Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi is well aware of the impact his countrymen have made at Parkhead - but he insists he wants people to remember him for his own exploits.
The Japanese forward made himself an instant success at Parkhead last season that, despite missing most of the second half of the campaign with injury, saw him score 20 goals and help claim Premiership title glory. He has been over in the land of the rising sun this week visiting former club Vissel Kobe, who he joined Celtic from last summer.
Continuing his Hoops journey alongside fellow Japanese stars Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate, legendary Asian midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura was one player Kyogo got compared to in the early days of his Glasgow career. While they play in different positions, the international common ground is where fans and onlookers alike drew the connection. But the forward wants to be his own man.
Aware of Koki Mizuno playing in green and white too, Kyogo isn't feeling the weight of Nakamura's legacy at Celtic.
What he wants is to have something to that of the Japan legend's status in Scotland.
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Speaking to Number Web, he said: “In the beginning, every time I met a fan, they would say, ‘Shunsuke, Shunsuke!' and what Shunsuke has built here is truly amazing.
"But I didn’t feel so much pressure to be compared. I am just me, and my playing style and position are different from Shunsuke’s.
"If I continue to be myself, I will be able to build on the same foundation. And I think that many people will have an image of Kyogo Furuhashi.
"I want to create an environment that is easy for other Japanese to enter when they come back.
“Celtic has a strong impression of Shunsuke and Mizuno, so I have to do my best not to ruin the image of those two. There were great players who played here, so I will do my best to live up to their name.
"By doing so, I will create an environment that will be easy for other Japanese to enter when they come back. I want to make the local fans think that Japanese people are great.”
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