Why are you supporting the J-League from overseas?

Just as there are people from Japan who support overseas soccer clubs, there are many people who support  J-League clubs from overseas. In this article, we interviewed three J-League supporters living overseas and heard about the reasons why they started supporting the club and the club's attractiveness. 

①Jamie Green（URAWA REDS Supporter）

Twitter：@JamieMizuGreen

Hi my name is Jamie and I am 27 years old, I grew up in a small town about an hour and a half south of Glasgow and like much of the youth of Scotland I was brought up watching football from and young as i can Remember. I still live in my little town in Scotland called Girvan, next to the sea so we get some lovely sun sets.

Q.　Why did you start  supporting  URAWA REDS?

I always had an interest in Japan growing up through Pokémon, anime and Samurai. This lead to me developing a love and infatuation with the country at a young age. It was only natural as my love for football grew, as I got older, that I would eventually come to Japanese football.

Around 2007-2008, when I was 14-15 years old, a program on British Television called Soccer AM done a feature on the Urawa fans singing, "We Are Diamonds." I was hooked. The passion, the colours, I was straight onto the internet googling the Jleague. I was always aware of the Japan national team but I had no idea that there was such a marvel as the J league. That was it, just feeling passion I had decided to whole heartedly to follow Urawa.

An Urawa shirt was top of my wish list for Christmas. To this day I have no idea how my Dad managed to find one as I still struggle to get them to this day! Thankfully I have come to know some fantastic people in Japan that have helped my love for Japanese football (Urawa) grow. A special mention to Alan Gibson who has created a fantastic magazine in English about Japanese football, jsoccer magazine, and has taught me many a lesson.

Q.　What do you like about URAWA REDS ?

Passion. Urawa are arguably the most supported team in Japan. Even Urawas away games can be made to feel like you are at home.  Urawa are a team that everyone loves to beat, every team enjoys a win but I feel like a win over us means that much more to most.

We've never been the most successful club in Japan but I feel we have a pride along with our passion. Pride of Urawa kind of sums it up. That's why the fans can be so loud.

In Europe we call some teams 'marmite teams' - you either love them or you hate them, and I think Urawa are like that. I'm used to supporting a disliked team in the country that they are from and the solidarity of the fans is amazing. I could talk forever about things I love about Urawa but the best way to describe is it's as if it bursts from my heart.

For me Leo, Deng, Shibato, Hashioka, Iwanami, Zion and Ogiwara are an important part of our future. Young talent that nurtured correctly could be fantastic for Urawa In the future. They all have potential to become leaders on the field, some already are.

It's hard to look past the contributions of Abe, Koroki, Nishikawa, Kashiwagi, Ugajin and even the massive character of Makino who have fought tooth and nail for every honour they have received. 

My favourite ever all time Reds player is actually Genki Haraguchi. I loved that when we were perhaps struggling at times he would be our match winner and just produce something out of nothing. Since then I have loved our #24s with Sekine and now Yuruki who I hope can find his confidence to go from strength to strength.

As you can tell I could never just pick one player as I love that many!

Q.　How did you feel when you heard the cheering from Urawa Supporters at the Saitama stadium 2002 for the first time?

Stunned. The noise was fantastic. Nonstop singing, jumping and that's the thing, it wasn't just for one game, it's every game. Now I'm a part of the fan base I feel immense pride in hearing the Voices of my fellow fans roar and fill the stadium. Obviously it's impossible at the moment but I can still feel their passion.

Q.　How do you feel about URAWA REDS supporters?

I love Urawa fans. Not much else needs said.

I visited Saitama 2002 not long after the "Japanese only" banner which I was apprehensive about, being an anxious person I worry a lot but my worries were for nought. Japan is famous for its hospitality and I well and truely experienced that. Even when I traveled alone to an away match in Nagoya, I had no idea where I was going, I had no internet so some Reds fans took me to where I needed to go and we had a blast!

Q.　Compared to the league in your country, what are the good points of J-league?

Both leagues are loud, colourful and welcoming. However in Japan fans of both teams can mingle around the stadium, that's unheard of in Scotland.  

In Scotland there is a lot of sectarianism and hate. Between friends it is easily understood and can be described as banter but outside a circle of friends a mood can quickly sour. The rivalries in Scotland are very intense and can be exhausting. The rivalry never ends on match day, it's constant even when your teams are not playing each other. 

In the J-league rivalries are present and the passion is there but it's quite refreshing to see that there is not as much hate involved. Yes you can dislike or even hate your rival but I feel like it still has ways to go to become as hatefully intense as European Leagues. That's not a bad thing at all in my opinion, sometimes your enjoyment can be spoiled by the hate of another. 

