[Lecture 001] 'Foreign Capital Entering the J.League: Do They Really Give You Wings?' [Schetzen University | Faculty of Football | Department of Sociology]
The theme of our first lecture is 'Foreign Capital Entering the J.League'.
This is a structural change that has been gradually occurring in the J.League in recent years,
and it is not merely a story of 'club acquisition'.
Who does football belong to?
Does a club belong to the community, or does it belong to capital?
Together with you, while deepening this inquiry,
let us sociologically unravel the reality of 'Foreign Capital x J.League'.
Now, let us begin the lecture.
■ The Lost 'Omiya-ness'
The recent performance of Omiya Ardija has, frankly speaking, been disappointing.
(N) Despite being a club with a name,
(T) how many players were
(T) fighting with their souls poured into it? I have my doubts.
Amidst all this, the acquisition drama by Red Bull occurred.
(R) Some may feel it is an unreasonable
(B) acquisition, but
personally, I did not think so.
Rather, I feel that the entry of foreign capital into the J.League might be a chance to change the 'weakness of club management'.
■ The Meaning of 'Increasing Club Value'
With an increasing number of young players moving abroad, the J.League has not been able to escape the structure of 'nurturing and selling cheap'.
To increase the value of the J.League as a whole, a strong management foundation is necessary.
In that respect, incorporating the perspective of foreign capital could potentially be one solution.
And in fact, Omiya, currently fighting in J2, is clinging to the promotion zone for the 2025 season.
It is a performance that makes it hard to believe they were in J3 last year.
■ Even So...
However, there are concerns.
Is the 'identity' as a club not fading away?
The NTT name has been removed from the chest sponsor, and the emblem and team colors have also changed.
I am neither an NTT employee nor a shareholder, so I accept those changes to a certain extent.
But I still feel a sense of discomfort that the content of the football played on the pitch has changed.
■ What Pim Verbeek Left Behind
For old fans, Omiya was synonymous with 'that football'.
The scent of Dutch-style Total Football built by manager Pim Verbeek.
His work, which accommodated the characteristics of the players at the time and built a foundation without forcing anything, remains vivid in my memory even now.
But the current style is fast vertically and emphasizes physicality.
Even if it is a necessary evolution to win, I cannot help but feel that the 'uniqueness' has been lost.
■ Thoughts on the Future of the Youth System
What is even more worrying is the youth and development age groups.
Omiya's youth system has produced many technical players until now.
But will it not shift to physical-oriented development in the future to match the top team's style?
Of course, coordination between development and the top team is necessary.
But I want them to leave 'Omiya-ness' for the next generation as well.
The value of a club should not be measured only by categories or rankings.
■ Finally—Leaving It as a Sentiment
I believe the history of Ardija was with Pim.
Within the things that change, there are things that do not change.
Is it not okay for there to be people who continue to face the club in that way?
Thinking that, I have left these words behind.
[End]
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