Nihon University Phoenix defensive lineman Taisuke Miyagawa returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since his controversial May 6 tackle on Kwansei Gakuin Fighters quarterback Kosei Okuno drew international attention, according to Phoenix head coach Isao Hashizume.
Miyagawa's attorneys released a statement on Wednesday night announcing that the 20-year-old would again take part in team activities.
"I spoke with him for over an hour in the middle of August. Initially, he said he had no intention to return," Hashizume said of Miyagawa, who was not made available to the media on Thursday. "But as we spoke further, I could feel he still loves football. By the end of our talk he'd changed his mind.