Q.　Do you have any episodes with Urawa Reds players?

Here is one of my time in Japan meeting Haraguchi and Kato at training.

I had been to see Urawa train a few times and other than obtaining Nishikawas signature at a signing event (I was too anxious to try meet the rest of the squad and Nishikawa was the last player round) I hadn't met an players. Up until the final day that I could attend where I thought my chance was gone. Eventually I worked up the courage to ask Kato for his autograph on his way back from training, again he was the last player going in, and he was fantastic! Though I still hadnt got the chance to meet my favourite, Haraguchi. A member of the coaching staff had seen me attend most of the coaching sessions and came to give me a year book just as I was leaving, I was already over the moon with meeting Kato and the gifts I had received but pulled a Haraguchi shirt from my bag and asked if he could get it signed for me please to which he gladly obliged.

Couple of minutes later Haraguchi brings the shirt out to me himself! And I was able to meet him in person! The member of coaching staff asked if I wanted a picture so I called Kato over aswell to get this picture. Safe to say I was absolutely over the moon, basically in tears from happiness!

Q.　Why do you still keep cheering for URAWA REDS for along time from a remote place?

It's hard to describe. Sometimes something just sticks with you and Urawa stuck hard. It's my team. Some say it's impossible to support two teams, I honestly wish I could have my heart explain. I love both my domestic team and Urawa, that will never change, come what may. Whether the results are good or bad my passion and love remains and shall only grow. I hope that my children will feel the same and I can start my own history with my own family.

When I first started supporting Urawa I was reasonably young so as I grew that love grew with me and it's not something I could just forget. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't stop supporting. 

Another reason is that as the years has gone by its became easier! I've begun to interact with more fans in the same position, following from a far. The TV rights are becoming more accessible for us in Europe. I am however still holding out for an English social media presence. A few clubs have got it and there is no reason why one of the largest clubs, supporter based at least, shouldn't have one.

Q.　What do you expect from URAWA REDS in the future?

A league title. It's been too long since our last league Victory. On paper we have a terrific squad but our results have fell short in the league. It's been fantastic to see Urawa lift silverware the past few seasons, especially the ACL! However it's just been too long since we were able to say we are champions of Japan.

Unfortunately our results have again been falling short of where we should be but as Urawa should do, we should rise and eventually claim number one in Japan.

We are reds.

(All time URAWA REDS Best Eleven by Jamie)
GK：Nishikawa
RB：Okano　CB：Endo、Tulio　LB：Ugajin
DM：Abe
CM：Hasebe、Ono
AM：Haraguchi
CF：Koroki、Fukuda

②Donnie McLachlan（OMIYA ARDIJA Supporter）

Twitter：@WeegieJambo

My name is Donnie McLachlan, I was born in Glasgow, Scotland and I still live here. I support Heart of Midlothian & Omiya Ardija. I watch J League matches online. All J1 & J2 matches all available live on http://BET365.com, and this season I have also used the J League YouTube channel to watch.

Q.　Why did you start supporting OMIYA ARDIJA?

Around 7 years ago, my wife and I spent some time travelling to Australia and then Japan. I had some friends from High School who lived in Saitama.

I learned about Omiya Ardija as soon as I arrived in Japan. The pub in Omiya was our first destination once we landed. We got the shinkansen to Omiya station, when you exit the station you are greeted with the squirrel statue. You have to ask people what it means, so you find out about Ardija immediately!

When arriving in Japan, we stayed in a hostel in Kawaguchi, so we used to visit our friends at a pub in Omiya as it was close. I got talking to some locals about football and we exchanged football club uniforms. That is when I decided Omiya would be my Japanese team! We usually visit Japan every year and make sure to travel during the football season, so I could visit NACK5 and watch Ardija play.

Q.　That uniform was Ardija’s one?

Yes, it was an Ardija uniform I received. I gave my Heart of Midlothian uniform in exchange.

It was in January , before the season had commenced. We spoke about football in the pub when I first arrived in Omiya and agreed on the exchange.

I can't speak any Japanese and my friend could not speak English, but we still managed to communicate through football!

Q.　How famous is OMIYA ARDIJA in Scotland? Also are there any Ardija supporters around you in Scotland?

I don't think many people know of Ardija in Scotland! However, some of my friends who live and work in Saitama, are Ardija supporters, they come from my home town Glasgow. So all our families all know about Ardija, there are definitely supporters in Glasgow! But not many.

I have another friend in Glasgow who visited Japan a few years ago and decided to support Urawa. The Saitama derby also has a rivalry in Glasgow!

Q.　For example, if the game kicks off at 13:00 on Japan time, you will be watching the game from 5:00 in Scotland. Do you get up and watch the game on live even in the early morning?

I try to!

