don't worry. I've been training every day.

-I'm always ready. -For what?

Everyone's looking forward to my comeback to the J1 soccer field, right?

Shinmachi, there's no way we're taking you in.

See ya.

Oh? Huh? He hung up on me.

No good?

Well, they are the top team in J1.

They have enough forward players.

But there are other teams.

-Hey, Ryo. -Hm?

Maybe you should ask someone else to do it for you.

-To do what? -Your transfer negotiations.

Can't someone represent you instead?

Represent me...

You mean like an agent?

Yes! An agent.

Soccer.

SOCCER

Agent.

Okay.

SOCCER AGENT

"Sports Management Victory".

There.

Wow, very agent-like.

"Respecting every athlete."

Nice to meet you. I'm Takayanagi.

I'm Shinmachi. Nice to meet you.

I'm Tohko Fukazawa.

I'm Ryotaro Shinmachi. Nice to meet you.

Please, take a seat.

Thank you.

So, they're all...

Athletes and former athletes who are registered with us.

Oh, Kensuke Gamo!

He has the highest annual pay in baseball.

750 million yen.

Wow.

-We have J.League players as well. -Huh?

Oh yeah. You're right, it's Kengo.

Nagatomo, Ueda, and Matsuki too.

Kengo Nakamura retired two years ago and joined our agency.

We're managing, what we call, his second career.

I see.

-So, Mr. Shinmachi. -Yes?

You're looking to transfer?