Japanese interest in Celtic continues to grow with the recent additions of both Yuki Kobayashi and Tomoki Iwata joining the Scottish Champions in the January transfer window to join Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi in the Celtic first team squad.

Kyogo and Hatate are already contenders for Player of the Year and Maeda will also be in the running but top quality performances from Japanese players isn’t entirely new to Celtic – nor is the interest it garners back home in Japan.

Shunsuke Nakamura, Celtic. Photo: imago/AFLOSPORT

Shunsuke Nakamura was the most famous Japanese import to blow Celtic fans away before the arrival of Kyogo and the Bhoys. However, between 2008 and 2010 Nakamura had a young Japanese compatriot at the club in Koki Mizuno, and both those players linked up to score in a 3-0 win for Celtic in the League Cup.

And Nakamura’s assist for Mizuno to score was big news in Japan, much like the current Japanese talents playing their part in Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic revolution.

A while back, as reported in the Celtic View Mizuno remembered that night where he scored his first and only competitive goal for Celtic and admits the attention back home to the two players linking up to score was big news , and Mizuno hope the arrival of Celtic’s current crop of Japanese stars paves the way for more of his fellow countrymen to head to Paradise, as seems to be already happening.

Koki Mizuno of Celtic controls the ball during a Scottish Premier League football match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium, on December 27, 2008. (Photo GRAHAM STUART/AFP via Getty Images)

“After I joined the club, Celtic got even more attention because there were two Japanese players together. Then, when I scored against Falkirk with Nakamura assisting me, it was huge.

“Now, there are four (currently five) Japanese players at the club and the attention on Celtic here is more than in my day. Nakamura was big for me as I wanted to follow his steps.

“I hope Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi (who is now back in Japan on loan) will be creating good steps for the next Japanese players who want to play for Celtic.”

Japanese footballer Koki Mizuno shows his new Celtic team shirt at Celtic Park on 1st February 2008. (Photo BRIAN STEWART/AFP via Getty Images)

Koki Mizuno attends a press conference at Celtic Park on 1st February 2008. (Photo BRIAN STEWART/AFP via Getty Images)

Koki Mizuno trains at Celtic’s training ground at Barrowfield, on 1st February 2008. (Photo BRIAN STEWART/AFP via Getty Images)

Japanese footballer Koki Mizuno trains with compatriot Shunsuke Nakamura at Celtic’s training ground at Barrowfield, on 1st February 2008. (Photo BRIAN STEWART/AFP via Getty Images)

Japanese footballer Koki Mizuno attends a press conference at Celtic Park in Glasgow, in Scotland, 01 February 2008. Celtic have completed the signing of Japan midfielder Koki Mizuno after winning their battle to secure a work permit for the 22-year-old. Celtic’s initial request for a permit had been rejected but the club managed to convince an appeals panel that the 22-year-old was an exceptional case, despite winning just three caps for Japan. (Photo BRIAN STEWART/AFP via Getty Images)

Shunsuke Nakamura and Koki Mizuno warm up during a Celtic training session ahead of their UEFA Champions league match against Barcelona February 19, 2008 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Kenny Miller of Rangers tackles Koki Mizuno of Celtic during a Scottish Premier League match at Ibrox , on December 27, 2008. (Photo GRAHAM STUART/AFP via Getty Images)

Steven Davis of Rangers tackles Koki Mizuno of Celtic during a Scottish Premier League match at Ibrox on December 27, 2008. (Photo GRAHAM STUART/AFP via Getty Images)

Things didn’t quite work out for Koki Mizuno at Celtic quite as well as it did for Shunsuke Nakamura, however, to do so would have been quite a task to be fair. But it certainly seems he has fond memories, both of his time in the Hoops and in particular that goal against Falkirk ably assisted by his legendary teammate, and the interest it produced back home in Japan.

Here are some other photos of Celtic’s former Japanese star Koki Mizuno…