THE AFL’s next big signing may come from Japan if Box Hill North’s liaison with Japanese football continues to bear fruit.

For the past five years a team from Japan, calling itself the Samurai, has visited Melbourne to play the VAFA D4 Section club.

Last Tuesday, a team, made up almost entirely of students from some of Japan’s most prestigious universities, tackled the locals.

And, although Box Hill won, 12.13 (85) to 4.4 (28), it was no walk in the park, club secretary Joshua Tambakis said.

“There are more teams (in Japan) so the standard is improving. Last year was, probably, the strongest side (they brought over) because of the International Cup,” he said.

Ties between the club and Japan were forged when former-club president Simon Evans, who lived and worked in Japan, put on the boots for expat side Tokyo Goannas.

The club also sends a team to Japan, annually, to play in a local round robin competition.

“We send a team over there every year to play the Narita Cup against all the teams in the Japanese league,” Tambaskis said.

And, although all the teams in the Japanese league may amount to less than a dozen, the game is slowly taking hold, with one of the locals placed on Essendon’s list as an international rookie.

Box Hill North has worked with Essendon to strengthen its, and the code’s, relationship with the Japanese, according to club president Peter Kotsaridis.

“In 2007 we went over to one of their primary schools in Osaka and ran some clinics and gave out some footballs,” he said.

“The club helps to help the Samurai experience AFL in Australian conditions.

“We have a combined fund, with the AFL with our club and AFL Japan, where players come over and stay at someone’s house and play at our club.”

One of the Samurai, who has quickly taken to the game, is wingman/half-forward Masaya Nkamura - despite only being in the country for two weeks.

“He is actually in our ones,” Kotsaridis said.

“Very good tackler and very quick. Some good ball skills.”

Both Box Hill and Essendon are aiming to beef-up their relationship with Japanese footy.

And, the Box Hill North boys remain passionate about growing our game in a foreign land.