Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2011

Massive earthquakes, tidal waves and nuclear fallout have devastated northeastern Honshu, but the rest of the world is carrying on. The J. League and other local sporting associations have been conflicted about whether they should resume a normal schedule or delay their games out of consideration for the victims.

Soccer in Japan is more or less shut down until further notice. No doubt the J. League will resume before long, but in the meantime, fans can still follow the exploits of the growing number of Japanese players overseas. Here’s an update of who to keep an eye on.

Germany

Shinji Kagawa, Borussia Dortmund; Kishi Yano, Frieburg; Atsuto Uchida, Schalke; Makoto Hasebe, Wolfsburg; Shinji Okazaki, Stuttgart; Tomoaki Makino, FC Koln; Hajime Hosogai, Bayer Leverkusen/on loan to Augsburg
Not sure why everyone wants to go to Germany, but Shinji Kagawa’s success at Dortmund and Makoto Hasebe’s performances at Wolfsburg have certainly helped. Not all these guys are getting playing time. They should talk to their agents.

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Russia

Keisuke Honda, CSKA Moscow
After great success in the Netherlands, Honda’s move to Moscow was a curious one (although he does get to play European football). But it seems he’s had a fallout with his boss and bigger clubs have been keeping an eye on him. CSKA are out of the Europa League and no doubt Honda will soon be out of Russia.

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Italy

Yuto Nagatomo, Cesena/on loan to Inter Milan; Takayuki Morimoto, Catania
Nagatomo has gotten a lot of praise for his attacking work in Italy, but his defending is still suspect and it’s unlikely he’ll make the grade at Inter—and there’s a chance Cesena could end up in Serie B. Morimoto has done well at Catania, despite injury problems, and he’s now fighting to reclaim his place on the team.

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Netherlands

Ryo Miyaichi, Arsenal/on loan to Feyenoord; Robert Cullen, VVV Venlo; Maya Yoshida, VVV Venlo; Michihiro Yasuda, Vitesse Arnhem
The Dutch league is one of the best places for talent to develop. Several Brazilians started off there, including Romario and Ronaldo, and Holland has some of the best coaches in the world. Miyaichi has already been dubbed “the new Messi” by the uncompromising Feyenoord fans, and Yasuda is doing very well with Vitesse. Cullen recently scored his first goal and is getting playing time alongside Japan international Yoshida.

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France

Daisuke Matsui, Grenoble
The wandering minstrel of Japanese soccer should probably be playing for a better club (Grenoble are bottom of Ligue 2), but he follows his own way and will no doubt be looking further afield at the end of the season.

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Belgium

Eiji Kawashima, Lierse
Kawashima, solid in his performances for Lierse—a suitable club for him to test the waters in Europe—will only get better with this experience. Good move.

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Spain

Akihiro Ienaga, Mallorca
Spain is one of the toughest leagues to play in, and so far no Japanese player has managed to make the grade there—not even Shunsuke Nakamura could impress the Spanish. Ienaga has just one start to date and he might find it hard getting more playing time.

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US

Kosuke Kimura, Colorado Rapids
The most successful Japanese player of 2010? Kimura looks to be a fantastic talent, and his team won the MLS Championship in November. Surely he deserves a chance with the national team, but he doesn’t seem to be on anybody’s radar, having bypassed the J. League.

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England

Yuki Abe, Leicester
Abe has been doing well for Leicester and can only be helped by having Sven-Goran Eriksson as his coach.

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Greece

Daisuke Sakata, Aris FC
Ex-Marinos player, probably can’t be helped by anyone. At least the weather’s nice.