While sports anime is on the rise these recent times, Blue Lock has managed to find a way in which the manner of portrayal of soccer is different. Instead of the usual themes where there is more ...

Japanese soccer players forming connections with L.A.’s Japanese American community Angel City forward Jun Endo, center, celebrates during a match against NJ/NY Gotham in March 2023.

The first Japanese soccer player to feature for an L.A. team was defender Akira Kaji, who joined the now-defunct Chivas USA halfway through its final season and made 14 starts. But Endo, a free ...

One of the earliest soccer manga and anime, Blue Legend Shoot! has been somewhat forgotten, and the same can be said for Tsukasa Oshima's Shoot! source material.