Hiroki, for many you’ve been the ‘surprise’ of the season. Do you agree?
Hiroki: “I think I can agree with that. Hopefully it’s meant in a positive way. (grins)”
How is the Bundesliga – and VfB in particular – seen in your home country?
Hiroki: “The league is very well-known in my country because of the number of Japanese players who play or have played in the Bundesliga and at VfB. The Bundesliga has always been a good port of call for Japanese footballers.”
How do you like to spend your time away from the football pitch?
Hiroki: “My sofa is my safe haven. (laughs) I watch football matches or Japanese films. And of course I’m learning English and German on the side.”
How has your start to life in Stuttgart gone?
Hiroki: “It was a bit difficult to find a place to live at the start, which is why I was still in a hotel initially. I got a lot of support from the club, though. I was also very pleased that my girlfriend came to Germany a short while after.”
You scored your first Bundesliga goal against Mainz. Describe that moment.
Hiroki: “It was a very nice moment, I was very happy. I was a bit surprised that I scored a goal from that angle with my weaker foot.”
You face a tough task against Bayern Munich now. What’s going to be key?
Hiroki: “It will be a similar game to the one against Dortmund. Bayern have extremely high individual quality. We respect them but we’re going to try to cause them problems.”