Australia’s Joshua Kennedy celebrates with team-mate David Carney – AAP Image/Joe Castro
It’s an interesting time for Japanese football and, as a football lover, I’m glad to be in the country. On Monday night, as I headed towards the terminal to catch my flight out of Australia, I was greeted by two tall but rather recognisable figures.
They were Australian basketball player Jacinta Hamilton and her partner, Socceroo Joshua Kennedy.
Along with their two young children, they were embarking on a journey to start their new life in Nagoya.
Speaking to the couple after we arrived at Narita I got a real sense that they felt like they were walking into the unknown. Hesitantly, the word ‘adventure’ was used.
It’s something I can understand.
I love Japan and it’s a true joy to be able to spend some more time in the country but, even if I was to live here for the next twenty years I doubt I’d feel truly at home.
It’s a sentiment that every non-Japanese who’s lived here that I know agrees with. For a westerner, there is probably no more foreign a country then Nippon.
So on a personal level, it could be a difficult time for Kennedy and his family (just ask Nicky Carle what it’s like bringing up a family in a foreign country), but on the pitch, it could be difficult for Jesus as well.
Since the lanky forward signed with Nagoya, I’ve read comments from some quarters of the Australian football community that he’ll just keep ‘banging the goals in’ as he has been for the Socceroos recently.
But I’m not so sure.
While the Japanese population might not be the tallest one on average, there are still some monster centre-backs playing in the J-League. When Tulio Tanka fires up, he makes Socceroo captain Lucas Neill look like a catalogue model.
In Japan, Kennedy’s game on the deck will also be challenged, and it’s going to be interesting to see how he works with incumbent striker Davi, who is leading the J1 scoring charts.
The game at large in Japan is also going through a delicate time.
No sooner had I set foot in Tokyo, FIFA released it’s latest international rankings and knocked Japan down a peg (or nine) to 40th while Australia skyrocketed to a record sixteenth.
Despite a couple close results, J-League teams are far ahead of their Australian counterparts. Off the field, by all criteria, the J-League is still running superior to the A-League, as well.
Clearly this isn’t news and it’s a perfectly reasonable state of affairs considering the difference in age between the two leagues, Japan’s co-hosting of the 2002 World Cup, and the sheer size of Japan’s domestic economy.
Now, like most people, I don’t put too much stock into these FIFA rankings, but it’s made me wonder what makes Australia capable of being ‘superior’ internationally when our national league (the foundation of any national team) is still trailing behind Japan?
The answer can be found in the J-League’s financial strength.
Coupled with historical social issues within Japan and the still expanding profile of the country as a football nation, the money on offer in Japan enables clubs to keep local players at home for longer.
While this money helps keep most of the best players at home, it also draws in the best foreign players in the region. The J-League is home to Asia’s best attacking Brazilian players as well as a number of Korean internationals.
Time and time again, foreigners, most of whom are Brazilians, make up the top ten list of goal scorers in both J1 and 2 (currently there are only three locals in the top ten of the first division).
Historically in Japan local forwards have been pushed out for glamour players and the Japanese national team’s attacking stocks have suffered for it. By signing Kennedy, Nagoya are simply following recent tradition.
There is hope on the horizon for Japan with the likes of young forwards Yuya Osaka from Kashima and Urawa’s Genki Haraguchi. But they are hardly sure things.
While the simple answer is for J-League teams to stop importing so many Brazilian forwards, that’s hardly likely. So, paradoxically the J-League’s financial strength is partially holding the national team back.
This challenge facing Japanese football seems to be a direct opposite of that in Australia.
While Australian footballers leave for Europe in droves, Japan’s stay at home. So Japan’s domestic league prospers while Australia’s national team strengthens, thanks to Socceroos gaining invaluable experience playing at a higher level then is offered at home.
By moving to Japan instead of returning home, Joshua Kennedy’s move has brought things even clearer into focus for both countries.
