‚As if I were standing at a starting line again‘

sv98.de: Hiro, it’s time for your first interview with us. Excited?

Hiroki Akiyama: (laughs) „No, not at all.“

There are so many topics we can talk about with you. First, after almost six months: How well have you settled in in Germany?

„It was quite an adjustment, a different culture, a different language—it’s not exactly easy. But it’s getting better all the time, especially with the language.“

You’re learning English very diligently, aren’t you?

„Yes, unfortunately, I could hardly speak any English when I arrived in the summer, and of course, no German at all. But now I understand quite a bit, especially in English, and I can communicate with all my teammates somehow.“

Besides the language, the food is often an adjustment in a new country. Is that the case for you too?

„In Japan, rice is the staple food, while here it’s mainly potatoes and pasta. But personally, I was already a big fan of pasta in Japan; I also like European cuisine. So, of course, there are differences, but they aren’t a problem for me at all.“

You also had no problems integrating into the team. Did you expect to adapt so quickly? Even in the first friendly against St. Gallen, it felt like you’d been part of the team for ages. And yet, you’d only been with us for a single day back then…

„I should probably elaborate a bit. I knew the high level of play in the 2. Bundesliga; I’d followed the league before. So when the offer from Darmstadt came, I didn’t hesitate for a second to accept it. At the same time, there was definitely some uncertainty about how quickly I could adapt to the physical style of play in this league and whether I’d be able to handle it right away. But the club made the transition very easy, and my teammates were a great help. I felt very comfortable immediately, which of course helps with being able to perform on the pitch. Nevertheless, I would say that it took me some time to understand the style of play and the tactical processes, and to develop further, especially in the physical aspect.“

How much did it help that Furu, a fellow Japanese player, was on the team?

„It’s really great that he’s here too. It gave me a sense of security at the beginning, and he also helped me a lot because his English is better. Having another Japanese player on the team certainly made it easier for me to settle in.“

Was there a moment when you realised you’d truly arrived?

„The opening match against Bochum. I was substituted at halftime, which is always a bit of a disappointment for any footballer, but at the same time, I was overjoyed to have secured that victory with the team that day. It was a fantastic start to the season, and I felt in the stadium and with the fans that I was part of this group. That boosted my confidence, and that evening I told myself again: It was absolutely the right decision to join this club.“

How did you generally find the atmosphere in the German stadiums?

„The passion for football in Germany is truly enormous. I feel it every weekend in the stadiums; it’s on a different level than in Japan. Truly impressive. Also, in Japan, many stadiums have a running track around the pitch, so the fans are further away from us. Here, they’re usually very close; you can feel how important the fans are.“

And they’ve already had the pleasure of celebrating three goals from you (two in the league, one in the cup). Paul Fernie said that we hadn’t necessarily expected this goal threat from you…

(laughs) „I knew I had a certain goal threat, but in Japan I didn’t get involved in the attack that often. Goals and assists are always good, and of course I want to help the team with them. I’m happy that I’ve already managed to score these goals.“

How satisfied are you with the first half of the season overall?

„There were also games where we unnecessarily dropped points. But conversely, there were also matches that we were able to win in almost dramatic fashion. Overall, we played a good first half of the season. But we also know that the second half will likely be even more difficult. We need the absolute will to continue to be successful. The longer a season lasts, the more crucial this aspect becomes.“

Was your goal in Hannover the best moment for you so far?

„That’s a tough question. The goal in Düsseldorf felt just as good because it was my first goal in the 2. Bundesliga and in Germany. But of course, it was fantastic to be able to decide that incredibly difficult game in Hannover in the last minute and celebrate with our fans.“

Afterwards, you were celebrated alone in front of the away section…

„Perhaps that was also the best moment of the season so far. (laughs) I find it impressive how many fans travel with us to away games. It was wonderful that we were able to give them this victory.“

Let’s stick with the topic of celebrations. You’ve already celebrated in a special way with Mey Papela, Fraser Hornby, and Aleks Vukotic. How did that come about?

„I’m from Japan, but I’m not a big anime fan. Mey talked to me a bit about the series ‚One Piece,‘ and he told me that we should celebrate together with a gesture whenever one of us scored. With Fraser and Vukotic, we thanked each other for the goals in the classic Japanese way: with folded hands and a slight bow.“

Your wife and daughter have also joined you in Germany now. That must be wonderful for you, right?

„It gives me so much energy. It really helps me when I come home and see my family every day. And then I know immediately who I’m working so hard for. I was especially happy when I could take my little daughter onto the field with me after a victory. That was an unforgettable moment.“

On December 30th, the club activated your purchase option and signed you permanently. How happy are you about that?

„I came to Darmstadt with the desire to convince the club to sign me permanently. Now it feels like I’m back on the starting line. No longer as a loan player, but as a permanent member of this club. I’m very proud of that.“

Let’s look ahead one last time. How important will the first match of the second half of the season be in Bochum?

„The kickoff for the second half of the season is always a significant match. It certainly won’t be a game like the first leg. It will be a tough away game, which we’re already preparing for intensively here at our training camp. But one thing is clear: we want to get the three points there as well.“

Thank you for the interview, Hiro!