Elevate Your Soccer Skills with Japanese Coaching Principles
Vision
Welcome to the first Japanese-inspired soccer school in New York!
Led by experienced Japanese coaches, our program is open to children from various age groups and cultural backgrounds, with a focus on delivering high-quality coaching.
Our school focuses not only on improving soccer skills but also on nurturing values unique to Japanese culture, such as "hard work," "attention to detail," "teamwork," and "a spirit of respect." For example, during practice, we provide detailed guidance on correct form and areas for improvement, while after practice, we foster respect through expressions of gratitude. We also emphasize punctuality, helping children naturally understand the Japanese value that "being on time forms the foundation of trust."
These traits are exemplified by the success of players like Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt), and Wataru Endo (Liverpool FC), who have thrived under similar principles.
Program Highlights
At Blue United FC, we provide a unique soccer experience that goes beyond regular training. In addition to having a permanent coach who leads weekly sessions, our club utilizes BLU's extensive network to invite professional players from top leagues such as the MLS and J-League, to visit and provide special coaching.
Weekly Classes
Our regular classes take place on Saturdays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Each class is limited to 40 participants, aged 5 to 13, to ensure personalized, and effective coaching for every player, regardless of their skill level. If a holiday falls on a weekend, that week’s class won’t be counted, ensuring everyone receives the full benefit of our program.
**Time may change depending on field availability.
Special Coaching Opportunities
Every other month, we offer special classes led by former professional players, current professionals, and experienced coaches, giving our participants the chance to learn directly from those at the top of the sport.
Community and Enjoyment
Our focus isn't solely on skill development. We aim to create a space within the community where participants can enjoy soccer in a positive, and inclusive environment.
Special Coaches
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Takuya Yamada
Born in Tokyo in 1974, former Japanese national soccer player.
Played for J.League teams Verdy Kawasaki, Cerezo Osaka, Yokohama FC, and Sagan Tosu, before joining Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USA for five seasons.
Invited back to Japan by coach Takeshi Okada to join FC Imabari.
Played until age 43, scoring 39 goals in 562 games, and captained three teams during his career. Most recently has been inducted into the hall of fame at Tampa Bay Rowdies.
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Tsubasa Endoh
Born in Tokyo in 1993, Endoh is a winger and second striker.
Drafted 9th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC, where he made his debut and later scored the fastest goal in the club's history in 2019.
Played for clubs in Japan, Canada, Australia, and the US, including Toronto FC, Melbourne City, and LA Galaxy II.
Former Japan youth international, having represented the country at the U15 through U17 levels.
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Hiroki Kurimoto
Born in 1990, Hiroki Kurimoto is a Japanese midfielder currently playing for Blaublitz Akita.
Won back-to-back JFL MVP awards in 2016 and 2017, becoming the first player in league history to achieve this.
Played for teams in Japan and the US, including Honda FC, Fresno FC, and Colorado Springs Switchbacks, where he served as captain.
Made his J.League debut with Omiya Ardija in 2022 and later joined Blaublitz Akita in 2024.
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Yosuke Hanya
Born in 1999 in Tokyo, Yosuke Hanya is a midfielder currently playing for Colorado Springs Switchbacks on loan from Colorado Rapids 2.
Began his career with FC Tokyo U-23 before moving to the University of Massachusetts, where he played for three seasons.
Joined Colorado Rapids 2 in 2022 and made his MLS debut with the Colorado Rapids in May 2023.
Known for his versatility, Hanya has contributed both goals and assists throughout his collegiate and professional career.
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Kosuke Kimura
Born in Kobe in 1984, Kimura is a former defender and current coach.
Became the first Japanese-born player in Major League Soccer after being drafted by the Colorado Rapids in 2007, where he won the MLS Cup in 2010.
Played for clubs in the US and Poland, including Portland Timbers, New York Red Bulls, Atlanta United, and Nashville SC.
Transitioned to coaching at Nashville SC after retirement, and currently serves as the Assistant Coach for Lexington Sporting Clubin USL.
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Yuta Nomura
Born in Tokyo in 1991, Nomura is a former goalkeeper and current coach.
Led Lindsey Wilson College to an undefeated season and NAIA National Championship as a freshman, finishing his collegiate career with 35 clean sheets. Played professionally in Sweden with BK Olympic and in USL2, earning All-Conference honors.
