How Wataru Endo’s self-help book and vlogs are motivating Japan football players.

Wataru Endo offers his fans in Japan a variety of advice, from parenting tips to in-depth tactical football conversations.

The third player for Liverpool writes essays and videos on a daily basis for his own platform, covering almost every aspect of his life.

In addition, the father of four has penned a book titled Duel that has been described as a self-help book and has the subtitle “30 ways of thinking that don’t need correct answers.”

As the captain of the Japan national team and a player for one of the largest clubs in the world, Endo uses his platform to set an example for others to follow and motivate them.

Simon Ta, a Japan YouTuber who supports Liverpool FC, describes him as “kind of a life-coach guru” to Liverpoolfc.com.

Numerous athletes have written autobiographies and published extensive accounts of their playing lives in books. However, I don’t really remember anyone going to the lengths that Endo does in terms of creating an online persona and giving that much personal information.

“Endo has a devoted fan base and has produced over 100 videos, some of which are extraordinarily lengthy—an hour or two—while others are incredibly brief.

In order for anyone who aspires to follow in his footsteps to see the reality of it rather than the glitz and glamour, he truly wants to reveal everything about everything.

“With his vlog he’s showing that, ‘Don’t be afraid of where you’ve come from, your stature.'”

Endo’s path is one of endurance and tolerance. He started his professional career at Shonan Bellmare, and after playing for the Belgian team Sint-Truiden VV, Urawa Red Diamonds, and VfB Stuttgart, he eventually made his way to Liverpool at the age of thirty.

Before he became a Red, he had already begun to create his stuff, going by the name Monthly Wataru Endo.

The midfield player wanted to close the perceived gap in in-depth football analysis in his native country.

Yes, Endo will get out his magnetic strategies boards to explain how a game he just played works.

For everyone interested in improving their tactical knowledge in Japan, the Pick Up Match feature has become a must-watch.

Yumiko Tamaru is the branch secretary of the Official Liverpool Supporters Club in Japan. “It is just incredible that a footballer goes this deep into all the matches he played in and everything he tells is so interesting,” she says.

“I have never heard any other Liverpool player provide such a thorough analysis of a game. It’s also astounding to me that he has [such] a strong memory and can recall every little detail.

“Jürgen Klopp’s demands, Pep Lijnders’ comments to him, how he values his teammates, and other details are all covered in great detail in both his blogs and videos about the matches he participated in. He also discusses how he played and what he was thinking and aiming for, particularly when he had to defend.

“I think he has a huge influence on lots of footballers in Japan and he is inspiring them a lot.”

Then there are the tidbits of information about his life off the pitch.

Ta discloses: “Shinji Okazaki went to see a match and they drove home together and his mum was just talking with Okazaki!”

Given his success in football and as the captain of the national team, Endo has a large following in Japan. Long before he moved to Liverpool, that was the situation.

However, he was elevated even higher when he became the second-ever Japanese player to play for the Reds men’s team, following Takumi Minamino.

Because of the nine-hour time difference, devoted countrymen now routinely endure the early morning hours to watch Endo perform in England.

Ta remembers the response to his August 2023 transfer: “It was a flurry of activity, it was all over the news.” There was a tonne of coverage.

“Here, football periodicals are still incredibly popular. Endo in the Liverpool shirt was all over the place, along with vintage flyers and posters and collectible cards.”