"Passion" became the team's keyword throughout last year's battles.
This was expressed as an obsession with winning and generated enthusiasm in the stadium.
This season's WE ARE GAMBA OSAKA will focus on the "spirit" that lies behind the passion of each player. What kind of power will their soul, enthusiasm, and determination give to Gamba this season?

Ever since he was a child, he has always had the desire to "not lose" and "to do better." However, unlike his time at the academy, where he always fought as the core of the team, in his professional career, where things don't go as planned more and more often, naturally this desire has become stronger. At the same time, this spirit always fuels Toyama's desire.
"I think it's normal in the world of competition to feel frustrated at not being able to play in a match or frustrated at not getting results. So, in a sense, that's something I've had ever since I started playing soccer, but since becoming a professional, that feeling has become more than just frustration. Beyond the frustration, I've always thought, "So, what can I do?" and "I'm going to definitely grab a position and results at Gamba." That being said, in this world, it's meaningless unless you can show it in numbers. In order to attract opportunities in the tough battle for positions, right now I'm just fighting with myself, seeking only results."
He says that the reason he started to feel this way more strongly was because of the positive response he got in his first start against Yokohama F･Marinos in April last season. He felt that he needed to "play in a match" in order to make it even bigger, and his experience of a development-type loan transfer to Roasso Kumamoto gave him the confidence that "he can do it."
"For me, who grew up with Gamba since I was in the senior class of kindergarten, playing for Gamba as a professional was something very special. I remember being extremely nervous when I was able to play in the J1 League for the first time in 2020, when I was a third-year high school student. However, because my feelings for Gamba were so strong, I felt that I was completely inadequate in 2020, and for a while that became a trauma for me. Since then, I feel like I felt that playing in a match for Gamba was extremely difficult and something very special. Actually, it's still difficult now (laughs). But last year, in the match against Marinos, I was finally able to get rid of that trauma. I didn't get any numbers there, so it's not credible, but I had confidence in that match, so I thought, "Anyway, I need to gain some match experience at this timing," and went on a training trip to Kumamoto. Through that, I was able to continue competing in the J2 League and score goals... that experience has helped me, and this year, for the first time since I became a professional, I feel like I'm able to play with confidence."
So the question now is, can he turn that into a real thing at Gamba, the team he loves so much? In recent years, he has been playing more on the wing, so can he match the role he is expected to play and the way he imagines himself to play, resulting in goals?
To get to where you want to be.
"As I said before, Gamba is a special team to me. I have realized that every time I went on a loan transfer. That's why I want to become someone like Usami (Takashi) here at Gamba, who is recognized as the team that means Gamba = Toyama. I definitely want to do well here. To do that, I still have a lot to hone, including my defensive ability, but in this world, the situation can change completely depending on the results. Anyway, right now, I'm just focusing on changing the situation I'm in with a clear "one-hit shot" like an assist or a goal."
The J1 League 5th Sec. match against Shimizu S-Pulse this weekend is one of the opponents that Toyama has had bitter experiences with over the past 20 years, as he "felt completely ineffective" as he wrote earlier. What can he show after nearly four years since then? He is not anxious about it, but is excited and confident and excited to take on the challenge.


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Text by Takamura Misa

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