Comments on: Sayonara Japan, time for me to come home

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 26 May 2009 03:57:06 +0000

Thanks for the great work in Japan Mike. Your articles were consistently top shelf. I hope in years to come our games against Japan are recognised in the same way as our Rugby matches against the All Blacks. You were there at the beginning.

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Sun, 24 May 2009 04:23:34 +0000

Ditto what Bear said Mile.

By: The Bear

The Bear — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:10:13 +0000

Welcome back home. Do you have an A League team yet? I hope you get to write some on the pending AFC Cup.. regardless if Australia makes the cut, lol.

By: ohtani's jacket

ohtani's jacket — Sat, 23 May 2009 01:08:04 +0000

Shizuoka’s a nice place. All the best for the move back home.

By: Mike Tuckerman

Mike Tuckerman — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:16:48 +0000

Thanks for the kind words, all.

ohtani’s jacket – Shizuoka

Clayton – Mitsuo Ogasawara was capped 53 times for Japan between 2002 and 2006. He fell out of favour with the JFA along with the rest of Kashima Antlers after Japan’s first round exit at the World Cup in Germany.

By: clayton

clayton — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:48:02 +0000

i don`t think i have ever seen Ogasawara in the NT. is he on the outer with okada, have trouble with international football, or something else i haven`t thought of?

do you think there are any currently unused players who would make the blue samurai better?

By: ohtani's jacket

ohtani's jacket — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:35:37 +0000

Where do you live in Japan, Mike?

By: jimbo

jimbo — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:07:12 +0000

Mike,
thanks for sharing some of your footballing memories from Japan and you must be bringing home some wonderful experiences.

I loved it over there when I worked there and look forward to it every time I visit.
Even that night at Aussie Stadium when SFC played the Urawa Reds brought back some wonderful memories for me.
It started opening up a whole new way at looking at world football and where Australia belongs in it now we are part of Asia. I hope the ACL will continue to expand and all the other leagues learn and grow from the way Japanese football has progressed so far.

Good luck back home and look forward to reading more of your sports insights.

By: Simmo

Simmo — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:23:25 +0000

It’s easier for the Aussie sides to get a run of form once they hit the knock-out stages – they’ll be playing in-season

By: Mike Tuckerman

Mike Tuckerman — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:42:48 +0000

Far from it, Clayton.

And Newcastle landing a spot in the knock-out stages of the Champions League suggests that Australian football is heading in the right direction. I reckon they’ll give Pohang a real good shake in a one-off game at “the Steelyard.”

By: clayton

clayton — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:25:24 +0000

been following the column for a while …

looking forward to seeing your take on the a-league.

but i am a nitpicker at heart. umm, yes. there has been a learning curve with this new path into asia. but there has also been an a-league club in the ACL championship game, and another a-league has gone through to the east group knockout stage.

it hasn`t all been pain.

By: Grant

Grant — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:01:06 +0000

Great stuff Mike, safe travels home, and even though it’s in the opposite direction, I hope we can catch up at the end of the year.

By: Mike Tuckerman

Mike Tuckerman — Fri, 22 May 2009 03:28:59 +0000

Funny you should mention that Greg, I was a regular on the Südtribüne at the turn of the century – although by that time a certain Ned Zelic was plying his trade with 1860 München.

Tom – thanks for that link. The actual piece I was referring to is this one; http://jeremy.footballjapan.co.uk/2009/04/japan-can-learn.html

By: Greg Russell

Greg Russell — Fri, 22 May 2009 03:00:58 +0000

Mike, thanks for your excellent work in Japan, and I know how you feel about leaving. I worked in Germany for three years. Early on in the piece, Ottmar Hitzfield proclaimed that this young Australian kid he’d signed up was “technisch perfekt”. I was hooked: Ned (Zelic) and Ottmar were my men, Dortmund was my team, and German football became my life. Fifteen years later, and I think I may just about be over it. Good luck with the come-down from parting ways with your Japanese love!

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:52:01 +0000

Here is a question for everyone – did Surat have to take a pay cut to move to the Victory?

By the way, the current issue of 442 has a great piece on Arnie – I recommend it to everyone.

By: Ben of Phnom Penh

Ben of Phnom Penh — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:57:10 +0000

I’ll be in Japan (Kyushu in the main) in July though I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to see mighty V-Varen Nagasaki take to the pitch as I’m required back here in sunny Phnom Penh. If you’re passing through Fuku’oka on your way home let me know.

Thanks for all the work you have put in to expanding Australian understanding of the footballing cultures to the North and your insights into the J-League in particular. I assume you shall continue to do so once you return from the land of the rising economic concern.

Keep the faith; we will wear down the Asian nay-sayers yet!

By: Mackey

Mackey — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:25:00 +0000

Looking forward to a beer upon your return Mike. And some pennywise tatto spotting.

By: Ryan Steele

Ryan Steele — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:24:50 +0000

Guess we won’t be discussing football over a bowl of ramen, when I’m back in Tokyo, after all.
Hope you have a great trip home and settle back in well. Might bump into you at the Japan game.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:14:43 +0000

http://jeremy.footballjapan.co.uk/.

I think that post you’ve referred to might be there.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:44:26 +0000

great article Mike, safe trip home..