Takahiro Fujita: Strengthening Japan Through Play-by-Play Commentary

March 28, 2023

Three months have passed since the Qatar World Cup, which captivated all of Japan. The Japanese players who performed dynamically on that grand stage have continued to excel globally immediately following the tournament. Many Japanese players, such as Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton and Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad, are producing results. I am already looking forward to the 2026 World Cup.

After graduating from university, I worked as an announcer for five years at a broadcasting station in my hometown of Kagawa Prefecture, and two years ago, I became a freelance announcer. Currently, I am based in Tokyo, primarily providing play-by-play commentary for international soccer such as the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League, as well as the J.League.

I first aspired to be an announcer in my second year of junior high school. It started for the simple reason that I loved television and talking, but I had always wanted to be involved in soccer commentary. The catalyst was the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan. As a fourth grader, I was deeply moved by the sight of players from various countries fighting for their national pride, and I experienced firsthand the excitement that swept across Japan. Since then, whether watching matches or playing soccer video games, I found myself imitating play-by-play commentary. Thinking that such imitation has now become my profession, life is truly mysterious.

Now, when people think of play-by-play commentary, they often have a strong image of describing plays and shouting excitedly during goal scenes, but there is more to it than that. I believe that a commentator is a "guide." Just as listening to an audio guide in a museum deepens one's understanding of the artwork, watching a match while listening to commentary significantly increases the enjoyment. Such commentary is my ideal. To achieve this, it is necessary not only to watch recent matches of both teams but also to keep in mind tactics, player characteristics and backgrounds, the history of the clubs, and the history and culture of the countries and cities involved. I approach each broadcast with this kind of thorough preparation.

I have a dream I want to fulfill through this work. That is to "strengthen Japanese soccer through play-by-play commentary." Through my commentary, more people will become interested in soccer, and the number of discerning fans will increase. Children watching the broadcast will look up to soccer players and play with the aim of reaching new heights. In this way, the number of wonderful players will grow, and the Japan national team will become stronger. It may be a roundabout way, but I work hard every day hoping to make such a contribution.

Dreaming of the day when our Japan national team lifts the golden World Cup trophy, I continue to speak today.