interpersempre.com

"INTER AND I ARE BORN AGAIN."

The Japanese has been the great protagonist in this recovery by Inter.

"I was in crisis but now I can feel things before they happen and a comeback is easier than last year."

NAGATOMO

"I will tell you about how I was raised.  And Inter are just like me."

"I was in crisis but now I'm like in trance.  A comeback for the Scudetto? We are all still convinced."

Appiano Gentile - The interview began with the obligatory bow and smile.  With two recent goals, one by the knee and the other by his head, the 25 year-old from Ehime has sanctioned his own rebirth after three months of disappointment and during last year, he was just untouchable under the guidance of Leonardo.  The boy asked for an interpreter to be present but his Italian has improved visibly.  Also because Yuto, with his contagious sympathy, knows how to be loved by everyone in this country.  A sort of Japanese scugnizzo.  Or an Italian Samurai.

Nagatomo, do we begin with you or Inter?
"The group is always first and foremost."

Beating Fiorentina and Genoa has turned your season around?
"This is too early to tell but certainly we are growing.  The atmosphere around here has also changed.  Results are just amazing medicine."

This Inter can still fight for...

"We can still fight for the Scudetto.  By nature, I'm not giving up and my teammates also believe.  After all, our comeback last year was much more difficult."

But this time in addition to Milan, you are chasing Juventus, Lazio, Udinese and Napoli.

"But everything still depends on us.  Forlan is back and Sneijder is coming back."

Between these clubs, who has impressed you the most?
"We still haven't played Milan which will be on January 15.  About others, I would say Juventus.  A very solid team that has the advantage of not participating in Cup competitions."

Even though Napoli kind of made you mad...

"Don't tell me about it.  The 4 rating that Gazzetta gave me that night created a crazy mess in Japan."

In return, you earned a 7 against Genoa on Tuesday.  You were the striker and the goalkeeper on that one.

"Important victory in a special evening for me.  I was racing in a trance.  I just "felt" things.  First was the cross from Alvarez and then at the end when I saved Marco Rossi's shot with my head."

Bowing instruction as your pleasure.

You are listed at 170 cm on the Inter website which is very generous.  Had you ever scored another header in your career?
"Only once, with the U21 Japanese team."

What was the nicest message that you got after the win at the Marassi?
"Many called me but my mother beat them all.  I will leave for Tokyo on Christmas and you will join us from Osaka."

First there is the Champions League draw tomorrow.  Who do you hope to meet between Basel, Bayer Leverkusen, Lyon, Marseille and Zenit?
"The draw? I really don't know.  However nothing changes.  If a team has reached the second round of the Champions League, it deserves respect."

Cesena and Lecce await you in the league.  Are you ready to score the third consecutive goal against your former teammates?

"I'm sorry for them and for my friend Parolo but I am going to hunt for the third goal.  Inter can not stop now."

Why has this season been different for Nagatomo? Did you forget your mythical salted plums which made you run like a madman last season?

"At first, I suffered a bad injury to the right shoulder late July.  Although there was no games then but staying out and inactive for a month and a half was hard.  Then there were tactical problems related to the new ideas of Gasperini.  So the bad started hit us all.  Then when things were getting a bit better, I got an injured calf."

This is the best Italian Nagatomo?
"Hard ot say.  But I am very well here certainly.  I recently spoke at length with Hiroshi Jofuku, my coach at FC Tokyo.  He was in Milan and a TV commentator for Inter-CSKA so after the game, we analyzed my performance together.  He helped me to keep concentration high, to improve my defensive skills, to read the moments of the game and to understand when to advance and when not."

All the things that you could deal with Ranieri no?
"It's not easy with the language.  Ranieri and I communicate often but with Hiroshi, it was mainly psychological.  Then when we are on the field, the instructions on positions and markings on set pieces we receive from Beppe Baresi."

2010-2011:

• Serie A - 13 appearances (10 starts) and 2 goals.
• Champions League - 3 appearances (1 start).
• Coppa Italia - 3 appearances (3 starts).
• Average rating - 6.17

2011-2012:

• Serie A - 13 appearances (11 starts) and 2 goals.
• Champions League - 5 appearances (5 starts).
• Average rating - 5.58
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Your careers has had so many turns.

"The first when I was 18 years old.  I was at the Meiji University in Tokyo but I never played because of a hernia.  I was depressed and I even thought about quitting football.  At the same time I started to lose playing Pachinko, a sort of roulette very popular in Japan.  Then I recovered and the coach gave me confidence.  So much so that in my fourth year at the University, I completed my studies but I left the team to become a professional at FC Tokyo."

You were on the launching pad but then came another blow at the Olympics.

"In 2008, we went to Beijing with big ambitions.  On the team there were also Honda, Kagawa and Uchida.  Instead we lost three games out of three and we came home, accused of being a generation of failure.  But from there, we sort of redeemed ourselves which then led us to play in major leagues in Europe."

You arrived in Italy because of Massimo Ficcadenti.

"The former coach of Cesena is an expert in Japanese football.  I love your country and I'm taking Italian lessons in order to understand it more.  I live alone in the center of the city and I really enjoy fashion, shopping and going out to eat."

Italian or Japanese?
"I like both cuisines, but I am crazy for Spaghetti with Bottarga."

Whom do you often spend your free time with?
"He is playing in Novara now.  I often go watch Japanese movies with Morimoto.  Then there's Sneijder who lives near me.  Wes is crazy.  People often think that I usually prank in the dressing room but I am usually one that on the other end.  The last prank on me was the filled napkin with grain so when I sat at the table and opened it, I spilled them over the cheese.  Another joke machine is always Viviano while I miss Materazzi very much.  We still hear from each other but less than before."

Your relationship with Zanetti?

"Fantastic.  Captain is great.  He is what we call 'Senpai' in Japan, a guide, a teacher.  Bowing down before him after a goal is just the least that I can do to pay homage to him.  We were also roommates during training camp and we often said hi to each other that way too.  When I joined Inter my point of reference in terms of my role was Maicon.  Without taking anything away from Maic, now I look at Zanetti and dream of becoming a serious athlete and professional like him."

But if had you not become a footballer, what would Nagatomo do in life?
"Probably I would do something in track cycling.  My grandfather, Yoshida Tatsuo, was a professional at this and he has given me this passion."

Otherwise?
"When I was a boy, I played the drums.  During my dark years at the University, I often guided the chants from the fans by playing the drums.  I had to be pretty good because a leader of 'In Fight', the ultras of Kashima Antlers proposed me to go on their side.  Fortunately, my injury was healed..."