Matsuzawa's success can be traced to tuning out the outside noise | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Growing up 20 miles from Tokyo Disneyland, Kansei Matsuzawa knows about wild rides.

And for five weeks, Matsuzawa has provided non-stop thrills as the Hawaii football team's place-kicker.

From the season opener, when he produced the walk-off, 38-yard field goal to defeat Stanford, to his school-record-tying 13th trey in a row last week, Matsuzawa has earned coast-to-coast attention.

He has been featured in national-TV stories. He has become a favorite of nocturnal viewers on the continent and last-chance bettors. At $55 a pop, UH sold all 500 specially made No. 17 jerseys with Matsuzawa's surname in kanji. His story of learning to kick from YouTube videos is legendary.

All of which is news to Matsuzawa, who does not watch the news.

"I got interviewed by, I don't know, how many people," he said. "I don't watch myself. I cut all the noises outside. I just don't know what's going on outside."

UH officials are wishful that Matsuzawa's success will create a hunger for American football in Japan.

"Football in Japan is quite a small market," Matsuzawa said. "I don't know how many people are watching football. Hopefully, American football is going to be bigger in Japan. But I don't think this is my role. I focus on myself and what I'm doing, what I'm doing for my teammates. I might contribute to spreading American football to Japan, but that's not my focus right now."

Matsuzawa credited his place-kicking unit -- snapper Jack Mowrey, holder Caleb Freeman and the blockers -- for matching a UH record set by Rigo Sanchez, when he converted all 13 of his field-goal attempts in 2016. Jason Elam holds the program's record for consecutive field goals made with 20.

"I really appreciate the guys protecting me," he said. "Without them, I can't make a field goal. A perfect operation in front of me makes me more confident and comfortable to kick a field goal."

Matsuzawa recalled his journey from self-taught kicker to the nation's top scorer for specialists (48 points on 13 field goals and nine point-after kicks).

On Sept. 2018, Matsuzawa attended his first NFL game. He was mesmerized by Greg Zuerlein's four field goals.

After returning to Japan, he bought footballs online, made his own tees, watched YouTube videos of NFL kickers, and practiced at a neighborhood park. While the videos provided tips, he needed to put in the hours of solo practices.

"It just wasn't watching YouTube," he said. "It was watching YouTube and trying it. Obviously, the first couple of months were not good."

He set up his iPhone on a tripod and videoed his workouts. He would kick his three footballs toward a net surrounding the park. He would retrieve the footballs, study his form, then kick again. And again. And again.

Two years later, he sent highlight videos to more than 50 junior colleges. Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, made the only offer, as a walk-on. At Hocking, it was the first time he had a holder.

Last year, his second with the Warriors, Matsuzawa connected on 12 of 16 kicks. Special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield believed 75% was not good enough. TCU transfer Caleb Sempebwa was brought in to compete as the point-scorer kicker.

"There's competition at every level," Matsuzawa said. "I can't be too comfortable as a starter. Even when the (2024) season ended, I felt like it was going to be a new season, and I have to challenge myself to be a starter again."

By the end of the spring semester, Sempebwa left the Warriors. He is listed on TCU's 2025 roster.

There was concern in training camp when Matsuzawa struggled with his accuracy.

"Practice is not for success," Matsuzawa said. "I think practice is to find my rhythm and tempo ... and not (about) the result."

With assistance from a sports psychologist, Matsuzawa has found a pre-kick routine of steps, deep breaths and visualization. Last week, he added kickoffs to his duties. He also is having fun. After converting the go-ahead field goal against Fresno State, he did a hula-like motion.

"It's part of entertainment," Matsuzawa said, smiling.