From Struggle to Style: Jun Endo on Finding Herself Through Fashion

The Lady Gaga of women’s soccer

Sometimes she appears in her trademark pink hair with a leopard-print matching set. Other times she shows up in black leather pants with a flashy pink fur coat over a midriff-baring top. The Instagram of Japan women’s national team midfielder Jun Endo (25) has been attracting attention.

Endo, who hails from Fukushima Prefecture, played for Nippon TV Beleza in Japan until 2021. Since 2022, she has been playing for Angel City in the NWSL, one of the world’s top women’s soccer leagues based in Los Angeles.

With her explosive dribbling speed and highly accurate left foot, Endo has been part of Nadeshiko Japan since her teenage years. Although her style of play was bold, she was generally shy, with natural black hair and a quiet demeanor.

“I’m often told, ‘You seem so different from when you were in Japan,’ but when I first transferred here, nobody in America knew who I was. So I dyed my hair pink so they’d remember me. Then fans started dyeing their hair pink too, or wearing pink wigs to cheer for me. I became known as that pink-haired player, and lately fans come with pink hair saying, ‘I match you, Jun!’ It feels really nice.”

The many striking outfits posted on her Instagram look like they were shot at fashion shows, but in reality, most are taken when she arrives at the stadium for home games — meaning, they’re her everyday clothes.

“People often get shocked and say it’s too flashy (laughs). At first I didn’t put that much thought into it, but now my teammates say, ‘What are you going to wear next?’ And since I know photos will be taken at the stadium, I get pumped up. Recently, professional photographers have been asking me, ‘Do you want to model?’ which makes me happy as someone who loves fashion.”

Because of her extremely unique style, some have called her the “Lady Gaga of women’s soccer,” but Endo herself laughs and says she has no admiration for Gaga nor is she consciously inspired by her.

“I’m not trying to imitate her at all (laughs). Honestly, I don’t even have a favorite brand. I just wear what I like. I don’t hesitate — when I go shopping and see something nice, I buy it instantly. Even online, I’m clicking add to cart whenever I have a spare moment.”

When I was alone, I used to cry

Behind Endo’s increasingly bold fashion choices was a major injury: a left ACL tear she suffered in February last year.

“After the first surgery, my knee stiffened and would only bend to 125 degrees. To return to playing, it needed to bend at least 135 to 140 degrees, so I had to undergo another surgery. After getting injured, I cried my eyes out and couldn’t recover emotionally for months. Even though I acted cheerful in front of my teammates, I would cry whenever I was alone in my car.”

Endo played in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and was instrumental in Japan’s run to the quarterfinals at the 2023 Australia–New Zealand World Cup, scoring one goal and providing two assists. She was expected to shine at the 2024 Paris Olympics as well, but the injury kept her from participating.

“I wanted to kick a ball but couldn’t. When I tried to lift my spirits even a little, fashion became my way to reset my mood. Everyone looked forward to seeing what I would wear next, and spending time on something I loved became emotional rehab for me. Looking back on Instagram, I can see that my outfits became more and more flamboyant after the injury (laughs).”

In June this year, she made the squad for a league match — her first official selection in about 1 year and 4 months. On August 1, she returned to action as a starter against OL Reign. Nadeshiko Japan head coach Nils Nielsen (53) has named Endo as a player he hopes will return to the national team. Ever since joining Angel City, her play has become more aggressive and her ability to break through opponents on her own has improved. Her comeback is eagerly awaited by Nadeshiko Japan, who are once again climbing toward the top of the world.

“Of course, I’m aiming for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but first I need to get my body back to its best. I’ll take it slow without rushing.”

With the individuality she honed in LA and the strength she gained through adversity, the Lady Gaga of women’s soccer continues to evolve. Now it’s time for her on-field performance to take center stage again.

From the October 24/31, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”