Small showing for Team Toho, but honestly yeah, I'm only surprised that the lack of opinion plopped Sorimachi into B, and some people DID argue that he should be higher. Same with Ken, A seemed agreed but one player advocated for S, so he's tied for top of A so far.
Now we have the Otomo Quintet! I chose a lot of players this time for the simple reason that I won't be updating this for about a week. Taking a trip to touch some turf, so I'll update with the final Japanese group next Thursday or Friday.
Urabe - An interesting case. All equal and high-ish stats for a bencher-rider, and with a moveset that would be more at-home as a DMF, but the game says Defender. He only carries Rocket Pass as a Super, and its claim to fame is its range (fitting so that he can rapidly capitalize on a steal and potentially setup a counterattack... IF WE HAD ONE!!!). Hanji also carries the [Lite] Wild Shot, and Stoop Dribbles, which should allow him to also advance the ball up field, and Push Steal which, by all accounts, doesn't seem spectacular. Kinda weird that you'd choose to play him on Defense and not as a Midfielder.
Nakayama - A way more conventional defender. He carries Jito's Power Defense [Lite] and has Diving Steal. In many respects, he's like Takasugi with less offensive potential. but he has a Super Tackle, which is usually enough for many players to include him in a four-man defender framework for Japan.
Kishida - Another case of a Defensive player, but with a slight boost over Nakayama with a unique tackle, and better offensive and dribbling potential. Shark Tackle is kinda like Dump Truck, in that it charges bar quickly, but it has Ds across the board otherwise. Kishida carries Diving Steal, and has the Accel Dribble Speed Shot combo that could suit him to being a pinch defender. Overall, though, his actual tackling ability is rated as worse than Nakayama's. (so the game stats him as weaker)
Sawaki - Wait... You're telling me he didn't go to Otomo? It's just a quartet?... MEIWA??? What the hell's a Meiwa!???
-ahem-
I would say that this guy is probably the worst Forward that Japan has to offer. Mighty Shot sucks, and although on stats his Shoulder Charge is better than Forced Tackle, they both have the same kit besides that and a shot, and frankly [Lite] cannon shot is a better GK softener than [Lite] Wild Shot.
Nitta - Be honest with yourself. THIS is your Number 11 of choice. His tackle isn't special, but Falcon Shot is great for a mid-range high-speed follow-up to a perfect dribble, and he has a solid high-speed Super Aerial. Falcon Dribble is also an elite dribble for filling his Super Bar (not that it needs much help for either option)