Talent Exodus – good or bad for Japan?

February 11th, 2011 | by: Aidan | Comments Off

I read an article recently talking about the increasing exodus of Japanese players to Europe, and whether this was a good thing or a bad thing for Japanese football. So here’s my thoughts and opinions on the subject…

There were a few moves last summer in the wake of the World Cup, Yuto Nagatomo, Eiji Kawashima for example. Plus some others not involved in South Africa but also moved at that time such as Shinji Kagawa and Kisho Yano.

On the positive side the arguments as far as I see them are that the more players we have in Europe the greater the benefit to the national team. With the main players of the Japanese team playing at a higher level than they could do at home they benefit from experiencing a tougher level of play.

This means better opposition, better team-mates, better coaching and a higher level of intensity, scrutiny and pressure.

Those that are good enough to deal with it should in theory prosper and develop as players, which helps the national team improve.

In some cases we have players playing at the highest level in Europe. Keisuke Honda played in last year’s Champions League knockout stages for CSKA Moscow. Shinji Kagawa before injury was a central component of the team running away with the Bundesliga and would expect to be involved in next year’s Champions League. Yuto Nagatomo has recently moved to Inter Milan.

These examples in my opinion can only be of benefit to Japanese football as a whole. Not only from the fact that playing at the highest level should improve them as players and gain vital top level experience, but also could inspire the next generation too.

For players playing in Europe at a lower level though, things may be a little different. Eiji Kawashima for example is clearly Japan’s number 1 goalkeeper at the moment, but his club, SK Lierse, are struggling near the foot of the Belgian League.

Is this more beneficial to his development than playing for Kawasaki Frontale at the top end of the J-League?

He’s in a team that loses more often than not, and although that gives him lots of goalkeeping practice it’s hardly conducive to a positive mentality.

If playing for Lierse is a stepping stone to something bigger, as Nagatomo’s time at Cesena has been, then it is a positive. If it doesn’t lead to anything more is it a waste of time?

Japan also has players in the Greek league and in the German and English second divisions. Are they gaining any more from being in Europe than they would back at home? In terms of new experiences and differing styles of play it is clearly a benefit.

But is it best for Japanese football that a player who would be a big name back at home plays for a minor second division club in Europe – Yuki Abe at Leicester City for example?

Then there are the youngsters. Ryo Miyaichi signed for Arsenal straight from High School in Japan, and was promptly loaned out to Feyenoord in Holland where he debuted at the weekend.

Is it good for Japanese football that he has no J-League experience at all? Whilst his move to Arsenal will make him known in Japan it is fair to say that the Japanese public may struggle to identify with a player who most won’t have seen play other than in High School competition.

And what of the J-League? Japan’s progress and Japanese players’ progress into European clubs could be seen as a big plus for the J-League. It is proving its worth as a strong development ground for talent, and is clearly helping produce players of international quality.

But the exodus of the star players means that the overall quality of the J-League suffers, and the paying public don’t get to see Japan’s best players playing regularly in front of them.

That is a problem which is hardly unique to Japan, after all I’m quite sure Yuki Abe for example earns far more from Leicester City than he would in a top J-League club.

But at what point does it become too much? Does there come a point where too many players have left Japan for Europe?

At present my feeling is that the balance is still good. Many, but not all, of Japan’s best players are playing in Europe and are being exposed to new styles of play and coaching, different ideas and different experiences which have helped the Japanese national team improve in recent years I feel.

When the top players move on it also means more opportunity for younger players to come through into the J-League. This is preferable to losing players straight from school such as Miyaichi.

There is an increasing number reaching Europe now though, and while nobody could deny any player the chance to play wherever he wanted I think the J-League needs to be careful not to lose all of its top players. A healthy J-League helps the national team too.

It’s a difficult one, but what do we all think about it?