2. Wechsel: @justin_kinjo kommt für #Ferati in die Partie (63.). #f95 #H96F95 #DFBPokal— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) October 26, 2016 It was a 6-1 loss.
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20161102-00000152-jij-spo Kinjo credits his success in Germany in part to his ability to speak English, which was used as the lingua franca at 1860. He also says that the USYNT setup contacted him, but he prefers to represent Japan.
More than anything else, there just aren't a ton of potential US-Japan dual nationals playing soccer at a reasonably high level. You have Bobby Wood (apparently never on the JFA radar), Gotoku Sakai (trivial US connection), Kinjo, Zach Herivaux (likely to get cap-tied to Haiti sooner or later), Dan Schmidt (too old for YNT + not quite NT level), Mizuki Hamada (was a regular for Japan U23s before getting dropped from the London Olympics)...well, I guess there are a few. I don't think the dual-citizenship legal issue is a show-stopper per se, as I know a lot of Japan-US dual citizens, none of whom have renounced either nationality. There just hasn't been anyone who was truly on the fence with respect to national team affiliation.
It sounds like Japan hasn't enforced the rule much: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/communi...t-tacit-nod-keep-status-shadows/#.WBvdRWsrLIU As with any of these laws, some are always going to be really hesitant to take the risk, especially being in the public eye (see the politician in the linked article). Interestingly, Kellyn Acosta has a Japanese father.
Had no idea about Acosta, interesting. I followed that political "scandal" a bit and personally I felt that it was a bit overblown and exacerbated by the fact that Renho (the politician in question, now elected the opposition leader in the legislative body) is an outspoken, female, left-of-center figure of partly foreign heritage. While the legal question is legitimate, the manufactured uproar smacked a bit of birtherism. It did at least spark some public debate about the merits of multiculturalism and reforming nationality law in Japan.
On the bench for a friendly: Und hier gibt's schon einmal unsere Aufstellung für den Test um 17:30 Uhr 👀 #f95 #f95visitsmalta pic.twitter.com/z0yc7V2nMK— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) January 10, 2017
A fan vote suggested he be sent out on loan: It is quite possible that Fortuna Düsseldorf still has one or two players in the winter. Above all, the talents, which did not come in the first round, need playing practice. Our readers agree to loan Justin Kinjo. One of the candidates could be Justin Kinjo, who is still bound to Fortuna by summer 2018. The competition in the central midfield for the 19-year-old is great. In the first round he collected just 28 minutes, celebrated his second league debut against 1860 Munich. Our readers agreed to borrow the midfield man (902 votes). Taylan Duman (878), who competes with Kinjo for the position, should also develop elsewhere. (in German): http://www.rp-online.de/sport/fussb...-verleihen-emmanuel-iyoha-nicht-aid-1.6544557
If Transfermarkt data is to be believed, Kinjo has played RB or RWB in a 5-3-2 in his last two games for Düsseldorf II.
Starts a friendly against a Japanese youth squad: Hier unsere Aufstellung für das Testspiel gegen die japanische Hochschulauswahl. #f95 pic.twitter.com/SRg14gWWEX— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) March 7, 2017
Starts for U23s: #Derby! Ungewöhnliche Anstoßzeit aber von uns aus kann's losgehen. #f95 #U23 pic.twitter.com/TsNIz82UwM— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) March 22, 2017
Justin Kinjo & @jvomsteeg start in @f95 II 1-1 draw moving them 3 points clear of the relegation zone@ussoccer_ynthttps://t.co/JKv2igiYqg— Sams Mini Army (@samsminiarmy) April 5, 2017
トレーニング後は少しでも早く疲労を回復させるため、氷水に入ってます！冷たすぎて頭抱えてる笑トレーニングキャンプ頑張ります！！ pic.twitter.com/6kWIwlT2JT— 金城ジャスティン俊樹 Justin Kinjo (@justin_kinjo) July 1, 2017
On the bench in friendly: In einer halben Stunde startet unser Test gegen die Sportfreunde Eisbachtal ⚽️ Hier unsere Aufstellung 🔴⚪️ #f95 pic.twitter.com/dbAZiQ7zb1— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) July 2, 2017
On the bench for a friendly: Hier unser Team für das Testspiel beim FC Hennef 05 👀 #f95 pic.twitter.com/Pm2QYQuNge— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) July 6, 2017
Starts 2nd half: Team 2. HZ: Rensing - Kiesewetter, Hoffmann, Ayhan, Schmitz - Sobottka, @justin_kinjo, Yildirim - @KianzFroese, Majic, Bellinghausen#f95— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) July 6, 2017
Kinjo and Kiesewetter on the bench for a friendly: Und so gehen wir in die Partie gegen @FCZbrojovkaBrno. #f95 #hochkönig pic.twitter.com/8NR2P0FEV1— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) July 18, 2017
Starts for reserves: Nächster Programmpunkt: Die #Zwote! In knapp zehn Minuten geht's gegen den @SCVerl. #f95 pic.twitter.com/41Nt7Twjhh— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) August 26, 2017
On the bench for a friendly: Unsere Aufstellung für den Test in Meerbusch ⚽️ #f95 pic.twitter.com/aJeU1rZBVS— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) August 30, 2017
Starts the 2nd half: Hier noch die Wechsel zur 2. Halbzeit ⚽️ #f95 pic.twitter.com/8OpoDzPTvl— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) August 30, 2017
Starts for friendly: Unser Team für den Test gegen @turu_1880 👀 #f95 pic.twitter.com/sBpaVTcmmG— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) September 5, 2017
On the bench: Noch schnell die Aufstellung nachgereicht 🙈🙈 #f95 pic.twitter.com/1MnK7bsgcA— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) October 5, 2017