http://www.voetbalbelgie.be/nl/article.php?id=48739Komano is joining Belgium’s Sint-Truidense VV – bottom of the league, struggling so, hopefully he will be getting a guarantee of playing time, as opposed to if he was going to Bayern Munich (hello Usami!). Hopefully he’ll come back a better, more experienced player for it. Good luck!

Japan U23 training sees 26 players called up for a camp in Guam from January 14 to 22 in preparation for the soon-coming Olympic qualifiers.Eligible Europe-based players were not included.The players will be pushing for places in the game on February 5 game against Syria heading for the 2012 London Olympics and Japan will be hoping to add to their maximum 9 points from three games.Note that Kiyotake has been thrown back in the mic, even though he could probably cement a place in the full team now! Goalkeepers

As Tweeted weeks ago (yes you heard it here first!), Japan’s 26-year-old forward will join Southampton from Sanfrecce Hiroshima subject – on a two-and-a-half-year contract it seems, subject to the details being tied up, and the good old “medical” being passed.As I have told various newspapers and the BBC (interview going out in a few hours – UK time early morning, I am told), he’s got a great future given the right service and time on the field. Clinical finisher, never-say-die attitude and nice guy to boot – we wish him the best of luck in the Premier League in 2012-13, and hope some of his trademark goal celebrations are seen soon on the fields of England’s league 1.Check out his goal for Japan – in extra time against Australia – in the Asian Cup Final in January 2011, for a superb volley from this boy! I’ll try to find it on YouTube and link it here and to my YouTube account (JSoccerMagazine) and my UStream account (also JSoccerMagazine). Search for the accounts and join me!

After the season close we took some well-earned (really!!) time off and are currently on a beach in Thailand! New issue of JSoccer Magazine in the works (January 31st – Issue 3 on the streets), web site update and relaunch before the new season (mid to late-February target)…. and plenty of transfer updates coming at you from next week, when it’s all settled back down…. have a great 2012 with JSoccer Magazine and JSoccer.Com!Alan Gibson

The Unofficial Football World Champions – North Korea – have lost their beloved leader! Will this affect them going into their first defence of this prestigious title against Tajikistan, Feb. 29th, 2012?Check here for more on the UFWCs! Unofficial Football World Champions

It’s all in the news! Or it will be VERY soon – Tsuneyasu Miyamoto – who entertained us at the JSoccer Magazine Christmas Cruise last week has (or will today?) announced that he is retiring from playing, with a view to coaching in the near future.For a player who I saw personally when he was 17 – stating then that I thought he would captain his country – I’ll now put my neck on the line and state that Tsune will manage his country, eventually!But, for now, he’ll have to start somewhere else, probably

JSoccer Magazine’s You Tube ChannelYes, JSoccer.Com and JSoccer Magazine now have a YouTube Channel – just click on the link above! Please take a look at the videos and comment, subscribe, reply with your own videos! Just keep in touch with Japanese football through JSoccer.com!You’ll find video comments (JSoccer.COMment!) on our Christmas Cruise with Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, the Club World Cup, J1 and J2 finishes and much more. Check in regularly for more!

Yes, first come, first served, for four signed clear files (see the video on the right side of the Christmas Cruise page link for more!). Subscribe to ten issues of JSoccer Magazine (5000 yen within Japan, 8000 yen overseas, all including postage). You will get the first two issues AND the Miyamoto signed file. Mail alan@jsoccer.com for more!Thank you for your support.

Click on the “Christmas Cruise” link above right, or the link below for more!JSoccer Magazine was proud to host a Christmas Dinner Cruise, including a Talk Show with Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, in Kobe, on December 10th. The night kicked off at 7 pm with the Luminous Kobe II cruise ship pulling away from the dock and editor and publisher of the magazine, Alan Gibson welcoming the assembled guests. Because of the tight schedule – a two hour cruise around Kobe and surrounding areas – the events came thick and fast, with five signed Miyamoto books, “Walk On”, being some of the first door prizes out of the box. (click here for more on the night and a photo gallery)Thank you, Tsune, for a great night!

Ryo Miyaichi could well go out on loan from Arsenal again, in January, with Dutch teams and Spanish teams enquiring about the Japanese teenager! He scored three in 12 games for Feyenoord in his loan period last season and, since returning to Arsenal has featured in a couple of League Cup games but that’s all so far.Arsene Wenger has not decided either way yet on whether he’ll send the youngster out for more experience or throw him into the Premier League action when he returns from his current enforced injury lay-off.What do YOU think Ryo should do for the rest of the 2011-12 season?