For the last few months, the matches are usually played at 11:00 in Scotland. So I can watch easy, unless I am at work.
Todays match was a 6:00 kick off, so it was difficult to get up to watch from the start! I followed the second half on twitter.

Yesterday, pubs in Glasgow were forced to close for 16 days on government orders, so everyone was out drinking last night! 6:00 was too tough for me!! If there is a big match, I make the effort to watch at 5:00. But it can be difficult.

Q.　What do you like about OMIYA ARDIJA?

When I was first introduced to Ardija, I really liked the club colours and the logo. I liked that the city of Omiya had many flags on the streets and even seen an Ardija taxi, you do not see this kind of support for teams in Scotland, 

so it was unusual for me to see this. I also like that Ardija are considered to be the smaller team in Saitama, as many people prefer to support Urawa Reds. It is always good to support the underdog!

Q.　What do you think is OMIYA ARDIJA's character?

I think the team has a good community spirit, they arrange a lot of events that include supporters. I have been able to attend club training and meet some players after training is finished. There seems to be strong connection between supporters and the club.

Q.　Do you remember which players you met? Did you talk with the players or take the photo?

The interaction with the players was short. Not all players came to speak to supporters but I met a few and got photos with Mateus and Ryuji Bando. Bando was always smiling, as usual, and he spoke some English! The players were very friendly, my friend advised the players where I lived and they were obviously surprised!

Q.　How do you feel about Ardija supporters ?

I love the people of Saitama, they are hard-working, honest and friendly. This contributes to the Ardija supporters passion. I have been at many games, watching from stand behind the goals. The supporters are very enthusiastic and very loud! They always support the team, even when things are not going well, they always cheer and make plenty of noise to help the team.

I think that when you support a team like Ardija, or even my Scottish club Hearts, you appreciate the successes. Trophies are hard to achieve, so it means much more. Many bigger clubs and their supporters expect to win all the time. 

I was lucky to be at NACK5 when Omiya beat Urawa 1-0 in 2017. At full time, people around me were crying, I think that win meant so much more to Omiya supporters!

Q.　Why do you keep cheering for OMIYA ARDIJA for a long time from a remote place?

I always miss Japan when I am not there. Watching and cheering Ardija is how I stay connected to the country and a reminder of my friends and the amazing people I have met during my time in Japan.

I chat online with friends in Saitama before Ardija matches and discuss the team, so it does not always feel remote! But I do miss going to NACK5 to watch. Its been a long time!

Q.　What do you expect from OMIYA ARDIJA in the future?

I was hoping for promotion this season but its been very disappointing. The team has struggled for consistency and team selection has been unusual. But it has been a very strange time for everyone around the world, so I won't be critical. This season I expect it will be a middle table finish. I hope in 2021 Ardija will push for promotion! 

(All time OMIYA ARDIJA Best Eleven by Donnie)
GK：Kato
DF：Okui、Kikuchi、Wada
MF：Mateus、Kanazawa、Carlinhos、Ienaga
FW：Mrdja、Zlatan、Esaka

③Gawain Stifyns（GAMBA OSAKA Supporter）

Twitter：@GawainStifyns

I'm from London but have lived in Hong Kong for over a decade. Started watching football in the 1980s as I'm from an area of London which is a football hotbed and has produced players like David Beckham, Harry Kane, Teddy Sheringham, etc.

Q.　Why did you start supporting  GAMBA OSAKA?

Started following Gamba Osaka a couple of years after seeing Endo Yasuhito at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship .

I liked how comfortable he was in possession of the ball. I first saw him at the 1999 the FIFA Youth World Cup, and he was against another great midfielder, Xavi Hernandez of Barcelona.

I was only familiar with Nakata Hidetoshi from the World Cup a year earlier, and was looking at the Samurai Blue team during the Youth World Cup. Endo Yasuhito was the player that stood out for me. Watching a player from an emerging nation, which Japan was at that time, I was surprised how comfortable and technical Endo was. His range of passing and how he dictated the pace of the game. Extraordinary.

Q.　How famous is GAMBA OSAKA in Hong Kong? Also are there any GAMBA OSAKA supporters around you in Hong Kong?

Gamba Osaka is probably the no.1 supported club here in Hong Kong. I first came here in 2005, and I remember seeing Gamba jerseys as early as then (probably as we had just won the J1 title). Not only the success, I think Osaka is probably the no.1 destination for Hong Kong tourists. It's a big city and the flight is a little shorter than to Tokyo. There's also the close proximity to other tourist hotspots like Kyoto and Kobe which is only an hour away from Osaka.

I would frequently fly to Osaka from HK as flights were cheap and the duration was only about 4 hours. This, plus Gamba's success, is why Gamba is the no. 1 J.League club in Hong Kong.