Served as goalkeeper coach for University of Central Arkansas, helping win conference titles, New England Revolution II, and now at Portland Hearts developing talent.
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Masaki "Mac" Hemmi
Born in Tokyo in 1986, Masaki "Mac" Hemmi is a former player turned soccer coach.
After playing collegiate soccer at the University of New Mexico, he built his playing career through stints in the U.S. and overseas, such as Germany and Latvia.
As a coach, Hemmi has worked at various levels, including serving as an assistant and later associate head coach at the University of Denver, a nationally recognized soccer program. He also coached with Real Colorado, INAC Kobe Leonessa in Japan’s WE League, New Mexico United, and Chicago Red Stars in NWSL where he served as interim head coach. Currently, he is the head coach for the Lexington Sporting Club in the USL.
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Aoi Kizaki
Born in 1998 in Hannō, Saitama, Aoi Kizaki is a Japanese football player who has built her career both in Japan and abroad.
She developed through the youth system of Urawa Reds Ladies and was promoted to the top team in 2016. Since then, she has played for Chifure AS Elfen Saitama, Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina, and Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza.
In 2024, she joined Sabah FA in Malaysia and competed in the AFC Women’s Champions League. Later that year, in December, she was announced as a new member of AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League (Canada’s top division).
She has also represented Japan at the U-19 and U-20 national team levels.
Testimonials
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The Moment He Chose to Embrace Japanese
“Before going to bed last night, my son said on his own, ‘I need to get better at speaking Japanese.’ He also admitted, ‘I’m still not good at reading or writing, and while I can understand most of what people are saying, I can’t express myself well.’ I was especially surprised when he said, ‘You don’t need to repeat what you say in English after speaking Japanese anymore.’ He’s usually not very excited about events, even Japanese gatherings, unless it’s about soccer. But for the first time, I saw a real sense of motivation toward learning Japanese. It was such a valuable experience for him. I’m so glad we could participate.”
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A First Glimpse of His Pure Joy
“The local soccer team focuses mainly on physical training, and our child had expressed a desire for more matches. We’re glad we came. It was the first time we saw our child dancing joyfully.”
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The Coaches My Child Looks Up To
"Our child does not often have the chance to meet Japanese role models, so having these coaches each week means a lot. They really look up to them, and we are thankful the school offers this kind of meaningful experience."
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Blue United FC Sparked My Son’s Interest in Japanese
“Since my son started going to Blue United FC, it seems that his desire to speak Japanese more has become stronger, influenced by the coach and the children around him. Recently, there have been a lot of questions relating to Japanese from him, and as a parent, I am very happy.”
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A Weekend with Blue United FC That Both My Son and Our Family Look Forward To
My son always enjoys the training sessions very much.
Although he attends a different soccer school on both Saturday mornings and afternoons, he seems to enjoy the Blue United FC sessions more—perhaps because of the bilingual coaching in both Japanese and English, and because there are many Japanese children participating.Our whole family also looks forward to the Instagram and Facebook posts after each session.
It is a joy to see how hard he is trying and how much he is growing through those photos. -
Seeing Our Child Fully Immersed And Having Fun Is One Of The Greatest Joy
My wife was watching from the sidelines and was so moved that she teared up. Another parent nearby said, ‘It’s hard not to cry watching this, isn’t it?’
As parents, seeing our child fully immersed and having fun is one of the greatest joys we can experience. When I asked what he enjoyed the most, he said, ‘Playing soccer and the two kind coaches.’
We are truly grateful for what this program has given our child.
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We Were Amazed At How Much He Grew To Love It
My child had tried another soccer school before, but he did not enjoy it at all and quit very quickly.
In contrast, he had been looking forward to Blue United FC every single week. We were honestly amazed at how much he came to love it—especially because, in the beginning, he was hesitant to join and often just stayed in goal.
Thank you for creating such a warm and engaging environment. It made a real difference for our family.
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A Moment That Showed Progress
During the year-end holidays, our child had the opportunity to join a practice at a former soccer school in Japan. The coach commented on how much our child had improved, which made our family very happy. It was a meaningful experience that allowed us to truly see the results of the daily efforts and growth.
Choose your plan
Our annual membership gives your child the right to attend the sessions held throughout the year. If you plan to travel in the summer and let us know before you leave NYC, we will reimburse you 1 month of your annual membership fee! It is a great way to keep your child active in soccer all year while accommodating your summer plans!
