Japanese stars loving life at Stuttgart

Japanese defender Gotoku Sakai has already made a close friend in countryman Shinji Okazaki since joining Stuttgart last week.

After signing with the Bundesliga club almost two weeks ago, the pair have shared meals, bunked together, and frequently trained together at the team’s winter camp in Turkey.

“I was delighted (to have Sakai join the team),” Okazaki told the club’s official website.

“I already knew Go from the 2010 World Cup (where Sakai was a support member of the Japan squad) and the 2011 Asian Championships. Even then we did a number of things together. Now we of course spend a lot of time together.”

Sakai, a full-back for three years at J.League side Albirex Niigata before moving to Stuttgart, was delighted to have a fellow Japanese player in the team.

“To be playing in Germany is a very special feeling and my mother is very proud of me,” the 20-year-old, whose mother is German, said.

“My grandmother lives in Nurnberg and intends to come and visit me in Stuttgart soon. I am very highly motivated to learn German as quickly as possible.”

Sakai is the latest Japanese player to enter the Bundesliga, joining players such as Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa and Wolfsburg’s Makoto Hasebe.

He is expected to be a key member of Japan’s squad for the London Olympics, should they advance, but, before then, the youngster will need to adjust to his new surroundings.

“I’ve only been here in Germany for a few days but what I have noticed is that people drink beer even in the afternoon,” he laughed.