One of many top-class Japanese stars to take on the mantel of Shinji Kagawa, Takashi Inui joined Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2012
After leaving Yokohama F. Marinos, Inui (l.) went on to score 31 goals in 104 appearances in all competitions at Cerezo Osaka
In 2011, Inui took up his first post on German soil, signing a three-year deal at VfL BochumTakashi Inui may have begun his European adventure in the second tier, but it was never going to be long before the talented attacking midfielder rose to the top of the German game.
Born on June 2, 1988 in Omihachiman, Japan, Unui signed his first professional contract at J. League 1 side Yokohama F. Marinos in 2007, where he would go on to make thirteen appearances in all competitions, before moving to second division club Cerezo Osaka a year later.
The diminunitive playmaker went on to become a regular fixture at Cerezo, helping them gain promotion to the top-flight in 2010. Inui found the net another 20 times on his return to Japan's top division, before making the move to VfL Bochum of Bundesliga 2 in 2011.
Following in the footsteps of then Borussia Dortmund playmaker Shinji Kagawa, Inui became an overnight hit in Bochum, scoring seven times in 30 appearances for the club and became a full international for Japan.
Though committed to a three-year contract, the 24-year-old found the lure of the Bundesliga too tempting and, in the summer of 2012, signed a three-year deal at newly-promoted side Eintracht Frankfurt, joining the likes of Hiroshi Kiyotake and Takashi Usami in flying the Japanese flag on German soil.
