Keisuke Honda’s Surprising Comeback and the Right-Hand Man He Discussed in Nishiazabu

Former Japanese national team soccer player Keisuke Honda (38) has decided to return to active duty and is attracting a great deal of attention.

On July 29, Honda suddenly announced that he would be joining the Bhutanese soccer team Paro FC for one game only. This will be Honda’s first return to Bhutan in about three years, since November ’21. The match is scheduled to be played on August 13 (Japan time), and will be a big game for Paro FC in their bid to join the AFC Challenge League, which leads to the Asian Champions League.

When Honda moved to Italy’s prestigious AC Milan in 2002, he was asked the reason for his decision, and he said, “Little Honda” in my heart answered. However, it seems that it was someone else who consulted him about returning to the club for the big game.

At the end of July, Honda was in Nishiazabu (Minato Ward), Tokyo. He appeared before 11:30 p.m. and entered a building with a man who appeared to be his valet. Only one small, stylish bar was open. After about two hours, Honda came out of the building. He was flanked by what appeared to be his valet and another man.

The man Honda was meeting was his right-hand man, Kohei Yamamoto. Mr. Yamamoto plays an important role in the investment fund “X&KSK” that Honda has launched. Honda and Yamamoto met in Singapore and established the company with a common vision of investment direction and strategy. Although their genres are completely different, I believe that they sought Mr. Yamamoto’s opinion on this player’s return as well.

The three of them, including Honda, broke up on the spot. Honda got into a cab and was seen off by the two men as he left.

In a July 31 appearance on the special program “Keisuke Honda and Hiroyuki’s Abema Prime” (Abema TV), Honda spoke enthusiastically about the true reason for his return.

He said, “When I visited Bhutan on a private trip a few months ago, I received an enthusiastic offer from a local soccer team. I decided to accept the offer because this one match is very important for ‘Paro FC. (After studying their opponents), I knew that they had the strength difference to play a somewhat good game, so I thought I might be able to turn the tide if I joined them.

However, the public was very critical of Honda. He has been away from soccer for nearly three years, and his sudden return to active duty is reckless,” and “I get the impression that he is now more of a businessman than a soccer player.

In fact, during the special program, Hiroyuki (47) asked, “When he said he would only go to one game, wasn’t he joking that he would go if he could? He was also harshly criticized by Hiroyuki (47), who said, “You said you would only go to one match. However, in response to these comments, Honda said, “That’s not true at all!

It was an ideal offer!　I feel like a fighter who is only going to compete in one match. I am nervous. If I make a mistake in my adjustment, there is a possibility that I may injure my leg and be unable to compete. So I have to be very careful with my adjustments.

He emphasizes that this is a serious challenge.

Will Honda be able to shine as a soccer player again, or will the match in Bhutan be his last? What will be the fate of this rare fantasista?