For the first time since 1996, VfB Stuttgart are returning to Japan for part of their pre-season. From 26 July – 1 August, VfB will be involved in the third edition of the official ‘Bundesliga Japan Tour’, which will take head coach Sebastian Hoeneß and his squad to Kyoto and Hiroshima. As part of the trip, VfB will play two friendlies, against Kyoto Sanga FC (on 28 July) and Sanfrecce Hiroshima (1 August), which will be co-hosted by the Bundesliga’s Japanese TV broadcaster, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SPTV).
VfB will also train at those locations, with some sessions open to the public as a way of introducing themselves to Japanese fans, as well as taking part in a wide-ranging programme in conjunction with the Bundesliga and VfB partners. The focus of this will be on fan, media, cultural and CSR activities. The VfB squad in Japan will be accompanied by former legends of the club, most notably honorary captain Guido Buchwald, who spent six years of his career in Japan as a player, coach and sporting director.´
Japan is one of VfB Stuttgart’s five international target markets, where the club and its partners – including Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Kärcher – have built up a close network over the past decades. In addition, VfB have long been committed to building intercultural bridges in Japan in terms of football and sport in general, as an ambassador for Baden-Württemberg. The activities of the youth performance centre in Japan, the VfB football school and further training opportunities for Japanese coaches play a key role in this respect.
“We are delighted to be the official ambassadors of the Bundesliga in Japan this year, and to be able to present German football over there, together with our partners and those of the DFL,” said Rouven Kasper, member of the board and chief marketing and sales officer for VfB Stuttgart. “For a long while now, VfB have had good contacts within Japanese football, and have maintained them over the years via activities such as our football school, visits in both directions from junior teams, media presence and further training for coaches. This summer, we will be taking the next logical step and carrying out part of our pre-season training in Japan.”
“As a club with a long and unique history, and after a fantastic Bundesliga season, VfB Stuttgart’s global fanbase continues to grow around the world, especially in Japan where the club has such a strong relationship. Since the Bundesliga Japan Tour started in 2022, the reception for Bundesliga clubs has been incredible, with packed stadiums in Tokyo, Osaka and Saitama. This year, the tour will again encompass two new cities, bringing the Bundesliga closer to fans throughout Japan. This is something very important for us as a league, and I am very pleased that we can work with our trusted partner SPTV on bringing this exciting series to life for a third time in just two seasons.”