Flexible and convenient! Perfect for those who prefer short-term commitment with access to four months at a time.
Not ready to be a member? Join us for a one-month trial for our sessions (4 PM - 5 PM on Saturdays). This is a fantastic chance for your children to experience our unique coaching style, and immerse themselves in a dynamic training environment.
Not ready to be a member? Join us for a trial for one of our regular sessions (4 PM - 5 PM on Saturdays). This is a fantastic chance for your children to experience our unique coaching style, and immerse themselves in a dynamic training environment.
BLUEUTD FC Official Shop.
A curated selection of stylish, Japanese-inspired gear from New York.
Perfect for both on the field and off — where performance meets everyday style.
Meet the Team
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Yuki Takeuchi
General Manager
Played for the Yokohama National University Football Club, built a career in the financial industry with a focus on M&A, and is now based in New York, contributing his expertise to Blue United while also stepping in as an assistant coach from time to time.
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Takehiko Nakamura
Technical Director
Played for the Aoyama Gakuin University varsity football team in Japan.
He currently serves as a volunteer coach with the University of Massachusetts Amherst men’s soccer program and has previous experience as head coach for Northampton SC at the U10–U14 levels.
At our school, he is responsible for coach recruitment, coach guidance, and the oversight of the overall curriculum, ensuring a consistent, high-quality environment for all players.
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Support Coaches
Keiichi Ito:
Played for the University of Tokyo Association Football Club and later served as a student coach, where he began honing his coaching skills.Koji Tsuchikura:
Played soccer throughout his life and currently holds a JFA C-License Coach certification and a JFA C-License Goalkeeper Coach certification.Ryuji Miyamatsu (Volunteer):
Played for the Jubilo Iwata Academy, Tsukuba University, and semi-professionally in Barcelona, Spain.Taishi Fujita:
Played for Fujieda Higashi High School and later for Keio University Soccer Team. He also coached elementary and kindergarten kids at J.League side Yokohama YSCC.Tatsuya Otani:
Played for the Lehigh University Men’s Soccer Team. Coached youth players since middle school, continuing through high school and later at Lehigh University, including camps during college off-seasonsToshiyuki Yabu:
Played for the Ritsumeikan University Soccer Club. Assisted with coaching U-10 players, supporting their early development and training. -
Front Office
Kanta Tachiki:
Volunteer: School Coordinator & Support Coach
Played for Toin Gakuen High School, and continued his soccer career at the collegiate level in the U.S. He now serves as a school coordinator and support coach while pursuing his degree at Rutgers University.
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Honorary Members
Shogo Tsunoda:
Honorary Manager
Served as Manager when we first launched the school, playing a key role in establishing its foundation and operations. Now back in Japan, he continues to support us as an Honorary Manager, remaining an important part of our community and history.
Yuji Kawaguchi:
Honorary Coach
Played for J.League side Albirex Niigata Academy and Meiji Gakuin University Football Club. He later worked as a Goalkeeper Coach at Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Sakae High School.Eduardo Ulian:
Honorary Manager
Played a key role during the planning stage of the school’s launch, making significant contributions from the very beginning. He remains an integral part of our community, having been one of the founding contributors to the school.
Our Facility
Socceroof Long Island City
36-39 35th St, Long Island City
New York, NY 11106
Local Station: 36 st. (E, F, M, R) / 36 av. (N, W)
4 indoor fields
A state-of-the-art indoor facility with four spacious fields, offering all-weather play for children and adults. With high-quality turf and bright lighting, it ensures a professional, enjoyable soccer experience.
Lounge
Coffee Shop
Bar
A spacious and comfortable area where you can relax while your child practices.
Restrooms
Partners
About
Blue United Corporation
Blue United is a leading global marketing agency with HQs in New York and Tokyo, and branches across North America, Asia, Europe, and South America.
Our core expertise includes managing the Pacific Rim Cup, leading Japan’s first professional FIFA|EA FC-focused eSports team, Blue United eFC, and organizing large-scale events and activations.
We work with prestigious clients such as J.League, Japan Football Association, WE League, Yanmar, Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting, MLS, US Soccer Women’s National Team, Kashima Antlers, MIXI, FC Tokyo, Cerezo Osaka, Ehime FC, Sevilla FC, PIA Corporation, and many others.
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