Tochigi City’s Tanaka Paulo Junichi [Photo] = J.LEAGUE
The fan and supporter voting results for the J.LEAGUE All-Star DAZN Cup have been announced, and from the J2・J3 EAST-A side, Tanaka Paulo Junichi (Tochigi City) was selected as the top vote-getter within his club.
Known for his unique goal celebrations and active social media presence, Tanaka Paulo Junichi has become a name almost every J.League fan recognizes. In the fan and supporter vote, he received an exceptionally high number of votes from supporters of other clubs, not just his own Tochigi City. “I think that’s what people expect from me—not just leaving a mark, but creating a spark to energize things,” he said, looking ahead to the All-Star game. He also shared his feelings for Tochigi City fans: “We’ve climbed up from the amateur leagues with three consecutive promotions, so I hope this can be a small way to repay that support.”
Beyond this specific event, Paulo has a strong desire to use his presence to “reach even those who don’t know soccer.” He explained, “I want to connect with younger generations who may never have watched the J.League. By combining soccer with other elements, I hope I can deliver something meaningful.” During the press conference, he also touched on goal celebrations, revealing plans for a “group performance” that gets the entire team involved, even if he isn’t the one scoring. While no specific celebration idea has been finalized yet, he commented, “Other players are also keeping up with trends and memes. I think it’d be fun to do something funny while still having a fierce match in the All-Star game. But first, I have to show it with my play.”
The J2・J3 EAST-A team consists of seven clubs from J2 and three from J3, and includes players like Doi Seima (Montedio Yamagata), who received the most votes across both divisions. “There are so many skilled players, so I hope we can pull off some amazing plays together. Plus, I’ll face some of them again in J2, so I want to absorb as many good points as possible,” he said hungrily. Looking forward to the event, he added, “Teams like Sendai put on intense pressure that frustrated us, but that actually fuels our energy. I think that’s what the All-Star game is all about, so I’m really excited.”