Blues aim to be big in Japan

MANCHESTER CIty FC’s parent company, City Football Group, has launched a Japanese office.

Based in Tokyo, City Football Japan, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manchester-based parent and will oversee commercial operations in Japan – key club partner Nissan is based there – as well as work with football club Yokohama F Marinos, which is part-owned by CFG.

Experienced executive Takao Toshishige has been hired a as managing director . Prior to joining CFJ, he was senior director at retailer Rakuten Inc. and served also as a director at Crimson Football Club. He has also worked for the industrial bank of Japan.

Ferran Soriano, chief executive of City Football Group, said: “We are growing and developing a long-term presence in Japan. Creating City Football Japan will give us an opportunity to strengthen further our relationships with Nissan and with our colleagues at Yokohama F· Marinos, and help to support and develop Japanese football. It will also allow us to pursue greater commercial opportunities in Japan.”

Takao Toshishige, added: “We are confident that we can work closely with Japanese businesses which want to reach both domestic and international audiences to promote their brands.

City Football Group has its HQ in Mancghester and has other offices in Abu Dhabi, London, New York, and Melbourne.

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