The world as Kosuke Kimura knew it changed seemingly overnight following the Colorado Rapids MLS Cup win last November.
Kimura’s parents and brother had flown from Japan to be at BMO Field in Toronto for the final, in which Kimura had played all 120 minutes in the Rapids 2-1 win over Dallas.
The next day, Kenta, Kimura’s brother who serves as his manager in their native Japan, saw his phone light up with requests from media from their home country.
“I wasn’t going to go home because I saw my parents and older brother when they came to MLS Cup,” said the Rapids defender. “But after we won, my brother started getting emails from media asking when I was coming back. All of a sudden we had around 10 interviews lined up, so I knew I had to go home.”
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Kimura’s attention in Japan starting increasing in the days leading to MLS Cup. Of course the main story line was that of a Japanese player playing for title in a foreign league. However, another topic was also presented: should Kimura be considered for the Japanese National Team.
“When we were in Toronto, a Japanese media person was asking me about playing for the Japanese National Team,” recalled Kimura. “I think that spread, because the media and fans have been talking about me and the national team ever since.”
Fans took note of Kimura’s rise and began discussing him on various sports blogs and fan forums, with many arguing that he should be given a chance at the national team.
“After we won, they showed a few seconds of the game on TV in Japan, and everybody started hearing about it,” he said. “All of a sudden sports magazines and newspapers and TV – one of the biggest was NHK – wanted to interview me.” (NOTE: NHK is the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, which includes multiple TV stations and radio networks in Japan).
Kimura spent 12 days in Japan in December fulfilling interview requests. He saw it as a good opportunity to not only spread the word about MLS and the Rapids, but to also connect for the first time with the soccer loving public of Japan.
And although a common discussion throughout his media circuit was regarding the Japanese national team, the media also wanted Kimura to share his story of how he got himself on a professional team in the United States.
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“They were so interested in how I got here,” said Kimura. “They had no idea how it happened, so I told them the entire story. About how I had a hard time learning English, and passing the SATs. And so they knew how much I wanted to play soccer. It was a unique story.”
The third topic that seemingly every outlet asked him was to explain the difference between MLS and the J-League.
“They had been hearing about MLS, but right now it’s more popular,” he said. “And since I was the first Japanese player to win the MLS Cup, I think they are all starting to pay attention to it (MLS).”
The media interest back home was new to Kimura, as well as to his parents, who are both school teachers.
“It was kind of weird,” Kimura said of the media circuit. “My parents are shy, so they were uncomfortable with it. But they videotaped everything and they loved it. My mom is now just hoping that I’ll be called up to the national team one day.”
Kimura knew when he signed with the Rapids in 2007 that he was the first Japanese player to sign with an MLS team. He didn’t know that he could one day become a pioneer.
“Obviously I didn’t aim for that, I didn’t know” he said. “But when I heard that, I knew I had to set a good example for other players wanting to come in from Japan. It’s been four years, and I won the MLS Cup, and now people are realizing that Japanese players can play in this league.”
Kimura could soon have compatriots joining him in MLS.
The league has hired Takehiko Nakamura as MLS Asian scouting coordinator to assist MLS coaches in identifying more players from Asian countries that could be a fit to play in the League. Nakamura joins a network of MLS scouts that includes representatives in Mexico and South and Central America.
As for his own national team aspirations, Kimura tries not to get caught up in the public discussion. He has not heard from Japanese National Team coach Alberto Zaccheroni and is only thinking of how to continue improving.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said of the Japanese national team. “I just have to keep playing good and staying focused. I have to play better every second, every minute, every single game.”
He’s made a lot happen in his career already. It should not come as a surprise to anyone if Kimura one day represents the Samurai Blue.
KIMURA’S DECEMBER MEDIA CIRCUIT IN JAPAN INCLUDED:
TV Asahi; tvk Television; J-Wave (Tokyo radio) - Interview on "Tokyo United" show; Kyodo News (newspaper /website); Nikkan Sports News (newspaper / website); Ryugaku Journal (Magazine about Studying Abroad); Tokyo Weekender Magazine (the first English magazine in Japan); Soccer Digest Magazine; Soccer Magazine; Wako-do Interview (His high school newspaper); Playing soccer with kids at TOC Soccer club - a grassroots appearance covered by various media outlets.
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