TOKYO: New Stuttgart signing Shinji Okazaki has become Japan’s latest footballing export to Germany, with the Bundesliga pocketing much of the East Asian country’s best talent for little or no transfer fee.
The striker is the sixth Japanese to move to Germany after the World Cup in South Africa, underlining not only Japan’s status in the global game but also helping to banish old perceptions Asians cannot make it in European leagues.
Shinji Kagawa moved to Borussia Dortmund in July and has scored eight goals to play a major role in propelling the team to the top of the Bundesliga table.
Atsuto Uchida, Kisho Yano, Tomoaki Makino and Hajime Hosogai have already followed in the 21-year-old Kagawa’s footsteps.
Dortmund acquired the highly talented Kagawa on the cheap – for just 350,000.
“The German clubs have learned that Japan has many talented players they do not need to pay transfer fees for,” the well-established Japanese sports magazine Number said.
Stuttgart waited for Okazaki’s contract with J-League side Shimizu S-Pulse to expire at the end of January before they swooped for free.
“I have nothing to lose and I’m confident of playing well. I feel pleasure much more than pressure,” the striker told reporters before leaving Tokyo’s Narita airport on Friday.
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