Celtic’s connection with Japanese players runs deep.
Brendan Rodgers has worked with seven in his second spell in Glasgow – but it all started with the signing of Shunsuke Nakamura in 2005.
As one of the star players of the Japanese national team at the time, Nakamura’s exceptional performances made him and Celtic feel like a match made in heaven.
After Koki Mizuno in 2008, there were no more Hoops signings from Japan until Kyogo Furuhashi in 2021 – and since then, it’s been a revolving door.
The most recent two arrivals have been Hayato Inamura and Shin Yamada this summer – but with both players seriously struggling for game time, fans from their homeland have had their say.
Japanese fans on Hayato Inamura and Shin Yamada at Celtic
Left-sided defender Inamura was brought in from Albirex Niigata, having played less than a season’s worth of senior games aged 23.
Yamada, on the other hand, enjoyed an impressive 2024 for Kawasaki Frontale, but was struggling for starts when he joined the Hoops.
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Both weren’t exactly among the J League’s star players when signed by the Hoops, but their lack of game time has drawn some strong reactions in Japan.
Speaking on X, fans made their feelings absolutely clear.
@nlueMt3104 compared their situation to Tomoki Iwata, saying: “Even Tomoki Iwata, who transferred immediately after winning the MVP in the J League, couldn’t get a position, so the level at Celtic is quite high.”
Another user agreed, saying: “Wasted talent. They’re both talented but I wonder what made Celtic want to sign them in the first place?
@taishi_822 raised doubts over whether another Japanese player will choose to join Celtic, saying: “With the Maeda situation and all, it feels like we’ll never see another player choose Celtic again.”
@st04183881 agreed, saying: “It’s inevitable that people think ‘I won’t go to Celtic anymore.’
Another fan was so bitter that he urged the players to join Rangers out of spite, saying: “I want you to go to Rangers and smash Celtic.”
Steady on, mate.
Celtic and the Japanese market
Celtic owe their current involvement in the Japanese market to Ange Postecoglou, who looked to have cracked the code with his signings in the 2021-22 season.
Not only were Kyogo, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda instantly effective players, but they were also incredible value for money.
Since then, there has been the functional but unremarkable signing of Tomoki Iwata and the failed project of Yuki Kobayashi.
Inamura and Yamada unfortunately look like falling into that category so far – but a run of games could change that in an instant.
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