Japanese diplomat supports Trabzonspor

The high-ranking official is a supporters of The Black Sea Storm and has praised expat players in Turkey.

The Consulate General of Japan in Istanbul, Takumi Suemitsu has revealed he is a Trabzonspor fan during an interview with Turkish sports outlet Fanatik.

The Japanese official said he was happy to see football strengthen the bond between the two countries.

With the arrival of Japanese superstar Shinji Kagawa, the Super Lig has two of Japan’s best football players; Kagawa at Besiktas and Yuto Nagatomo at Galatasaray.

The two player’s transfers to Turkey has caused an increase in Turkish football from the Far East.

Suemitsu said although Japanese interest in Turkish football may seem new, it all started when former Besiktas forward Ilhan Mansiz joined Vissel Kobe in 2004.

“His contribution to our ties was great. Likewise, Nagatomo and Kagawa are good players and put on a very good performance in the World Cup,” he said.

The diplomat said that Turkish Super League matches are now being covered by the Japanese media and there could be an increase in the number of Japanese citizens visiting Turkey to watch Kagawa and Nagatomo play.

“I think there may be more transfers from Japan too,” he claimed.

The interest in Turkish football from Japan has led to the possibility of changing the time of the upcoming Istanbul derby between heated rivals Besiktas and Galatasaray so that fans from Japan can watch it live.

Turkish media outlets reported that representatives of an agency that sells football broadcasts from abroad to the Japanese market made an offer to beIN SPORTS, who owns the broadcasting rights for the Turkish Super Lig to change the time of upcoming derbies in order to accommodate Japanese fans.