Comic-loving German goalie finds peace and himself in Japan

Svend Brodersen was fascinated with Japan as a child - now the German goalkeeper plays in the country and is fondly known as an “otaku”, someone obsessed with Japanese pop culture.

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The Hamburg-born 27-year-old also has a Japanese wife, speaks the language and is thinking of studying at a Japanese university when he retires.

“I think everybody has an otaku inside,” Brodersen told AFP, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the title of his favourite Japanese comic, “One Punch Man”.

“Mine is not so big, but it’s there. It’s definitely there.”