With 18 goals to his name, Ayase Ueda currently leads the Eredivisie in scoring. The Feyenoord striker reflects on his journey, his move to Europe, and his unwavering motivation – scoring goals – in the latest edition of Feyenoord Magazine.
Born on August 28, 1998, in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, Ueda grew up in a village surrounded by forests with his parents and two older sisters. A future in European football wasn’t even a consideration during his childhood. “I did watch a lot of Champions League soccer, but mostly because my father loved the game. I didn’t think I would ever be able to reach that level myself.”
His father, a former amateur player, served as a major inspiration for the young Ueda. He joined a local club at the age of six, and it was there that his passion for scoring began. “At first, I didn’t really enjoy it, but then one day I scored a goal. It was in a friendly match, but I hit the ball hard and cleanly. Seeing the joy on my teammates’ faces, the coach’s, and especially my parents’… it was incredibly fulfilling to make people happy by putting the ball in the net. It felt amazing. Since then, I’ve lived for goals. I could never play as a defender or midfielder. I want to score!”
After graduating high school, Ueda chose to study sports science at Hosei University, drawn by its strong soccer program. In Japan, talented players can develop their careers through clubs or the university system. He completed his degree in 2020 and then joined Kashima Antlers, a top-flight team in the J-League. He was the club’s leading scorer in two of his four seasons before transferring to Cercle Brugge.
“That was my chance to come to Europe. For Japanese players, Europe is the continent to showcase your talent. In the past, this was only possible for the very best players, like Shinji Ono and Hidetoshi Nakata. Nowadays, almost all players from the national team play in Europe, also because the level of Japanese players has improved significantly over the past twenty years,” Ueda explained.
The Feyenoord forward emphasized that his development isn’t solely down to his own efforts. “I’ve been fortunate to have met people who believed in me along the way. My parents, who were strict but always supportive. They watch all my matches on TV and come to Rotterdam for at least one game each season. And my coaches, including our national team coach Hajime Moriyasu, who gave me my debut in 2019 and is still our coach. Of course, I believed in myself too, but you also necessitate other people who believe in you.”
The full interview with Ueda can be found in the latest Feyenoord Magazine, available this week for members of Het Legioen.
