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Two Spanish soccer heavyweights, Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres, made their debut in Japan on July 22, though both of their clubs ended up on the losing side. Still, Japanese soccer fans were excited about their arrival.

Iniesta, a former Barcelona star, has signed for Vissel Kobe, and Torres has left Atletico Madrid for Sagan Tosu. They have followed in the footsteps of some great soccer players who have helped Japan become an Asian soccer heavyweight. Japanese men's national team made it to the last 16 of the World Cup in Russia, the only one from Asia which is home to 70 percent of the world's population.

Japan's national squad made its first World Cup finals appearance in France in 1998 and has qualified for the finals every four years since then. After Japan's professional soccer league, the 10-team J. League, was established in 1991, the beautiful game has developed at an increasing pace thanks to the arrival of some international soccer stars. The J. League signed soccer legends such as Jorginho, Bebeto, Gary Lineker and Arthur Antunes Coimbra, better known as Zico.