As a spectacle, it was more like a rock concert than a soccer match.

Lasers strafed the crowd of 59,626 at Tokyo's National Stadium, a bandana-wearing guitarist strutted across the pitch, flags cascaded down through the stands and an airship flew overhead, beaming pictures to homes across Japan and around the world.

When the smoke had cleared and the music had died down, however, a game was about to take place that would change the face of Japanese soccer forever. On May 15, 1993, Japan's first-ever professional soccer league began with Yokohama Marinos beating Verdy Kawasaki 2-1 in the opening match.