With renewed determination, they will face the 2026/27 season, having earned their tenth star in this special season.
To experience once again the joy, excitement, and exhilaration of reaching the pinnacle,
What kind of evolution will the Gamba Warriors undergo to help the team achieve victory?
What kind of strength and resilience will they demonstrate on the pitch, and how will they bring joy to their fans and supporters?
This season's WE ARE GAMBA OSAKA is,
This session explores the "philosophy of evolution" that resides within each individual, revealing their determination for growth.

The first major turning point in his career came when he was a second-year high school student belonging to the GAMBA OSAKA youth team. He spent his days feeling somewhat inferior to his teammates Harumi MINAMINO(Urawa Reds), Ryuta TAKAHASHI(Guarani FC), and Rikuto KUWAHARA(Meiji University), but the "confidence" he gained there completely transformed his career.
I was hesitant to play because I was intimidated by those around me, thinking, "Those guys are good..." But Mr. Hitoshi (Morishita Youth Head Coach) pointed out my strengths, like kicking and joining attacks, and told me, "Yuki, you can definitely compete," and "Believe in yourself more." Also, at the time, striker coach Masashi OGURO(current Nara Club Head Coach) repeatedly instilled in the FW the importance of movement, and I was asked to make sure I delivered the ball in sync with the FW ' movements. As I practiced this, the number of times I was able to pass the ball and the number of assists increased, which gave me confidence and made me think, "I can do this too." In fact, from that point on, I got more involved in matches and I felt like my growth curve really picked up.
Now, wearing the Gamba uniform for the first time in four years this season, he continues to try to win by relying on his own strengths, and that confidence stems from the experience he gained back then.
"If you have even one strength that you absolutely can't beat other players at, even if things aren't going well, it becomes a source of strength that makes you think, 'If I compete with this, I can definitely leave my mark.' For me, that's my kicking, but my accuracy is still not consistent, and I make a lot of back passes and side passes, so I'm not able to perform in a way that improves the team's ball flow. Head Coach Tomokazu MYOJIN has told me to 'pass the ball more decisively,' but I think I'm still not playing forward enough. I think that if I increase the number of times I do that I'll be able to get into a rhythm, but I think I need to practice more and refine my play."
Incidentally, this is the first time in the club's history that an academy graduate has returned to Gamba after going through university. For Yoshihara, this fulfills his first dream, which he vowed to "return to Gamba one day" when he left the youth team.
"I was frustrated and disappointed when I couldn't get promoted to the top team, but what I realized when I went to university was that even if I had been promoted back then, it probably wouldn't have worked out. I lacked stamina, physical strength, and speed. To do something about that, I went to a fitness club on my own to do weight training and built a body that wouldn't get outmuscled, and that's how I am where I am today. It was also good that I spent my university days imagining what I could do to succeed while watching my classmates who went pro play in the J.League. That being said, there are still parts that don't go as planned, but I want to accept that as my current ability and continue to hone my skills."
Approximately nine months after starting his professional career, Yoshihara, who only appeared in two official matches during the special season, made his long-awaited J1 League debut in the 4th Sec. of the 2026/27 season against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Although he came on as a substitute, he played brilliantly at the Panasonic Stadium Suita, a stadium he had always admired.
"I wasn't nervous at all, and I enjoyed it. It feels like I've finally made it here, but I wasn't able to put up any clear numbers, so I want to be able to play in a way that helps Gamba win more games. I also played as a right-back in the U-21 J.League opening match, but honestly, I don't really care what position I play. I just want to be prepared to seize any opportunity that comes my way."
Of course, the days of "dedication" to discovering myself continue to this day.

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Interview and text by Misa Takamura

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