The Japan Football Association on Tuesday announced it will introduce a new "Special Referee" system starting this coming season, and has said it has appointed Toru Kamikawa and Masayoshi Okada as the first "SR" refs, in the first step toward professionalizing its referees.
Kamikawa has been named by FIFA to officiate in this summer's World Cup and Okada became Japan's first World Cup referee in 1998.
The two "SR" refs, Kamikawa and Okada, will officiate J. League Division One matches and other domestic competitions and are required to attend lectures and clinics three days a week in addition to staying match fit.