On Tuesday afternoon, Yuji Nakazawa could never have imagined the events that would unfold over the course of the week.
Sitting down with The Japan Times at Yokohama F. Marinos' clubhouse after a morning training session, the former national team captain and veteran of 354 J. League games outlined his ambitions for the season and his hopes for the future as his league-leading Marinos prepared for Saturday's crucial visit to Kashiwa Reysol.
In the hours that followed, news began to filter through that Nakazawa's former teammate Naoki Matsuda had collapsed in training with his JFL club Matsumoto Yamaga and was in critical condition in the hospital.