There’s nothing more legendary than seeing something becoming a worldwide attraction, the property of everyone, globally. J. League is trying to achieve that, but to do so, you need a global fanbase. And it’s there, although its numbers can certainly rise. In this series of pieces – which will all fall under the label “J. League Worldwide”, we’re trying to tell the personal and professional stories of Japanese football fans all over the world.
Before introducing the eleventh instalment of the series, I want to remind the efforts of Stuart Smith in starting this column (you can find him @Sushi_Football on Twitter, doing a good job in spreading the word for J.League). Twenty-one episodes are done, and in the last one – published over six months ago – we talked with Victor (@JFootballAnaly1) about his deep passion for the J.League from Puerto Rico and his involvement in the J-Talk Podcast.
And if you can read here his interview with us, for Episode number 22, we come back to Europe, with a particular profile – a Polish fan who moved to Scotland. We had already an episode around Poland and the passion for the J.League, and a Scottish one, but now we’re going double, uh? And I must say with a special guest, who’s dedicating his current efforts to boost the value and the coverage of the J.League in Europe.
Adam Blozsko isn’t just a journalist and an active football player, but he’s also one of the people who launched a project in the J.League-sphere over telling the stories from the Japanese championship, and we thought a chat might be proper. So sit down and enjoy the talk we had with him!
a) Where are you from and when did you first start following the J. League?
I’m a Polish national and I’m currently living in Scotland – precisely on the border of England and Scotland. The nearest clubs are Hibernian and Newcastle if you’re speaking about pro teams, or Berwick Rangers, Tweedmouth Rangers, Coldstream (if you’ve heard of them). About the J.League, I began watching the championship back in 2024.
b) Do you have a favourite team or player?
There’s not just a favourite team, but I enjoy keeping track of several of them. While FC Tokyo represent an amazing reminder of the time that I’ve spent in Japan, I have to admit I also enjoy other clubs down the ladder – like Mito Hollyhock, Ehime FC, and other lower league sides such as ReinMeer Aomori.
When it comes down to my favourite players, I would have two choices: I would pick midfield marauder Neta Lavi (author’s note: he just moved from Gamba Osaka to Machida Zelvia), and the dashing Kashiwa Reysol attacker Yoshio Koizumi. I just enjoy how they play!
c) We’re used to seeing a lot of coverage around football here in Europe or South America. A tendency growing as well in North America and Asia. How do you keep up with the news regarding the league?
I keep up with the news back here by being in touch with fans who regularly attend matches in person. I’m a network builder and love speaking to people, including the ones in the J.League-sphere. One of the key components of keeping up is to stay in the loop at all times, even if it means turning on notifications to every game.
d) Have you ever been to Japan for some matches? If so, how was the impact? And if not, which match and which aspect are you longing for the most?
Yes! I was in Japan in 2024 and watched the game between FC Tokyo and Kawasaki Frontale at the Ajinomoto Stadium – a match in which the visitors ran out 3-0 as winners.
I had a great time, making friends among the fans, and it was ultimately the reason why the Japanese football spark in me ignited. Not only because of the football played on the pitch, but also because of the fan culture, the atmosphere, and the amazing hospitality shown to me by the Japanese people.
e) From your point of view, how do you think the J. League has been perceived in your own country? And there’s a space to improve the image of the league around the world, just like they’re trying to do?
Unfortunately, it’s a league that’s criminally underrated. A lot of people just think it is “another Asian league” or a championship of staggeringly bad standards. However, the impact of Japanese players with Celtic FC has successfully quelled this sort of vision in the eyes of the Scottish fans. Not only Daizen Maeda, but also Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furahashi, and now Shin Yamada have made the difference (and they can continue to do so).
There’s so much space, so much potential, and lots of untapped ways to expand the league around the world. I believe more people will be indulged as it’s an insanely entertaining league which really nurtures talent, in its own way.
We want to thank Adam for the time he’s given us. It’s been nice to talk with him and we wish him the best for his project “J-League Journals”, which is a good channel to convey the curiosities about the Japanese championship and the talents populating this world.
You can find him on Instagram, and Twitter as well. Meanwhile, we hope to bring you soon Episode 23, so stay tuned!
