Soccer:God Father Mr.KAWABUCHI

Without him, there is no professional football league in Japan.He is a legend and god father of Japan`s sports.

Last year I joined Mr.Kawabuchi`s seminor on 7th Dec in Tokyo which was organized by sports magazine "number" .Mr.Jun Ikeda was host and Mr.KAWABUCHI was the guest.

Here are his comments that inspired me.

〈His recent book〉

It took us 5 years to launch  Japan`s professional football leagure "J-League".

Actually,at first,I did not mean to start professional league.I just decided to star new elite league.

There are two main reason that we could start "professional league".

・Many young people who worked with me to create the league had high motivation and energetic.They are eager to create "professional league"

・Japanese economy was booming during the time we were trying to create the league.So a lot of giant Japanese companies had enough money to invest or challenge to put their money into football.

 

Mr.KAWABUCHI was working at FURUKAWA congromarite as sales.

He was a good sales man. But when he was around 50 years old.He was so depressed,because he was transfered to the division which  he did not want to work.

 He realized that "football is my passion. Let`s go back to football". He was once plyaing as a member of Japanese national football team.

The key points of the sucess of J-league.

I strongly requested all players that they should realized they live with only football as professional .Earning money by football.No more support from good and big Japanese companies where you could enjoy good retirement plan and welfare service.

Players understood it and play as hard as they could.They play on their heart and never give up during a match.

"Hard play from a heart" that is the key to inspire many young Japanese.

Today's flower