Veteran Kengo Nomoto Makes Emotional Return to Kawasaki Brave Thunders After Seven Seasons
KAWASAKI,JAPAN – Kengo Nomoto,now a seasoned veteran at 33,made a poignant return to the Kawasaki Brave Thunders,facing his former team,the Akita Northern Happinets and Gunma Crane Thunders,in his frist game back at Todoroki Arena in seven years. The veteran forward cited the opportunity to play again under former coach (now General Manager) Takuya Kita as the key factor in his decision to rejoin the club.
Nomoto described feeling “nostalgic” and initially “very nervous” playing his first home game in Kawasaki after such a long absence. “It was the first time in seven years that I had a home game at Todoroki that I felt nostalgic,” he said, adding that he was pleased the team was able to execute their desired style of play in the second half.
despite the emotional return, Nomoto’s start wasn’t without its jitters. He demonstrated his trademark hustle with an offensive rebound early in the first half, earning a shooting foul, but then surprisingly air-balled his first free throw. ”I wasn’t on the ground and my mind was fully blank,” he admitted with a laugh, acknowledging the unexpected tension.
The familiar surroundings of Todoroki Arena, the clubhouse, and training facilities also evoked strong memories. “It was just like the smell that I remembered, and I felt like I was back,” Nomoto shared.
Nomoto, who departed Kawasaki after the 2017-18 season, expressed his surprise at receiving an offer to return this off-season. “I had no idea that I would ever come back again,” he stated, emphasizing his gratitude that Kita saw a need for him on the team. “It was really great for me to receive another offer from Kita-san seven years later.”
Having spent three years with the Brave Thunders after graduating from university, Nomoto credits Kita with teaching him valuable lessons both on and off the court. Now, as an experienced player, he aims to mentor the team’s younger players. “There are a lot of young players, so I want to take the initiative and help the team,” he said.
Looking ahead, Nomoto stressed the importance of focused, high-quality practice as the team continues its rebuilding process. “To become stronger, the quality of our training is the first thing we need to do. It’s vital to quickly make correct situational judgments and continue to endure the efforts to improve their accuracy, and I want to take the initiative to do that.”
Driven by a desire to repay the faith shown in him, Nomoto is steadfast to contribute to increased success for the Brave Thunders. “My great motivation is to increase our victory count as last year,” he concluded, looking forward to this new chapter with Kawasaki.
