Curing the “Samurai Blues”: Bringing a Great Wave of Improvement to Japan’s Soccer

Japan head coach Javier Aguirre, October 2014. (© Jiji Press)

Inaugural J. League chairman Kawabuchi Saburō (center, standing) at the November 1991 press conference called to announce the league’s formation. (© Jiji Press)

Hokusai, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. (© Fukuma Hidenori/Aflo)