Footy Aficionado
Roar Rookie
Yes, I've stolen Towsers view on the asian soceroos and made I my own. That is a big plus. I think it will be pretty tough for Kennedy at first, replacing the tems top scores so II hope he snags a goal in the first game or two to take the pressure of. I'm confident he wil end up a sucess though
Redb
Roar Guru
Due to a family connection I'm big fan of Josh Kennedy. Knock 'em dead kid. Redb
ish
Guest
i think alot of how kennedy does will be in how his team will play. Many japanese teams as stated have the strength in midfield. They are very technical and good passers of the ball. They dont really have any gerrard like shooters from midfield though. I If kennedy is used solely as an aerial threat he will probably look better then he is, but that would entail the team playing a very wide game with lots of crosses. Most japanese teams i have seen prefer to have the link up play going on, the striker is there to score goals but also bring in the midfield into the play. If kennedy is used as a link man he will need to improve his ball control and passing. Its a good move, the j-league is pretty strong, they have some great players in midfield who like to get the ball down and play it, something kenedy at his time with a relegation threated karlruhe is probably not used to.
Midfielder
Guest
Tow Excellent obversation
Towser
Guest
Another angle to players returning to play in our time zone. Preferably A-League but JKC(chicken leg anyone) league may also be beneficial in relation to having quality players available for in particular Asian Cup qualifiers. We now have kennedy,North,Milligan,Griffiths(Joel) in those leagues + Culina Porter Moore Sterjovski Burns in our League. Suddenly an Asian Socceroo team looks better than against Kuwait in Canberra.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Thanks Ryan. I did already know that about Tanaka but I had some photos to run with it which weren't included by the sub-editor. That's why I chose him over Nakazawa. You're right it does come down to youth development though I see another angle to it. Why put the time into developing a young striker when you can buy a ready made one from Brazil?
Koala Bear
Guest
Davidde I really think this is the best possible move for Josh to go into a league that plays a close short passing game... Although, the Japanese club, which bought Josh for his aerial prowess will deliver the crosses that has given him the reputation of a good aerial goal scorer... He will clearly benefit from this move to Japan in playing close control on the floor football; so will Australia... He will step up to the challenge and improve his technique on the ground even more... I believe many people have underestimated his close control that he definitely has in my view; he has demonstrated that with a nice first touch... Japanese football will improve his game even further because of the high tempo nature of it... He should get a lot more game time there and that is the most important thing.... Consistency, week in, week out football, which has never been the case in Germany.... Good luck Josh... ~~~~~~~~ KB
Ryan Steele
Roar Pro
It's all been said before, numerous times. Even on The Roar. It also boils down to youth coaching. Finishing is not exactly high on the list of crtieria to teach the nation's youngsters - neither is goalkeeping. Japan's teams have always been stronger in the midfield than anywhere else, and that's even reflected by the names that are playing overseas. In the past, players were much better strikers, and it was due to a different kind of coaching. Now, a lot of younger talents, like Urawa's Genki Haraguchi, are growing up with futsal, and are once again becoming a lot more proficient at finding the net, and with the precision footwork required to navigate the penalty box. I think it's been a developmental and transitional process, more than anything. Also, just a tip: Tulio is only quarter-Japanese, the rest of him being Brazilian - where he was born and lived for half of his life - and Italian. That explains his height, really. Yuji Nakazawa would be better as an example.
Andrew
Guest
I think having good foreigners is an advantage for Japan overall, they may suffer in the forward department but if Japan has talented young forwards who aren't quite as good as the expensive foreigners then that's an oppurtunity for A League, K league and Chinese league teams to grab some players. I've always thought the problems in the forward position in Japan was always blamed on them not being selfish enough... but your explanation makes more sence (similar to claims made about english cricket and fast bowlers). Australia's big advantage is so many of our players can get a European passport so were able to go and have time to establish themselves. If you can't get that European passport you normally have to wait until you have proven yourself at home before going to holland or belgium. We also have the English connection where most of our players go. It's not just the higher standard of play and more intense training that helps, I think it's a significant bonus to mentle strength to be take out of your comfort zone so young. It's abit sink or swim but those that make it come out stronger. Luckily we now have the NYL to offer a pretty solid alternative path for young players too.