Gotoku Sakai was born in the USA, raised in Japan and made in the Bundesliga, which is exactly where he wants to be playing again with Hamburg next season.

The 28-year-old has every chance, with HSV second in Bundesliga 2 going into the final six matches and on track to make an immediate return to Germany's top tier after losing their unique status as the only ever-present founding Bundesliga member last term.

bundesliga.com caught up with the former 42-time Japan international defender to get his thoughts on the promotion race, Hamburg's up-and-coming Japanese talent Tatsuya Ito and being a published author...

bundesliga.com: Looking back, how tough was it for you to be relegated with HSV?

Gotoku Sakai: "At the very end of last season, we decided to play like a Bundesliga team. So I thought we would be able to pull off another miracle and stay in the top flight once more. I fought until the very end but, when we were relegated, I couldn’t compute it at first. After two or three days, I thought to myself: 'Have we really been relegated?'. It was tough to come to terms with and I needed time to take it in. We fought and never gave up, but we didn’t do enough. It was painful for me, but I was also very sorry for the fans and the team. That’s why I decided to stay part of the team and accepted our fate. I wanted to get promoted with the team and get back to the Bundesliga. That feeling was so great inside of me that, directly after the game, I’d decided on staying. It was a very painful memory for me."

Watch: Hamburg suffered relegation for the first time ever on the final day of 2017/18

bundesliga.com: In July last year, you retired from the Japanese national team. Did the relegation with HSV have anything to do with that?

Sakai: "I was part of the Japanese national team for seven years. I learnt a lot there and developed as a player. It’s always special for me to be part of the national team set-up. However, I decided to call it a day after the World Cup because I thought it might not have been possible to achieve promotion, if I didn’t give 120 per cent at HSV this season. Unfortunately, I didn’t have many chances to be part of the national team squad. So, I thought to myself that the travelling and fatigue was too much of a burden and decided to step down. One of the reasons for that was that I wanted to give my all for HSV this season so we can get back to the Bundesliga."

bundesliga.com: HSV are playing their first season in Bundesliga 2. How have you found the season so far?

Sakai: "So far I’ve found it’s far from easy! I think this division is very different to the Bundesliga. You need more movement as well as a different mentality and spirit. Although we know that to be the case, we’ve dropped a lot of points – like in Magdeburg. We have quality but when we don’t make the most of it, we aren’t able to get results. I feel that things aren’t running as smoothly because it’s a tougher league than I imagined it to be."

Hamburg trail Bundesliga 2 leaders Cologne by seven points following their shock home defeat to Magdeburg. - imago images / Nordphoto

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bundesliga.com: You won last month's derby against St. Pauli. How was that for you and did you speak to Ryo Miyaichi afterwards?

Sakai: "For me, the Hamburg derby is the biggest derby around. It’s a game where the pride of the city is at stake. You’re fighting for a place in Hamburg folklore. I knew all about the derby and its importance. To have won such a huge derby 4-0 gave us enormous courage and belief. It was great for ourselves and the fans to get the win they needed. It’s a great memory. I spoke with Ryo after the game. He said to me that he felt a difference in the level both teams were playing at and he couldn’t do anything about it. Of course, he was frustrated but, as fellow Japanese players in Germany, we know we’ll both be giving our absolute all for the remainder of the season."

bundesliga.com: You won the derby but lost the next game against Darmstadt. Why have Hamburg struggled to string together big performances back-to-back?

Sakai: I’d like to know why. It’s exactly like you put it. We feel responsible for that lack of consistency. We need to keep winning games, but aren’t able to do so repeatedly which is a shame. That’s our weakness and that’s why we were fighting for survival last season, and it’s why we’re playing in the second tier now. It’s frustrating that we’re making the same mistakes. We need to learn and improve right away. We’re at the right end of the table, but we can’t be too optimistic as we won’t be able to keep missing opportunities. We have to win more games and mentally need to be ready to play at our best every match."

bundesliga.com: Tatsuya Ito came to Germany at the same age as you. What do you think of him and what advice do you have for him?

Sakai: "When I came to Germany, I was young, but I was with my family. However, Tatsuya is here without his family which is very tough. I want to support him however I can. He is basically a part of my family. Tatsuya is like a little brother to me. He’s had some hard times with his injury, but he’s shown his capabilities. Now he’s in a tricky situation again, but he has the Japanese mindset – he trains hard and knows exactly what he should do. In that regard, I don’t really need to give him advice, but I keep saying to him: 'Don’t be suddenly happy or sad, just be patient. Your football career has a long way to go so it’s important to keep improving.' I think he knows what I’m getting at."

Gotoku Sakai (r.) has taken 21-year-old Tatsuya Ito (l.) under his wing at Hamburg. - imago/Sven Simon

bundesliga.com: On Monday, you face league leaders Cologne. What are you expecting from the game?

Sakai: "It won’t be an easy game. Cologne are a very attacking side with lots of quality. They score a lot of goals and that’s why they’re top of the league at the moment. In the first half of the season, we won against Cologne at home, but you have to be wary of these kind of games. It’s always tougher away from home. We will have to put in 120 per cent, otherwise we won’t get anything from the game. We can learn a lot from our previous losses. If we play like we did against Magdeburg [1-2], we have no chance of picking up points in Cologne. We have to change our mentality as they’ll be seeking revenge. We have to be well-prepared and be ready to fight. Although there’s a gap between us and Cologne at the top, if we win the game on Monday, it’d mean a lot to us. I think we need to play as if it's our last chance."

Hamburg could be third in the standings by the time Gotoku Sakai (l.) and Co. arrive in Cologne on Matchday 29. - 2018 Getty Images

bundesliga.com" You’ve brought out a book. Tell us more about it.

Sakai: "The title of my book is 'W', meaning double. That means a lot for me. I feel I come from two places: Japan and Germany. In Japan, you say 'half' when someone only has one parent from Japan or is mixed race. It didn’t feel right when I said 'half'. I was confused, I thought I looked different and was only half Japanese. However, I was able to change slowly during my footballing career. Especially since I’ve been in Germany, I’ve discovered more about my German roots and German culture and accepted it. I’ve been influenced a lot by Germany as a country. Now people say I’m like a German. At the same time, I’ve retained my Japanese mentality. I have both, therefore 'W' – not 'half'. In my life so far, there have been many 'Ws'. Words such as 'success', 'failure', 'team' and 'national team'. That’s why I named my book 'W'. The main goal of it was to encourage people who feel different to others. It’s a book that directly reflects who I am."

bundesliga.com: Your wife and children live in Japan. How is life in Germany without them?

Sakai: "It’s not easy for me to live here without my family. I miss my family – especially after losses like yesterday or when I’m in a bad mood. At the same time, I’m playing football to provide the best I can for my daughter. I see that goal, which I want to reach no matter what and have to give everything everyday for it. In doing so, I support my family in Japan, seeing the pure joy on my daughter’s face gives me enormous strength."

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