Q.　What do you like about GAMBA OSAKA ?

I like the history - especially the period when Nishino Akira was manager - the blue and black strip, the mascot, and Osaka is a city which I frequently visited (almost like a third home for me).

Q.　You said you liked GAMBA OSAKA in particular when Akira Nishino was a manager. Did you like his attacking style on the pitch?

Yes. Hasegawa Kenta won the treble in 2014 but I remember Nishino's teams a lot more fondly. If I was a pro, I would love to play in Nishino's team as there's an emphasis to attack. I think Nishino can also be credited for putting Gamba Osaka on the world map with our performances at the CWC（Club World Cup） in 2008.

Q.　Have you been to Gamba's stadium ?

I visited the Expo Stadium before Panasonic Stadium was built but, sadly, it wasn't on a match day. I have yet to visit the new stadium. I did, however, attend the Osaka derby in 2017, which was played at Yanmar stadium. Being a Gamba Osaka fan and seated in the home end of the stadium, I was advised not to wear my Gamba jersey, so I wore the Japan national team jersey from the 2014 World Cup. It was blue, so it was my way of supporting Gamba but not putting myself in any danger with the Cerezo fans.

I loved the black and blue colours of the away fans, the flags, and the chants , 'We Are Gamba Osaka,' which I could hear very clearly even though I was in the opposite end of the huge stadium. 

I must say, I really loved the derby as it was tense but joyous. Unlike other big city derbies in Europe, I never felt in any danger but it still had that feeling of being a big, important match. It was also a momentous occasion as it was the first derby since Cerezo were promoted to J1. We drew 2-2 that day, and the Cerezo fans weren't very happy with their players and hissed them as they bowed after the game. As a fan of their rivals, this also made me happy.

Q.　How do you feel about GAMBA OSAKA supporters?

I like how majority of fans wear the blue and black on matchdays and are willing to travel when playing away. I also like the presence on social media, and the majority seem to be well educated and are able to recognise quality players.

Q.　Why do you still keep cheering GAMBA OSAKA for a long time from remote place?

Being from London, football is my biggest passion and it got me through homesickness when first moving to Asia and Hong Kong. Gamba Osaka means so much to me.

Even though I'm a foreigner and don't even live in Japan (although I did get married in Okinawa 10 years ago), I feel a connection with Gamba Osaka. It may be that it's like a third home for me. I frequently visited the city as we had cheap flights from Hong Kong. But there's also the club itself- One of the first clubs of the J.League, there's the nostalgia as the 90s were a joyous period of my life (living at home, young, no responsibilities, etc), and the players (Mboma, Yatto, Araujo, Futagawa, Miyamoto, etc.), the black and blue kit, the mascot, the fans, etc.

The attacking side of Nishino's teams, the players that have been developed by the club, and, just my opinion, I think we deserve a lot of credit for raising the awareness of the league at the 2008 CWC. Prior to that tournament, not many fans back home in Europe were aware of the J.League or clubs from Japan but that changed after the game vs. Manchester United. More and more friends back home were asking me about Gamba Osaka and the J.League.

Q.　What do you expect from GAMBA OSAKA in the future? 

I feel really optimistic. I'm not sure about trophies but we're heading in the right direction. I love how Miyamoto has got this team set up. As we saw today, the team he selected could play different formations (3-5-2 / 4-4-2). Players like Fukuda, Yamaguchi, Takao, Okuno, Yamamoto, Kawasaki and Toyama are young but getting minutes in the first team. I think it's brilliant that a manager is putting this much faith and trust in young, local players. There's also the established players, like Kurata Shu, Usami, Shoji, etc., so it's a good mix of experienced and young players. I also like the trust that the club have put in the manager, who is from Osaka and played for Gamba as well as the national team.

Q.　Please give a comment to Japanese GAMBA OSAKA supporters.

I would say, it's a difficult situation we're all in now, so it's important more than ever to get behind the team. Make your presence felt and do everything you can to be the 12th man. Gamba Osaka has given me many happy memories, and I've really enjoyed watching our teams and players, and I really love the blue and black on match days. Seeing the blue and black kit has been a remedy for homesickness, which is weird as I'm not from Osaka or Japan. I think it's also important that we be patient and trust our manager. He's doing the right thing by giving local players opportunities, which will not only benefit the team but also the Japan NT and give the younger generation more hope.

(All time Gamba Osaka Best Eleven by Gawain)
GK：Higashiguchi
RWB：Kaji　CB：Miyamoto、Sidiclei、Yamaguchi　LWB：Yasuda
CM：Myojin、Endo
AM：Futagawa
CF：Araujo、M'Boma

【End】