Even anime haters won't be able to pass up some of the best sports anime like Blue Lock, Hajime no Ippo, Haikyuu!!, and ...

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.

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.

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 ...

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.