Mallorca has always been a home away from home for Yoshito Okubo.
Our former Japanese striker recently moved back to the island and came by our training facilities for a visit and reflect on his time at the club. "The moment I arrived here, memories of when I scored on my debut came to mind," he told club media. "I realised once again how much I love Mallorca.
"As the first Japanese player in Mallorca, I'm happy to have come here, and after that, players like Ienaga, Take Kubo, and now Asano, have also come here. That really makes me happy. I hope to see more Japanese players come to Mallorca and excel here."
His connection with other compatriots who came through the club has also left him with fond memories, especially with Akihiro Ienaga. "Especially Ienaga, who was a former teammate of mine. We talked a lot about Mallorca and our houses were quite close, so we would go out for lunch together. When we talk about Mallorca, we always end up saying it's an amazing place to visit, and I always recommend Japanese people to go there. They all have very nice memories of Mallorca.
"Yes, with Taica as a sponsor, Mallorca has become much better known in Japan. I am really grateful to Taica, and I hope they will continue to support the team for a long time."
Finally, Okubo was keen to highlight the role of Take Kubo, now a star of the Japanese national team, as an ambassador for the club. "At the moment, even in the Japanese national team, Kubo is standing out. His presence has helped a lot to make Mallorca more known in Japan. For me, I really want him to keep doing his best, even though he is now in another team. I hope he keeps spreading the name of Mallorca and keeps talking about it to people.