Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi and Yuki Kobayashi came back to Japan from Scotland on the morning flight on 6 June. Reo Hatate and Kyogo, who were called up to Japanese national team, and answered questions in an interview with Japanese media at the airport. The two answers are as follows…

日本代表 #SAMURAIBLUE に選ばれた
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #セルティックの #古橋亨梧選手と #旗手怜央選手が帰国🇯🇵
長いシーズンの振り返りや #キリンチャレンジカップの注目ポイントを語っていただきました🔥
2人が今季1番”進化”したところとは⁉️#jfa #daihyo @jfa_samuraiblue @Kyogo_Furuhashi pic.twitter.com/6wChZjvzGH

— フジテレビサッカー (@cxfootball) June 9, 2023

First of all, Reo Hatate answered as follows…

Q: Look back on your team this season?

Reo Hatate: “I’m very happy that we got treble as a result. It may have seemed like not tough season, but we went through quite a hard time. I’m glad we were able to achieve good results under such circumstances.”

Q: Look back on your own performance this season?

Reo Hatate: “I gradually gained confidence this season. I think the scope of my play has widened. However, I also have a part that think I could have done better, so now I want to prepare so that I can do it better next season.”

Q: What did you feel after experiencing Champions League?

Reo Hatate: “We couldn’t get results in Champions League, so I think that represented everything about us. I couldn’t play what I wanted to do in Champions Legue, so I feel that my performance still need to improve. I remember the frustration with my own performance rather than our team losed the group league.”

Celtic v St Mirren – S Reo Hatate right celebrates scoring the third goal of the game with team-mate Liel Abada during the Scottish Cup fifth round match at Celtic Park, Saturday February 11, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

Q: What is the most developed or evolved part of yourself this season?

Reo Hatate: “By experiencing Champions League, as well as playing and skills on the pitch, I was able to maintain my motivation for games and acquire a strong mindset. I think my mentality has developed the most this season.”

Q: Tell me your enthusiasm about playing for Japanese national team?

Reo Hatate: “I think my performance I’ve been doing at Celtic has been evaluated. I want to try to do it for the national team too.”

Q: What position do you want to play for Japanese national team?

Reo Hatate: “It’s best for me to be able to play for the national team in the same position as the one at Celtic. However, depending on the team situation and judgement of our manager, I want to perform my own characteristics in the position entrusted to me by the manager.”

Q: Tell me about your performance that you want to show Japanese supporters?

Reo Hatate: “It’s been about a year and half since since I last played in Japan, so I’m really looking forward to being able to play there again. Many supporters come to stadiums to watch our game, so I want to try the performance like I have been doing at Celtic on the pitch in Japan as well.”

Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Aberdeen FC at on February 18, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

READ THIS…This is Yatao – Reo Hatate on experiences gained this season at Celtic

Next, Kyogo Furuhashi answered as follows…

Q: Can you look back on this season for us?

Kyogo Furuhashi: “I had a pleasant experience this season, I think it was a wonderful season that both our team and myself were able to achieve results.”

Q: How do you feel about Celtic’s achievement of winning the treble?

Kyogo Furuhashi: “Last season we won a double crown, but this season we were able to win the treble that we couldn’t do last season, so I’m very happy. However, we couldn’t get good result in Champions League, so next season I want to move forward with everyone and get good results as many as possible in Champions League.”

What a season 🤩🤩

Thank you for everyone who supported me and to all of my team mates and the staff! I loved every second of this and enjoyed every moment 🍀🙆🏼‍♂️#CELTIC #RECAP #KYOGOAL pic.twitter.com/q4rNlBTTyI

— Kyogo Furuhashi 古橋亨梧 (@Kyogo_Furuhashi) June 9, 2023

Q: What did you feel after experiencing Champions League?

Kyogo Furuhashi: “To be honest, I got goosebumps when I was able to listen to Champions League anthem I had been always listening to on TV, while on the pitch. In the Champions League games, I got some chances to score, but I couldn’t score goals, so I felt that I had to develop more.”

Q: How do you feel about results you have achieved in SPFL?

Kyogo Furuhashi: “I’m glad that became league’s Player of the Year and also top scorer. Honestly, I think I couldn’t have won those awards without the support of many people such as teammates, staff, and supporters, so I’m grateful to everyone.”

Q: What is the most developed or evolved part of yourself this season?

Kyogo Furuhashi: “As a result of working hard so that I could achieve the goal I set at the beginning of this season, I feel that I was able to score many goals. The part that I’ve evolved the most is the process.”

Q: Tell me your enthusiasm about playing for Japanese national team?

Kyogo Furuhashi: “I want to enjoy playing purely for the national team. I wish I could express on the pitch that I am required to be myself without forgetting my gratitude for the manager for calling up me to the national team.”

Q: Tell me about your performance that you want to show Japanese supporters?

Kyogo Furuhashi: “I think supporters expect me to score goals and performance related to attack. I hope that I can do that.”

That was all that was said by the two Celtic stars. They have a game against El Salvador on 15 June and one against Peru on 20 June. There are various speculations and rumours buzzing around both Celtic players, but they are definitely focused on those games. I only hope that Japanese bhoys can do performance they had been doing at Celtic this season.

Yatao

I am a Content Creator and Origami art Creator, Analyst working for think tank in Japan and I joined this team in May 2023 and started to write articles as Japanese Celtic author for The Celtic Star. I live in Kobe(Japan) and have followed Celtic after 14 October, 2006, when I had watched the game against Dundee United FC – Shunsuke Nakamura scored a hat-trick. Also I am an enthusiastic supporter of Vissel Kobe, and I am familiar with various information and history of J-League. I have been posting threads on trajectory and background of Celtic Japanese players on Twitter mainly since summer of 2022 in order to further deepen the bond between Celtic and Japan. This time, I’m so proud to be more committed to Celtic by joining The Celtic Star team. I’m good at changing of viewpoints, so please expect my articles written from fresh perspective.

HUGE SAVINGS IN THE CELTIC STAR’S FATHER’S DAY SALE! BECAUSE YOUR CELTIC DA’S WORTH IT!

The Celtic Star’s Father Day Promotion is in full swing with hundreds of books already on their way destined for Celtic Dads and Grandads on Sunday 18 June. We’ve reduced all six books currently available from their usual retail price of £20 and prices are as low as £6 (see below). All books are high quality hardback, with some signed by the author. And it’s also worth noting that you only pay postage on one book, so it’s free for the second, third and so on. ORDER HERE or click on The Celtic Star image above…this is how it feels to be Celtic!