Late last month, it was announced that Andrés Iniesta was leaving F.C. Barcelona for a three-year deal with Vissel Kobe. That’s exciting for J League fans, but what must have been cool for Iniesta was meeting the man responsible for his favorite anime. Again.
Yoichi Takahashi debuted his manga Captain Tsubasa back in 1981, a time when soccer didn’t have a large following in Japan. It was a hit and went on to spawn several anime that were broadcasted all over the world.
“It was the anime I liked most as a kid,” Iniesta said at a recent gathering to celebrate his joining Vissel. “I watched it everyday before school.” As soccer site EiF points out, the show inspired a generation of players.
Iniesta has previously met Takahashi, but this was the first time he got original drawings of himself in a Vissel uniform.
Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.