Many individuals in Japanese football circles have long known there are key issues that need to be addressed, but didn't have a place where they could have open dialogue about the problems.

They have one now.

Last Saturday, the first-ever "football conference" was held, bringing together around 100 people, including top coaches, league officials and others who are apprehensive about Japanese football and its future, at the head office of Kyodo News in Tokyo. It was hosted by a Japanese football magazine.