Japan National Football Team Wins Over China

The Japan national football team won 4-0 against Tunisia in the World Cup on June 21, making significant progress in the first round. Overseas bookmakers have raised Japan's odds of winning from 18th to 12th.

Why is the Japan national football team popular in China?

According to a soccer journalist familiar with Chinese soccer, the Japanese national team was first supported by young people born in the 1990s. They were heavily influenced by the manga 'Captain Tsubasa', and in China, the rival character Taro Misaki is more popular than the main character Tsubasa Ozora.

The influence of manga

For younger Japanese supporters, another manga has had a significant impact, 'Blue Lock' (known as 'Blue Prison' in China), which is popular among Chinese people born in the 2000s. Many readers identify the protagonist Isagi Yoichi with the Japanese player Mikasa, and there are many voices of disappointment about Mikasa's absence in the current tournament.

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