The current organization that increases anti.J League #1
The current chairman of the J. League is a former J. League player.
We feel that this seems to be managed from the perspective of the players with belittled for the companies and local governments that are providing support, including financial support.
In fact, I frequently hear bad reputation about the J. League from people around me.
On the other hand, a genuine businessman has been appointed chairman of the popular B.League, which will eliminate a system similar to the J. League and implement a major reform beginning in 2026 that will emphasize the importance of management skills of club teams without placing a burden on local governments or sponsors.
I would like to consider some of the most typical opinions among the recent bad reputation of the J. League.
First, there are two articles that I really want you to read.
(1) “Kaisha SHIKIHO ONLINE [会社四季報ONLINE]” published an article titled, “influential Chairman Nonomura’s blueprint for a ‘profitable J. League’: The key is the creation of a ’20 billion yen club.“Just my personal opinion, but I thought this article could be called at the level of a “dream for the future” written by a child, because there is no description of the management strategy and business model to achieve the goal.
(2) “The NiKKEI” published an article titled “The Value of ‘J’: The Road to Redefinition: Mitsuru Murai, Former J. League Chairman, Reflecting on 30 Years of the J. League (4)”.
Shocking from the start, it begins with the sentences, “You are the taxes league. How much taxes are you going to spend?” When he was criticized in the local area where he had gone, former J. League chairman Mitsuru Murai bowed his head. Once we got involved with J. League, we couldn’t get out of it. It’s like a dishonest business practice,” he once joked to me in a non-funny way. “
This is an accurate expression of the very nature of the J. League, which is being escalated by the current organization.
We have picked up some points that many people have pointed out as issues.
About the dedicated soccer stadium
“I felt that if we want to become a 20 billion yen club, it is a must to have a stadium that is worthy of such a club. I would like to convey that to many club officials and supporters.” (Source: Kaisha SHIKIHO ONLINE [会社四季報ONLINE])
Of course, I do not deny having a dedicated stadium as a professional sport.
However, the club teams should build a dedicated soccer stadium if they are going to have a J. League dedicated stadium that is not for the public benefit.
If the local government is going to have a soccer-only stadium built with taxes, I think the club teams should be responsible for the usage fees and grass maintenance costs during the periods when the public is not allowed to use the soccer field.
He seems to be escalating his demands for the stadium more and more, as if he thinks it is natural to spend taxes. In other words, it seems to me that he is saying that it is natural to use taxes to pay for private revenue.
I think it is a case that citizens can sue their head of local government and council members for ‘private misappropriation of taxes’ regarding the local government giving a large amount of taxes to a private company for its profit.
(Reference: Lawsuit against the soccer stadium in Iwafune Sports Park, Tochigi City)
About attracting more attendance
”With an increase in attendance, revenue from admission fees will increase, as will sales of goods, food, and beverages.” (Source: Kaisha SHIKIHO ONLINE [会社四季報ONLINE])
This comment is nothing special.
However, the J.League has the precondition that the number of games it hosts is small.
Within this precondition, there is no explanation of the number of attendance and expected revenue required to become a 20 billion yen club team, nor any strategy or business model to achieve this.
“Japan’s economy has stopped growing for the past 30 years, and salaries have not risen in the past 30 years, but if that doesn’t improve, there won’t be any growth.” (Source: Kaisha SHIKIHO ONLINE [会社四季報ONLINE])
He talks about ideal salaries for club team staff, players, etc., but does not explain how they would be funded.
About the revenue
“It is true that there is a parent company (the largest shareholder), and it is grateful to have their support. However, we should not be too dependent on them. I think we need more managers and club staff who can earn their own income and bring their clubs to global standards.” (Source: Kaisha SHIKIHO ONLINE [会社四季報ONLINE])“
First of all, we have to move forward with the goal of becoming a club with revenue of 20 billion yen. We will explore various challenges to achieve this goal.” (Source: Kaisha SHIKIHO ONLINE [会社四季報ONLINE])“
Players are entering oversea leagues because they want to be successful and earn money. I think that the J. League should make an effort to be closer to the higher leagues, clubs, and markets.” (Source: Kaisha SHIKIHO ONLINE [会社四季報ONLINE])
As a former J. League player, I feel that he is thinking only from the perspective of the J. League only.
As the chairman of a professional sports organization, I thought he should explain the revenue structure, business strategy, and business model as a professional sports club team that is acceptable to the public.
And I believe that this would be a message to the local government and citizens, including the anti-J. League people.
The interviewer for this Kaisha SHIKIHO ONLINE [会社四季報ONLINE] article is introduced as a soccer journalist.
This soccer journalist commented, “As a former J.League player and former club president himself, his great strength is that he can express his views from both the players’ and management’s perspectives.” (Source: Kaisha SHIKIHO ONLINE [会社四季報ONLINE]).
As a personal opinion, I do not understand at all which part of the content of this article makes it a managerial perspective.
Does this soccer journalist think that relying on taxes to achieve lofty ideals and to make club teams profitable is the way to view the management perspective?
Although it is not included in the article, if he explained about a roadmap and business model for moving away from running a league that relies on taxes and for club teams to become 20 billion yen clubs, I think that should be included in the article. Without it, the article will mislead many people and further encourage criticism.
Please write an article explaining the basis for your statement that “his great strength is that he can express his views from both the players’ and management’s perspectives.” (Source: Kaisha SHIKIHO ONLINE [会社四季報ONLINE]).
Kaisha SHIKIHO [Japan Company Handbook] ONLINE “Influential Chairman Nonomura’s blueprint for a ‘profitable J.League’: The key is the creation of a ’20 billion yen club“ (2024/08/30)
https://shikiho.toyokeizai.net/news/0/774109
The Nikkei “The Value of ‘J’: The Road to Redefinition: Mitsuru Murai, Former J. League Chairman, Reflecting on 30 Years of the J. League (4)” (2024/08/30)
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQODH0837M0Y3A500C2000000/
Thanks.