COLUMN

Sean Carroll is an English freelance football journalist
who writes for Weekly Soccer Magazine, The Daily Yomiuri and the-AFC.com

#7

Tomoaki Makino's spell in Germany was only brief, but he is back in the J.League wiser for the experience. Having had a taste of the overseas game he is keen to give it another shot one day, although for now he is focused on success with Urawa Reds. Here he talks about his return to Japan, being abroad during the March 11th disaster and being a "mood-maker" - or not...

#6

Playing Smart
Kazuya Yamamura of Kashima Antlers is new to the professional game but having just graduated University and already won a gold medal for his country he's no dummy. The Japan Under 23 captain has a lot to look forward to this year, including the Olympics, and is sure his University experience will help him adapt to the J.League.

#5

The arrival of Freddie Ljungberg at Shimizu S-Pulse is undoubtedly the biggest signing the J.League has seen for many years. The former Arsenal star won the English Premier League twice, FA Cup three times, and has played in the Champions League Final and at two World Cup finals. He is in no mood to wind down his carer slowly though, and is aiming to enjoy more success in Shizuoka.

#4

Several players have starred in Kashiwa Reysol's incredible push for the 2011 J.League title. Perhaps the most impressive has been youth team graduate Hiroki Sakai, whose development has been aided by defeat, a spell in Brazil and the chance to play alongside his childhood heroes.

#3

Tadanari Lee has been around in the J.League for several years now, but it was a goal for the national team in January that catapulted him into the national, and international, consciousness. The Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker talks South Korea, Reysol fans' reactions to him and that goal with Sean Carroll.

#2

Yokohama F. Marinos' striker Yuji Ono may still be a teenager but he has already established himself as one of the brightest talents in the J.League, and won't rest until he reaches the very top.

#1

Been there, done that...haven't got the t-shirt
Despite having enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in his career so far, Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo remains grounded and is alwaysworking towards the next challenge.