Tokyo: second edition of joint CIES and Dentsu Asian Football Management Seminar

Dentsu Hall, Shiodome, Tokyo, Dec 3, 2014: Following the success of the May 2014 event, a second edition of the prestigious football management seminar “Asian Football after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil” was co-hosted in Tokyo by CIES and DENTSU Inc in December.

The core aim of this series of management seminars is to consider the development of football in Asia by analyzing and comparing it to the football system seen in Europe.

The second edition of this seminar was yet again highly successful, with nearly 700 specially invited delegates seated in a fully packed Dentsu conference room. Representatives from organizations such as the Japanese Football Association, J-League, various football clubs, sport marketing agencies, sponsors, media, universities and individuals with a strong interest in football business gathered together to widen their knowledge of the seminar themes.

The seminar programme was organized with five guest speakers, who covered the following topics:

Mr. Yoshihiro OI (DENTSU Inc.)

General Manager, Asian Football Business, Sports Division, DENTSU Inc.

‘Asian Football after FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014’

Mr. Alex PHILLIPS (UEFA)

Head of Stakeholder Affairs, UEFA

‘Movement of European Football and the future of Asia’

Mr. Ryan Healy (Local Organizing Committee, AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015)

Head of Competition

‘AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 – Asia’s biggest sports event’

Mr. Yasutaro Matsuki (Football Commentator)

‘Japan’s strategy to win the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015’

Mr. Jung Dae-se (Suwon Samsung Bluewings)

‘Eyeing Asian Football through three national identities’

The seminar consisted of five lecturers who examined the state of the football industry in 2014 and also gave their predictions for the forthcoming season. The seminar opened with Yoshihiro OI (DENTSU Inc.) who explained the latest trends in Asian Football following the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Information was presented on the football tournaments which had been played in Asia during the second half of 2014. This presentation was followed by Alex PHILLIPS (UEFA) who is currently seconded to the AFC. Alex considered the future of Asian football and also the recent developments seen in European football. Next up was Ryan HEALY (Head of Competition, Local Organizing Committee AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 / and CIES/FIFA Master Alumni) who shared his story as the Head of Competition for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup in Australia in 2015. This is one of the largest AFC competitions and where the champion of Asia is confirmed.

The seminar closed with two panel sessions. The first was joined by one of the most famous Japanese football commentators - Yasutaro MATSUKI - who described the strategy for Japan to win the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia .This was followed by a second session by Jung Dae-se who currently plays for Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Dae-se offered his perspectives and thoughts on Asian football as well as sharing his stories of being a permanent resident in Japan with a DPRK nationality and of playing for the national team on DPRK, J-League, and K-League.