INTERVIEW

Matsumoto: The court is small, so the transitions between offense and defense happen at breakneck speed. The energy opponents bring to trying to steal the ball is also next level compared to soccer because the players are already so close together. It’s an incredible thrill to get past an opponent. Since winning the ball can immediately create a scoring opportunity, there are lots of games where you really don’t know who’s going to win until the very last second. I often hear spectators say, “It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. It was really entertaining.”

In soccer, play resumes with a throw-in when the ball goes out of bounds. In futsal, play must resume with a kick-in within four seconds. It creates opportunities to play strategically as a team. At my club, Bardral URAYASU Las Bonitas, we have around 100 different set-piece plays. (Matsumoto transferred overseas in August.) It was hard to remember them all at first, but I think part of what makes it fun is that it requires quick decision-making. You have to assess your opponent’s position, make an instant decision, and communicate it to your teammates. Also, with arena seating, the court is really close to the stands. You can hear everything that’s said on the court, which really brings the excitement to life. I think that’s one of the great things about it.

Matsumoto: Last year (2025), Japan competed in the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup and reached the quarterfinals. I felt a deep sense of frustration at how far we still are from being the world’s best, but being able to compete on such a special stage made me eager to take to the court again at the next tournament.

Right now, I want to continue refining my skills in preparation for the World Cup, which is three years from now (2029). Unless we approach this with the mindset of surpassing the rest of the world, we won’t be able to close the gap. With the goal of raising my everyday performance to a world-class level, I decided to take on the challenge of Spain’s first division this summer. Right now there are a few Japanese players in Spain’s second division, but none in the first division. I’m looking forward to competing in the world’s top league, where national team players from powerhouse nations like Brazil and Portugal play.

Matsumoto: During the offseason, starting around April, I really focus on building strength. In May, the team holds more practices in preparation for the start of the league season. We have regular games once league matches start, so I work on getting myself in top form so I can perform well on game day. Now, rather than focusing on building strength, it’s more about fine-tuning. After the weekend game, I focus on recovery to make sure I’m as fresh as possible before Monday’s practice. From there, depending on the team’s practice schedule and how I’m feeling physically, I’ll go to the gym to work out on some days and rest on other days. I generally make an effort to get at least seven hours of sleep. When it comes to diet, I pay close attention to protein intake to maintain muscle mass. I take supplements to make up for any shortfalls.

Matsumoto: When I was selected for the Japanese national team for the first time, I suffered a muscle strain during my first training camp. I think that experience changed the way I take care of my body. It was frustrating to get injured after making the Japanese national team, which is such a special opportunity, and it made me realize I have to take responsibility for protecting my body. Since then, I’ve learned to pay attention whenever I feel a difference between the left and right sides of my body or sense that something’s even slightly off. I think strength training at the gym helps prevent injuries, but since I started doing Pilates, I’ve been able to stimulate parts of my body I don’t usually move and realign my pelvis. That’s given me a sense that my body is in good condition.

Matsumoto: I’ll bring all of them with me. I’ve heard getting injured abroad can be really tough—you can’t explain what’s wrong clearly, or it takes a long time to get help. Of course, not getting injured is the most important thing, but since injuries are bound to happen sometimes, I’m really grateful I can use these treatment devices when they do.

Matsumoto: I’ll start by giving a detailed explanation of the condition of the area that’s bothering me—specifically, which parts hurt and how they hurt, as well as what movements trigger the pain. After that, the trainer explains which treatment devices to use and how to use them. As we keep communicating, I begin to understand what movements cause pain and how to move in ways that minimize the pain. I suffered a serious injury to my right anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament in February. I noticed that changing how I planted my foot affected the pain, so I realized if I adjusted how I used my body, I could reduce the pain.