Press Release

Today Japan Airlines (JAL) has signed an endorsement agreement with Japanese football player Maya Yoshida, of English Premier League football club, Southampton FC.

Yoshida first joined the youth team at Nagoya Grampus Eight at the age of 12, going on to play for Japan’s national under-23 squad at the Beijing Olympic Games when he was just 19, and earned his first call-up to Japan’s senior national team, the SAMURAI BLUE, in 2009. He was a member of the Japan team that won the 2012 Asia Cup, from which point he has plied his trade at center back.

In the same year, he was called up as one of Japan’s senior players to the 2012 London Summer Olympic team, where he was named captain of the U-23 Japanese squad that earned fourth place at the tournament. In the following month, he transferred to the English Premier League team Southampton FC, where he quickly became one of their key players.

Yoshida’s ambition to become one of the world’s best players is visible in his play at center back in both the English Premier League and Japan’s national football team. His drive to push past his own limits compliments JAL’s brand values of “meeting challenges” and “professionalism.”

Maya Yoshida said: “It is a great pleasure to sign this endorsement agreement with JAL. I will do my best and would appreciate your support.”

Yoshiharu Ueki, President of JAL, said: “We were moved by his aspirations and have decided to support Yoshida, as he continues to fulfil his ambition.”

ENDS