Yumi Oba: Japan's impact on Australian football

Australia’s move from Oceania to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 was seen as a strategic decision on the pitch. But for many communities across the country, it marked the beginning of a deeper connection with the game. Today we hear from Yumi Oba, Executive Producer of SBS Japanese, lifelong football fan and devoted soccer mum. Yumi talks about her journey from Japan to Australia and shares how football has shaped her sense of belonging. From her early memories of sport in Japan to the evolution of football across Asia, Yumi reflects on how the game became woven into her family's life-and into the fabric of who she is.

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They say football is a common language and I really think it is and you can converse about football with anybody.

Yumi Oba, Executive Producer of SBS Japanese

SBS Japanese Executive Producer Yumi Oba in the studio with host Paollo Gallo for Route 26. Photo by Dennis Feng

Credits:

Hosted and produced by: Paolo Gallo

SBS Team: Joel Supple, Max Gosford, Bernadette Phương Nam Nguyễn, Philip Solimon and Dennis Fang