Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (born 1996) is a Japanese winger whose dynamism, intelligence, and relentless work rate have defined his rise from university football to becoming one of the most captivating and intriguing wide players in the EFL Championship. A product of Toyo University and a late bloomer by modern standards, Sakamoto’s...
Koki Saito’s rise has been sharp. It has been built on his own route, far from the traditional path most Japanese players take. Born in Tokyo on 10 August 2001, he started at Inuzura SC before moving through Yokohama FC’s academy, where his technical ability and football intelligence quickly set...
Sint-Truidense V.V. have built a reputation in recent years for their strong Japanese connection. The club actively recruits talent from Japan, such as Rihito Yamamoto, and even involves figures like Tsuyoshi Takano, who helped shape their youth programs. That network has paved the way for several players to establish themselves in Belgium. Taiga Hata (born January...
In recent years, Belgium has become a popular destination for Japanese talent, and Rihito Yamamoto (born December 12, 2001) is one of the recent examples to make his mark in the Jupiler Pro League with Sint-Truiden. The defensive midfielder’s rise has been steady and consistent. A product of Tokyo Verdy’s...
In a move that surprised many Japanese fans worldwide, Keisuke Gotō (born June 3, 2005) has left Anderlecht to join Sint-Truiden on loan. The 20-year-old striker had already begun to make waves in Belgium with Anderlecht, scoring in both the Belgian Pro League and the UEFA Europa League. His temporary switch...
Japanese players have a storied recent history in the German Bundesliga. The East Asian nation is one of the most represented foreign countries in the league currently going into the new campaign, unsurprisingly given the amount of success players from Japan have had in the country over the last decade...
Birmingham City have completed the signing of Japan international Kyōgo Furuhashi from Stade Rennais for an undisclosed fee. The 30-year-old joined Rennes in January and leaves having made just six goalless appearances in his short stint at the club. Before this, Kyōgo spent four seasons in Scotland, playing for Celtic, the reigning...
Tomorrow, the quarter-final matches of Olympic Women's Football 2024 will commence with four high-stakes encounters. The United States Women's National Team will face Japan in the opening match, followed by Spain against Colombia, Canada versus Germany, and France concluding the quarter-finals with a game against Brazil. In the exciting group...
The Olympic 2024 campaign has reached a thrilling juncture as the final group stage matches have concluded, revealing the top teams that have emerged victorious from each group. France, Morocco, Egypt, and Japan have each showcased exceptional skill, strategy, and teamwork to secure their positions at the pinnacle of their...
On Monday, we’re going to be treated to a major clash in the World Cup Group C, with Japan taking on Spain. Both teams are already guaranteed to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament, having both beaten their other group opponents, Zambia and Costa Rica, in convincing fashion....
Japan have appeared in every FIFA World Cup following their debut at the tournament in 1998. This year’s competition sees Japan enter the seventh FIFA World Cup of their history. They’ll hope to get at least as far as the Round of 16, which remains the deepest they’ve gone in...
Teams in the German Bundesliga have developed a reputation for strong recruitment over the last decade or so. It is not uncommon for German sides to announce transfers early, well before the move will become official, as they get their business done extremely efficiently. There are trends in the recruitment...
Summers with major international competitions always feel a little different. At the time of writing, we are less than a week removed from the final of the 2020 (really 2021) European Championships. During the tournament, the focus was firmly on the matches, players, and narratives surrounding the competition as Italy...
Poached from under Barcelona's noses last summer, Japanese international Takefusa Kubo was the subject of considerable hype when he signed for Real Madrid. After pre-season, he was loaned to RCD Mallorca, one of La Liga’s newly promoted teams, to help ensure that he gained regular game time as he developed and pushed for...
