InsideJapan News Network

Footballers in Asia cannot claim to have hit the big time unless they have been given a nickname, it has been said.

Writing for Goal.com, John Duerden profiled Japanese player Naohiro Takahara, who has really made it big, earning himself the nickname "The Sushi Bomber".

Mr Duerden noted that "the Western media has nothing on its Eastern equivalent when it comes to making monikers" for sports stars.

Many nicknames given to Asian players are to do with their style of play, with others earning their title due to their physical appearance.

The writer notes that footballer Vahid Hashemian's "ability to hang in the air" earned him his Helicopter nickname, with Mohammed Noor's looks seeing him referred to as Saudi Arabia's Patrick Vieira.

Japanese striker Naohiro Takahara is known as "The Sushi Bomber" as he is known for "hitting the target" regularly, the site said.

Meanwhile, in related Japan sports news, the country recently won the honour of hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Written by Graham McPherson.


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