A new breath of life for Japanese soccer emerges in the ancient city of Kamakura - Report from the 3rd Kamakura Inter Town Meeting Event
"Kamakura Inter is interesting. We've got an event coming up, so please come." Jun Uruno, who played for Ventforet Kofu and Roasso Kumamoto and is currently working as a soccer coach, said this to me during a break in an interview with a certain media outlet. It turns out he's recently been involved with a team called Kamakura International FC (commonly known as Kamakura Inter), which plays in the Kanagawa Prefecture Amateur League Division 3. To be honest, I had never heard of Kamakura Inter until Uruno told me about it. However, having gotten a glimpse into Uruno's rich life through interviews, his words, "Kamakura Inter is interesting," never seemed like a lie or a falsehood to me. At that moment, the name Kamakura Inter was etched in the back of my mind.
Taisuke Segawa
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2018/10/29
What is Kamakura Inter?
October 19, 2018. Guided by Uruno, I arrived at NEKTON OFUNA, the venue for Kamakura Intel's third town meeting, and stepped inside to find around 30 people already chatting.
After exchanging brief greetings with Uruno and a few other people who had arrived at roughly the same time, and taking our seats, Yomo Kentaro, founder of Kamakura Intel, took the stage, and the town meeting began immediately.
Shikata is a truly talented global talent, having built a career at a major consulting firm and worked overseas for many years, but the source of his passion actually lies in the FIFA World Cup in France, which he first watched as a student. Fascinated by soccer at this tournament, Shikata launched a website reporting on the current state of soccer in Southeast Asia and has become a hub for the distribution of soccer information between Japan and other countries, introducing case studies and conducting research to promote the future development of Asian soccer.
According to Shikata, who has an extraordinary passion for soccer, Kamakura Inter is a soccer club that is thoroughly internationalized, based on the slogan "Let's create an Inter in Japan." Their vision is to use the soccer club as a base to create international added value in their hometown of Kamakura by engaging in international education, international business, and international exchange. Indeed, Brazil, the kingdom of soccer, has SC Internacional. And Italy, the land of calcio, has Internazionale Milano. Wouldn't it be great to have a team like that here in Japan? And what's more, it's located in the ancient capital of Kamakura. That alone has an indescribable charm.
Current situation of Kamakura Inter
The audience was then captivated by Shikata's light-hearted talk, which was laced with humor. Many nodded and listened intently as he spoke about the history of Kamakura Inter, the succession of miraculous encounters, and how the team got started thanks to the talented soccer players and local friends who were drawn to the team by their passion.
What surprised me most was that the process leading up to the stadium's construction was no mere pipe dream. On his own website, current Kamakura Mayor Takashi Matsuo mentions building a stadium in the Fukazawa area, integrated with a commercial complex modeled after Singapore's "Our Tampines Hub," and creating a professional sports club. And Shikata, the founder of Kamakura Inter, is proposing the stadium's construction to the local government and exploring the possibilities every day.
Even more surprising is that the team has grown rapidly since its launch. Don't be fooled by the fact that they started in the third division of the prefectural league. The team, which started with just three players in January 2018, won the opening match of the league in May, won the Kamakura Cup in July, and embarked on a tour of Singapore in August, steadily expanding in both strength and size. Currently, there are 99 teams in the Kanagawa Prefecture Third Division League, to which Kamakura Inter belongs, and Kamakura Inter is currently competing in the league, aiming to finish in the top four, which is a requirement for promotion to the second division.
While Kamakura Inter is painting a grand picture for the future, it is also trying to overcome the challenges in front of them one by one. Many unknown players have expressed a strong interest in the club, and are increasingly contacting the club with inquiries about joining. Some of them are even former J.League players. It seems that the staff are beginning to scream with joy at this situation.
Expectations for Kamakura Inter
The town meeting that day was attended not only by team staff including Shikata and General Manager Yoshida, but also by local supporters and people involved in the sports industry. Currently, it is only known by those in the know, but looking at the people who gathered, it seemed as though the event will gradually gain more attention in the future.
Among them, Yuta Minami, a former member of the Japanese national team who was a guest on the day and is currently playing as the starting goalkeeper for Yokohama FC,
"Every soccer club has a beginning. I was able to witness firsthand how a club is built from scratch, and it was a very valuable experience."
He says.
Through his own enthusiasm, he got many people involved and created something from nothing in a short space of time. Although it has only just been established, Kamakura Inter has a clear vision and is striving towards the future. What kind of growth curve will it chart in the future? We will be watching with great anticipation.
Interview / text / photo:Yasuyuki Segawa
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