The Best Japanese Players in Premier League History - Ranked
By 90min
Liverpool's £7.25m capture of Red Bull Salzburg forward Takumi Minamino means he will become the ninth Japanese footballer to play in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old's predecessors have been something of a mixed bag. Two of them have been crowned champions of England, one has been a stalwart on the south coast, and a few have been lost in the sands of time.
Here, 90min ranks the eight Japanese players to have featured in the top-flight.
8. Kazuyuki Toda
Kazuyuki Toda's international career was rather brief, lasting less than two years as he racked up 20 caps for the Samurai Blues. His spell in England was even shorter.
The defender joined Tottenham Hotspur on loan from Shimizu S-Pulse back in 2003, and... didn't do all that much.
In his four appearances for the Lilywhites, Toda made no real contribution, with the centre-back now nothing more than a distant memory for Spurs fans.
7. Yoshinori Muto
A £9.5m transfer fee has bought precious little for Newcastle United, who were convinced Yoshinori Muto was worth the money after three solid seasons in the Bundesliga.
In terms of Premier League action, the striker has donned that famous black and white strip on 22 occasions since joining in 2018, yet he's currently sitting on a measly total of two goals for the Magpies.
It's no wonder Steve Bruce has hardly used Muto this campaign, playing him in only four matches in 2019/20.
6. Ryo Miyaichi
Big things were expected of Ryo Miyaichi when he arrived at Arsenal in 2011 after a successful trial in north London.
Arsene Wenger was mightily impressed by the winger's talents, but he quickly lost patience with the youngster following some indifferent displays in the cups.
Miyaichi would make just the solitary Premier League appearance for the Gunners, before being shipped out on loan to Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic. Whether he was in the capital or the north-west, the wide man just couldn't hack it in England, failing to score in any of his 25 top-flight games.
5. Junichi Inamoto
A no-nonsense midfielder with a knack for scoring stunners, Junichi Inamoto swiftly earned a spot in the hearts of Fulham supporters after he moved across London from Arsenal.
During his two-year stay at Craven Cottage, the fan favourite won the Intertoto Cup, though injury soon ended his time at the club.
Due to concerns over Inamoto's fitness, Fulham chose not to re-sign him, opening the door for a cut-price transfer to West Bromwich Albion.
Baggies boss Gary Megson was an admirer of his, but the former was sacked not long after the Japan star had agreed a move to the Hawthorns. Unfortunately, the incoming Bryan Robson wasn't so keen on Inamoto, using him sparingly, before letting him walk away.
4. Hidetoshi Nakata
If there's a debate about who's the greatest Asian player in history, the name Hidetoshi Nakata invariably comes into conversation.
Sadly, we never got to see the very best of his abilities, with the midfielder signing for Bolton ahead of the 2005/06 campaign, which would be his last as a professional footballer.
Still, there were some touches of brilliance from Nakata as he offered a glimpse of his prodigious talents, helping the Wanderers secure an eighth-place finish.
3. Shinji Kagawa
Prior to joining Manchester United, Shinjo Kagawa was one of the most highly-rated playmakers in Europe. By the time he left Old Trafford, the midfielder's reputation had taken a sizeable hit.
That explains how Borussia Dortmund managed to get him for a bargain £6.5m in 2014, just two years after he'd landed on these shores. The Red Devils, on the other hand, had spent £17m to lure him away from Signal Iduna Park.
Of course, Kagawa did earn himself a Premier League winner's medal before returning to Germany, having collected six goals and eight assists from his 38 top-flight appearances for United.
2. Maya Yoshida
Maya Yoshida is now into his eighth year at Southampton, improving season-on-season to become one of the most revered Saints players of the last decade.
£3m was an absolute steal for the south coast outfit, earning them consistent performances and plenty of determination.
However, Yoshida faces arguably his greatest challenge since switching to St Mary's, with Southampton occupying the final Premier League relegation spot following the first 17 matches of the campaign. His displays will be integral as they look to keep their top-flight status.
1. Shinji Okazaki
It's impossible to dislike Shinji Okazaki and his beaming smile.
He spent four seasons with Leicester City, though there's no debate about which was his finest year in the Midlands.
Okazaki's debut campaign at King Power Stadium saw the Foxes defy all odds and all logic to win the club's first ever English league title, and he certainly played his part.
The frontman didn't have an amazing scoring ratio, netting 14 in 114 Premier League matches. However, his work-rate, link-up play, and intelligent runs made him the perfect foil for Jamie Vardy, who spearheaded Leicester's attack.
Together, they helped Claudio Ranieri's men achieve the unthinkable.
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