Kozo Tashima first started playing soccer after watching the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and since then he has dedicated his life to developing the sport’s growth in Japan.
The 68-year-old is set to become the first person from Japan to run for the FIFA presidency after announcing he would stand against Gianni Infantino in soccer’s governing body’s election in March.
Tashima has served as a soccer player, coach and bureaucrat and has a reputation for being a safe pair of hands.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.