Junichi Inamoto, a World Cup hero and former Arsenal player, is currently aiming to break into the J.League at the club where Captain Tsubasa plays for

Do you know that Nankatsu SC actually exists? In the popular Japanese football comic and anime series called Captain Tsubasa – known as Olive et Tom in France, Oliver y Benji in Spain, Holly e Benji in Italy, and Oliver e Benji in Portugal – its protagonist named Tsubasa Ozora plays for the football club in Shizuoka as a primary school player. 

In the real world, the club based in Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, has been represented by Yoichi Takahashi, the author of the world-famous manga, since 2013. Its uniforms are designed in the same style as the manga, making it a real Captain Tsubasa club.

Currently a member of the Kanto First Division League (equivalent to the fifth division), Nankatsu SC has a well-known group of players despite being in the lower division. Former Japan international Yasuyuki Konno who played in two World Cups in 2010 and 2014, former Japan midfielder Kunimitsu Sekiguchi, and Genki Omae who has Bundesliga experience, are all past their prime, but the club boasts their presence who once took the J.League by storm.

The most notable player is Junichi Inamoto. Inamoto is one of the best central midfielders in Japanese football history, having been recruited by the then Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger in 2001 and playing a key role in Japan’s run to the round of 16 at the 2002 World Cup by scoring two goals. He went on to play another two World Cups consecutively in 2006 and 2010.

Although he’d failed to make an appearance at Arsenal where he’d joined at the age of 21, Inamoto played regularly at Fulham as a roanee, and became a starter for West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City, making a long career in England. 

After leaving the birthplace of football, Inamoto also had spells with Galatasaray and Eintracht Frankfurt before returning to Japan in 2010. He played for Kawasaki Frontale, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, and SC Sagamihara, then joined Nankatsu SC in 2022.

Inamoto, just like Tsubasa Ozora

Inamoto is now 43 years old. Considering his age, it should be no surprise that his career has been over. But he continues to be a professional footballer even in the fifth division for his reasons. 

“I still have the desire to play football,” said Inamoro. “Football is fun and whether the league category is lower or whatever, I’ve never lost my love for football. My body still works too, so at the moment I have no reason to quit.”

With his never-ending passion, Inamoto continues to chase the ball. So yes, he is just like Tsubasa Ozora, the main character of Captain Tsubasa, who is known as the eternal football kid and famous for his words – “the ball is my best friend”.

Inamoto said he loved Tsubasa-kun when he was a child, but his current number is 8. Number 10, which was worn by Tsubasa Ozora in the manga, is a permanent number in honour of the character, so no player wears it in the real world.

Nankatsu SC aims to enter the J.League (from the third division) in the near future, and promotion to the JFL (equivalent to the fourth division) is their immediate goal. They finished seventh in the league last season and are still struggling this season, but it would be great if Nankatsu SC made it to the J.League while Inamoto is still active.