Jersey: #7  Kubota is one of the four forwards of the Osaka Gunners.  Kubota used to be a defender and even played on the U-19 National team in that position. However, he never did anything spectacular. By chance, Dulfer assigned him to be a forward during the pre-season training camp and realised that everything Kubota did as a forward was designed to score goals. Kubota himself delights in being a forward and is thankful to Dulfer for converting him into one.  He was pitted against Sugie when the Gunners played ETU and left Sugie in the dust. But in doing so Kubota, who lacks stamina, wore himself out and had to be substituted. As he is the key to the the Gunners's relentless assualt, his substitution saw an end of the Gunners relentless assault. He and Tsubaki have a mutual admiration of each other.  Kubota played with Akasaki for the U-23 National Olympic Team during the teams preliminary match against Hong Kong.  (Source: Wikipedia)

A truly great coach makes the game of soccer interesting! Tatsumi Takeshi is 35 and has spent the last few years coaching in England before being brought back to Japan to coach his old team. His favorite pastime? Causing giant upsets—aka Giant Killing!
<br><br>
(Source: Kodansha USA)

East Tokyo United, ETU, has been struggling in Japan's top football league for a few years.  It has taken everything they have just to avoid relegation. To make matters even worse, the fans are starting to abandon the team.<br><br>
In an effort to improve their performance, ETU has hired a new coach, the slightly eccentric Tatsumi Takeshi.  Tatsumi, who was considered a great football player when he was younger, abandoned the team years before but has proven himself as the manager of one of England's lower division amateur teams.  The task won't be easy, the teams East Tokyo United is pitted against have bigger budgets and better players.  However, Tatsumi is an expert at Giant Killing.

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/1222_yama) | [Profile](http://kenyu-office.com/yamanakamasahiro/)

Haruhiko Kubota