In Japan's green field, there have been many outstanding midfielders, such as Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura, Shinji Ono and other predecessors, and in recent years, there are Takumi Minamino, Yasunori Do, Kamada Daichi and other rookies. As this season's Nippon Professional League program comes to an end, the emergence of new stars in the midfield is also noteworthy. Let's take a look at some of them.
1. Toyoshi Honda (Tosu Sandstone)
This season Tosu Sandwiches have been performing well, ranking in the upper-middle of the league. Toyotomi Honda has shown remarkable strength as a rising star in the team.
Born in 2001, Toyotoshi Honda made his debut for Tosu Sandwiches in 2020 in the Nippon Professional League, and after two seasons of sharpening his skills, he has firmly established himself as a starter for the team. As a No. 8 player, Toyotoshi Honda is active as an attacking midfielder on the field, possessing excellent passing vision and building bridges for the team's offense. At the same time, with his speed and breakthrough ability, he often tears through the opponent's defense, injecting vitality into the team. So far this season, Toyotoshi Honda has contributed 2 assists to the team, showing his ability on the attacking end.
Toyotoshi Honda has excellent long-range and goal-scoring skills, and is tied for the team's top scorer list with five goals this season. It's worth noting that although he is only 1 meter 70 in height, he can head the ball in the game, which is quite rare in the Nippon Professional League.
2. Kyusei Matsuki (FC Tokyo)
At just 19 years old, Jusei Matsuki joined FC Tokyo as a rookie king this season and has represented the first team straight out of high school. The performance of this rising star is expected.
The 1.80 meters tall Jusei Matsuki is quite advantageous on the field, with excellent footwork, he often breaks through the opponent's defense and creates threats for the team. This season, Matsuki Jusheng in the Japanese Professional League scored 2 goals and 3 assists, performance is very eye-catching.
In addition to the outstanding performance in the offensive end, Matsuki Jusei's long pass ability should not be underestimated, averaging more than 2 long passes as high as 60% success rate, which can be seen in his passing skills.
3. Vito Suzuki (Shimizu Heartbeat)
Vito Suzuki, the soon-to-be 21-year-old youngster who has already made his Nippon Professional League debut in 2020, has quickly become a regular starter for Shimizu Heartbeat.
Standing at 1 meter 75, Vito Suzuki is not a big player, but has excellent footwork, outstanding speed and a wide passing vision. This season, he has scored three goals and contributed two assists to the team.
Vito Suzuki's long pass success rate of 80% is among the highest in the Nippon Professional League, which shows his threat on the offensive end.
4. Taiki Matsuoka (Shimizu heartbeat)
Daeki Matsuoka, also from Shimizu S Pulse, plays as a defensive midfielder as a Japan U22 international.
Standing at 1'70", Matsuoka Daiki is thin, but he has excellent defensive awareness and blocking ability. This season, he made 19 appearances and made over 60% of his successful tackles, a steady performance.
5. Karuko Fujita (Yokohama Mariners)
Jean Ruko Fujita, a young player of mixed Nigerian and Japanese descent, has become the centerpiece of the Yokohama Mariners' midfield with his excellent defensive and offensive abilities.
Standing at 1 meter 74, Jean-Luc Fujita has built a solid defense for the Yokohama Mariners with his excellent defensive techniques and individual skills. This season, he has made 25 appearances and has a success rate of 80% in successful interceptions.
These five rising stars in the midfield, all Japanese U22 internationals, are expected to represent Japan at the 2024 Olympics. Their growth and progress is something all fans should look forward to.
This week's JLF live streaming schedule:
October 8, 1:00 pm: Yokohama Marinos vs. Osaka Hida Foot Cable TV 601/661
October 8, 1:00pm Kawasaki Striker vs Shimizu S Pulse Cable 602/662
October 8, 1:00pm: Hokkaido Sapporo Gonzaga vs Fukuoka Wasps Cable 604/664
October 8, 3:00 p.m. Kashiwa Reysol vs. Sakura Osaka Cable TV 601/661
This week's Sunday B live streaming schedule:
October 9, 12:00 pm: Kofu Kazebayashi vs. Okayama Green Pheasant Cable TV 601/661
October 9, 5:00 PM FC Yokohama vs. Oita Mikami Cable TV 601/661
