FC Tokyo goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda has enjoyed a remarkable last 12 months, and has gone from playing in J2 to representing Japan at the 2012 London Olympics.
He took some time out before flying to England to speak about the Games, the development of Japanese football and scary half-time team-talks…
For the latest installment of my interview series on the J.League website I chatted with Urawa Reds and Japan defender Tomaki Makino.
Amongst other things he spoke about his year playing in Germany and subsequent return to the J.League, his role for the national team, and just what Japanese players need to do to be successful overseas.
Kazuya Yamamura is captain of Japan Under-23s and on his way to the Olympics, alhough he has only just started his first season as a professional footballer.
I recently caught up with the Kashima Antlers player at the club’s training ground where we discussed his late entry into the J.League and his hopes for this season and beyond.
There aren’t many big-name foreign players in the J.League at the moment, with the money that used to attract them now in the oil-rich regions in the Middle East.
Not all players are just in it for the cash though, and my interview with Freddie Ljungberg revealed a player who is interested in a lot more than his pay-cheque.
Last season’s J2 champions Kashiwa Reysol are still on course to complete incredible back-to-back league championships.
A couple of weeks ago I spoke to the side’s young right back, Hiroki Sakai, as part of my series for the J.League website, The Mixed Zone with…
For my most recent Mixed Zone with… I travelled to Hiroshima to meet Tadanari Lee.
You can read my interview with the Sanfrecce and Japan striker here.
Here is the second installment of my column for the J. League website, The Mixed Zone with…
This month I caught up with Yokohama F. Marinos’ young forward Yuji Ono,and you can read it here.
I have just started a new column for the official English-language J.League website.
It is called “The Mixed Zone with…” and will feature interviews with J.League players and coaches.
First up is my chat with Gamba Osaka’s Yasuhito Endo, which you can read by following this link .
Sakka Nihon 