Japan's high school population has plunged by about 50 ... Nakazawa says, "In the US, sports club have a specific season when they play." He added, "A flexible system like that gives students ...

Unlike in Europe, where young players are snapped up by professional club academies, high school football ... said it was because school sports strike a chord in Japan. "I'm from Gunma Prefecture ...

They came up through Nippon Professional Baseball and waited for free agency under the Japanese system, or were allowed to go earlier by their clubs. But times are changing ... He attended Hanamaki ...