Shinji Ono is a star in Japan. Now with VfL Bochum, he returns to his homeland as part of the DFL's international marketing initiative.
Ono talked with bundesliga.de about Bochum's trip to Japan, the coming season and his aims.
bundesliga.de: Mr Ono, VfL played in Japan against the Yokohama Marinos as part of the DFL's international marketing initiative. How was the trip to your homeland?
Ono: Very good. A game against my old club, the Urawa Red Diamonds, would've been even better, but to help make the Bundesliga better known in Japan together with my teammates is a great job. What's more, I saw some old friends and was able to show my teammates some things in my home country.
bundesliga.de: How important is football in Japan and how has it developed?
Ono: Football keeps getting bigger in Japan. Since the World Cup, a lot has been done, and the J-League is making progress on all fronts. Along with baseball, football is one of our biggest sports. But it's still quite a way off from being as important as the Bundesliga. The stadiums are fantastic and football is higher quality.
bundesliga.de: Do people follow the Bundesliga in Japan?
Ono: Yes. Three Japanese are playing in Germany now, and so people have gotten more interested. You can see that at VfL, where Japanese journalists are always present.
bundesliga.de: You've been in Germany for six months now. How do you like your new home?
Shinji Ono: It's great. Football in Germany is bigger and more professional than in the Netherlands. But life in Germany is very similar to in Rotterdam. I wasn't homesick there, but everything was different and therefore strange. I didn't know the language, people there are different from Japanese, and even in my sport I had to make huge changes. Top-flight football in Europe is much faster than in Japan. In training, you get right down to business. And here at VfL and in the Bundesliga it's even more intense than in Holland.
bundesliga.de: Why did you decide to leave your home country again? Any why did you choose VfL Bochum?
Ono: VfL approached me at the right moment, and it was the right time for me to return to Europe. I still had problems with my fuss, and VfL gave me the chance to play in one of the best league in the world. That's a challenge for any player, and the opportunities I have at VfL are the most professional I've ever encountered.
bundesliga.de: Pre-season is in full swing. What does coach Marcel Koller do differently from your previous coaches?
Ono: Marcel Koller makes you work very hard. I've never been involved in such an intensive pre-season as this. It's almost always with the ball, and he has you train exactly how he wants you to play later on. I like this kind of work and the drive to make every player better, and it works.
bundesliga.de: How has the pre-season been going so far at VfL?
Ono: We're working hard and making good progress. The results of friendlies are secondary. What's important is that we're ready for the first game of the season and the match in Münster.
bundesliga.de: How have new players fit into the team and what roll might they play?
Ono: All the new players bring qualities with them that are going to help us. They also fit in on a human level — we've noticed that in training camp when we did other things besides football training.
bundesliga.de: How far can VfL Bochum go this coming season?
Ono: We have a common aim: 45 points. We can start thinking about more once we've reached that.
bundesliga.de: And your personal aim?
Ono: I want to play as much as possible and to be successful. Every game begins the same way, and as a team we can win every match. That's how I go into every game.
Bischoff On Verge Of Arsenal Move - Report
DFL markets itself: VfL Bochum to visit Japan
DFL markets itself: VfL Bochum to visit Japan
Inamoto to play for Japan again
“Cologne have a great history”