So, I’ve been digging into this whole “Koreans in the J-League” thing, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. I mean, I knew a bit about both leagues, but not the whole backstory. It all started with me just wanting to know more about how soccer’s doing in Japan and Korea. I was a complete newbie, okay?
First off, I had to get a grip on the history between these two countries. Turns out, it’s pretty heavy. We’re talking about Japan colonizing Korea from 1910 to 1945. During that time, it was like Japan tried to erase Korean culture completely. They made Koreans only use Japanese language and even adopt Japanese names. Imagine losing your ability to read your own history books! I tried to find out more about it, you know, really understand the depth of it.
Then, I stumbled upon some info about football during that period. Even with all that was going on, they still played football. Korean teams were even in the Emperor’s Cup. There was this one team, Kyungsung FC, that caught my eye, playing back in 1935. So I researched more about this aspect. How did they manage to play sports under such circumstances? It’s mind-blowing.
Fast forward to 1993, the J-League was born. Fresh start, right? I looked into how this new league formed and what it meant for Japanese football. It was a big deal for them, a chance to really grow the sport. I also read about this “* Asia Strategy” thing from 2012. Sounds fancy, huh? It’s basically them trying to connect with Southeast Asia, getting players from there to come and play in Japan. I thought, “That’s a smart move, growing with the region’s economy.”
I also bumped into some chatter about the 2002 World Cup, the one Japan and South Korea hosted together. That must have been huge, both countries coming together for such a big event. I tried to find some personal accounts, you know, the feeling on the ground during that time, what’s it like to root for your country when everyone is watching? It’s about how football has an influence on the countries’ relationship.
Now, I’m thinking the J-League might be doing some good for the K-League too. Just my two cents, but it seems like there’s a positive influence there. You know, just like how the J-league is growing with South East Asia. I tried to gather some opinions from forums and stuff. People have different views, but it’s interesting to see the impact.
And get this, the Meiji Yasuda * is sending players to the 2022 World Cup, and not just on Japan’s team. So, they’re really making a mark out there. I read some articles about it, and it seems like a big step for them.
So, yeah, that’s been my journey into the world of “Koreans in the J-League.” I went from knowing next to nothing to getting pretty deep into it. It’s been a learning experience, for sure. And it all started with just a simple curiosity about soccer in Japan and Korea.
