After he’s hung up his cleats for the night and made his way home from training with FC Cincinnati, Yuya Kubo is greeted with the best part of his day.
“When I get back home and then I see my son, that’s my favorite time,” Kubo said.
Kubo’s wife, Akiha, and son, Chisato, 1 1/2, are the little pieces of home that traveled with the FCC midfielder/forward last year.
“If I wake up and see my son’s face and then I will be happy every day,” Kubo said of being a dad. “I want to enjoy every day.”
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Kubo has learned to take advantage of those face-to-face moments with his son; especially after spending difficult time apart during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life for Kubo before Cincinnati
Kubo grew up in Yamaguchi, the capital city of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Yamaguchi translates to “the entrance to the mountain,” an ode to the mountainous countryside the city displays.
“Yamaguchi is a very small city,” Kubo said. “I was born there and grew up in Yamaguchi.”
As Kubo grew older, he began his professional soccer career and in December 2019 discussions with FC Cincinnati came into the picture. At the time Kubo was playing with KAA Gent in Belgium.
When Kubo brought up the possibility of moving to Cincinnati to Akiha, her reply was simple.
“I spoke with my wife and she said, ‘If you want to go, just go and I’ll follow you,’” Kubo said. “It was easy.”
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As Kubo put it, it was an easy decision at the start, but the months that followed would prove to be anything but.
Adjusting to U.S. life as the pandemic hits
Kubo moved to Cincinnati by himself in mid-January 2020. One month later, his wife and son followed suit.
With the family reunited, the Kubos planned to explore Cincinnati together and adjust to life in the United States by immersing themselves in the culture. Kubo appeared in FC Cincinnati’s opening two matches of the 2020 season, scoring a goal in his second match against Atlanta on March 7.
The pieces of the puzzle for life in the United States were slowly connecting for Kubo and his family -- until the COVID-19 pandemic came in March.
The Kubos were already adjusting to the unknown. An unknown place, unknown people, an unknown language and the pandemic soon added to that list. Suddenly, Kubo’s MLS season was suspended and the family’s exploration of Cincinnati was confined to the walls of their home and the views from their windows.
“That was hard for the whole family,” Kubo said.
But there were silver linings. Matches and training, which would have usually taken place during those months, were replaced with family time and bonding for Kubo.
“But, I think it was good because I spent time with my family during those three or four months,” Kubo continued.
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Kubo enjoyed time with his family until June 29, 2020, when FC Cincinnati flew to Orlando, Florida, for the MLS Is Back tournament.
Like many other sporting events at the time, the tournament took place in a “bubble” setting at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
But as the bubble brought soccer back into Kubo’s life, it separated him from his wife and son.
“My wife wasn’t used to the U.S. and she was alone with my boy and it was very hard for her,” Kubo said. “Every day I called my wife and I told her and my son how I was doing, but I think it was hard.”
MLS Is Back ended in early July and FC Cincinnati played its first match back at Nippert Stadium one month later on Aug. 21.
Getting familiar with Cincinnati life
Now, over one year later, the Kubos have adjusted to life in Cincinnati. Kubo said he and his wife found comfort by connecting with other Japanese people in the community.
“When we came here, we went to a Japanese restaurant and we made Japanese friends," Kubo said. "Now we have some Japanese friends and that’s good.”
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While staying connected with their home culture, the Kubos have also adapted to the United States. Over the past year, Kubo has learned English. The family is expecting their second son later this year.
“My wife and my son are doing well. She wants to go everywhere around Cincinnati and also downtown," Kubo said. "She’s enjoying the U.S. life, I think.”
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