Players from Ryutsukeizai University Kashiwa High School football club taking part in a training session. — AFP
JAPAN’s national high school football tournament is thriving after more than 100 years, attracting huge crowds, millions watching on TV and breeding future stars, despite professional clubs trying to lure away young talent.
The annual tournament which kicked off last Saturday is still regarded as the pinnacle of amateur football with young players dreaming of playing in the final in front of tens of thousands at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
