Japan vs South Korea
　A friendly International "A" match between Japan and the Republic of Korea, held in Tokyo on Sept. 14, the first time that the two countries, close neighbours of each other, have ever met in International friendly competition. The two Associations have since agreed to hold similar events annually from now on.

　Expansion of the Japanese League:
　The Japanese Soccer League has decided to increase the number of clubs in its First Division by promoting two clubs from the Second Division. Thus, next season, the Japanese National League will have ten clubs in each of its two divisions.

　Sugiyama's Retirement:
　Before the start of the Merkeda tournament in June, Ryuichi Sugiyama, the most famous wing-forward in Asia, announced his retirement from the national team. He will, however, continue to play for his club, Mitsubishi F.C. of Tokyo.

　CHINA―Japan's dilemma:
　During- the evening of August 8th, a cargo and passenger ship of the People's Republic of China arrived in the port of Yokohama from Shanghai with seventeen young footballers on board. They had been invited by the Mayor of Yokohama City to engage in friendly matches with local youth selections.
　The Shanghai contingent, composed of footballers under seventeen years of age, stayed two weeks in Japan, playing four friendly matches in Yokohama, Sendai and Kyoto. It was the first time that a football team from the mainland of China had visited Japan since the beginning of World War II.
　The Shanghai team had as its slogan "Friendship first,Competition second", which is much used these days by the Chinese in their international sports activities. Undoubtedly, their vivid play and sportsmanship impressed spectators and they were given a warm welcome by the Japanese.
　However, the matches cause more than a little confusion within the Japanese Football Association. The Japanese F.A. regarded them as non-official, since they were played against youngsters who are not registered with the Association. But surely this is a facile argument, since the truth is that the Japanese Association could not sponsor the matches and was forced to ignore them.
　This is the dilemma. The Peking Association is not affiliated to F.I.F.A. and games against teams of non-affiliated associations are not allowed according to F.I.F.A. regulations. Alternatively, public opinion has influenced the Japanese Association to hold friendly matches with the Chinese. Throughout a long history, China has been Japan's closest neighbour geographically, politically and culturally; and the Japanese cannot remain estranged from China for an inordinate period, even as far as sports are concerned. The importance, for Japan, of having close ties with China is something which is far beyond the comprehension of most other peoples, and, if the truth be known, the Japanese Football Association itself wants to have connections with its Chinese counterpart.
　 "If we continue our attitude of having no contact with the Chinese inland, our organisation will collapse," said an official of the Association, "Many clubs, of which our Association is composed, are eager to visit Mainland China and to play football there. If we make no effort to help them, they will be forced to act on their own initiative. We therefore hope that F.I.F.A. will allow us to have natural relations with China.

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