Four years before Japan midfielder Homare Sawa became the first player in soccer to appear in six consecutive World Cups, Yasuo Wakisaka was the only player to participate in all four world championships of another version of football, American football that is.
Now the 46-year-old defensive lineman of the X League's Panasonic Impulse will extend his world record to five when Wakisaka takes the field in the fifth IFAF World Championship next month in Canton, Ohio.
"Since we played in the first worlds (in 1999), Japan has made much improvement. Every time we organize the national team, its level gets higher," Wakisaka said. "We have many more variations of plays this year than before. It is a great improvement compared to the past."