The Sheikh Mansour-owned outfit has handed MLJ the rights to develop its official Japanese-language mobile website for basic devices, such as PSPs or low-end phones, until May 2013.
The website will host daily news content, downloadable team photography and official MCFC merchandise (pictured).
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Given that the majority of people in Japan access the internet via their mobile phones, this deal demonstrates that MCFC is serious about getting in front of the eyeballs of Japanese consumers. Presumably, slicker and more high-end smartphone apps are also on the way. Interestingly, the site will also give Japanese fans the opportunity to purchase match-day tickets directly from their mobiles.
It won’t take a geography scholar to realise that flying from Tokyo into Manchester is one hell of a commute, so whether this signposts an intention to eventually host matches in Japan is open to interpretation.
Through the deal Manchester City is targeting one of the most established football markets in the Far East. The Japanese national team is currently ranked as the top Asian side in official FIFA rankings ahead of Australia and J-League games generating crowds of tens of thousands.
The country’s links to English sides can be traced back to as far as 1983 when Osaka-based tech firm Sharp became the official shirt sponsor of MCFC’s nearest rivals United in a relationship that lasted until 2000.
One of the high-profile names associated with the English game to have plied their trade in Japan include Arsene Wenger, who managed Tokyo side Nagoya Grampus Eight before arriving in North London.
Meanwhile, MOTD presenter and ex-Spurs striker Gary Lineker moved in the opposite direction having left the Gunners’ North London rivals to join Grampus Eight in the early 90s.
If MCFC can build a strong supporter base in Japan it would go some way to reducing its reliance on Abu Dhabi petro-dollars as FIFA’s financial fair play regulations come into force.
And of course, nothing stokes local support for a foreign team than having one of their own wearing the club’s jersey. Again, it’s open to debate whether we’ll see a Nakamura or Nakata lining up in the sky Blue of Eastlands. But I can’t help but think that this is a huge possibility given the club’s investments.
In anticipation of a new wave of Sky Blue support emerging from the land of the rising sun I’ve unearthed some Japanese language recordings of the MCFC anthem ‘Blue Moon’ (below). Apparently the ditty has been popular there since 1936 when Katsuhiko Haida released a version, so MCFC converts there should already know the words.
On that note, we’ve taken the time to translate some key MCFC sayings (yes, we cheated and used Google translate) that will make any Japanese fan fit in at Eastlands:
‘We are the real Manchester club’
‘I preferred it when we played at Maine Road’
‘Don't get me started on Gary Neville’
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