## Korokoro Komikko comics and
Highlights of the article in Uttarbanga Sambad (News of North Bengal) dated 27-Nov-2022 and authored by Pratik
Pratik sets the pace of the article with a highlight of success of Japan against Germany in the group E league match of FIFA World Cup 2022. While providing an overview of success of Asian countries in the tournament, he does not forget to mention the political approach of Iran world cup team who refused to sing their national anthem and their commitment to stand by the ongoing movement as an aftermath of Mahsa Amani's demise. Pratik reminds us about the good performance of Iran during previous world cups and wholeheartedly lauds the fighting spirit of Iranian world cup team amidst their political disturbances with a cautionary note that Government of Iran may not overlook the team's political demeanour. Performance of South Korean team does not miss Pratik's attention. South Korea does not have any significant performance in previous world cup events except reaching the semi-final during 2002 world cup on their home turf. Pratik attributes the success of Saudi Arab to their coach Hervé Jean-Marie Roger Renard. Hervé was never the coach of any major European football club. However, he has a deep understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of African and Asian teams.
In the next four paragraphs Pratik elaborates the stupendous rise and performance of Japan as not a one match wonder but as a long term student of soccer. Here are the salient aspects.
1. Zico (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zico_(footballer)) came to Japan in 1991, joining Sumitomo Metal Industries. Japan changed the structure of the their football league and introduced J. League in 1993 and a host of star players from higher ranked soccer nations participated in J-League.
2. Japan did not stop by introducing J. League. They established a strong focus on school level soccer. Pratik refers an article in New Indian Express (https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/football/2022/nov/23/45-years-after-first-japanese-player-moved-to-fc-köln-4-time-world-champs-stunned-2521393.html), which mentions that since last 35 years, American Tom Byer has been working tirelessly to revolutionise grassroots football in Japan with his football clinics and TV shows. Captain Tsubasa is a Japanese manga series ( comics or graphic novels) written and illustrated by Yōichi Takahashi. It even inspired Byer to create football comic books, called Korokoro Komikko, which proved to be a great success. There were three kids who came to Byer's football school. Minamino, Doan and Endo.
3. 19 out of the 26 of the world cup (2022) Japanese sqad play in European leagues – there are more players in this squad who play in German Bundesliga (8) than in the J-League (7). The most notable of them is Daichi Kamada who has developed into one of Eintracht Frankfurt's key players in recent seasons, impressing both in the Bundesliga and in continental competition for the reigning UEFA Europa League holders. This year (2022) VfB Stuttgart confirmed the signing of Japanese American defender Anrie Chase on Thursday. The Japanese U23 international will play for Stuttgart's youth squad for the duration of the season.
4. Thus there is now sunrise in Japanese football. There will be no surprise if Japan eclipses South Korea in near future and become the undisputed leader of Asian football.
