Asia's Young Player of the Year Yoshito Okubo heads into Japan's opening game against Paraguay in Group B determined to confirm the immense promise he has shown since he burst onto the international scene last year at the FIFA Confederations Cup France 2003.

The 22-year-old has experienced a turbulent time since then betraying some impetuosity with forbidden nocturnal activities, but he has proven his appetite and desire to succeed by returning to the Olympic side and banging in the important goals that saw Japan reach Greece.

Now with a world audience once again watching the self-proclaimed pocket battleship, Okubo is keener than ever to show that along with Hidetoshi Nakata and Shunsuke Nakamura there are plenty more footballing artists around in the Land of the Rising Sun.

"I was not one of the members at the start of the Olympic qualifying competition so I had to play my best after the first three games," said Okubo. "I was really feeling the pressure. When I got the goals that took us through it was an indescribable feeling."

Breaking down the wall
The Cerezo Osaka striker is now setting his sights on knocking over some formidable defences in Group B, including two of the toughest in the game - Paraguay and Italy, where a number of top Serie A sides have been watching him keenly.

"I know that Paraguay have beaten Brazil twice so they will be tough while Italy always have the tightest of defences. And I'm sure Ghana will be physically strong," he adds.

Okubo, who measures 1.68m and weighs in at 61kg, does not appear to have the figure to throw fear into the best defenders around. But there is a powerful energy bottled up inside his stocky body and together with his fidgety, ever-working eyes it translates into a lively player with fast feet, good touch and nose for goal.  

Thanks to some devastating performances in the J-League where he has notched 34 goals in the past two seasons, that powerful cocktail has already attracted the attention of Japan's Brazilian coach Zico, who, fresh from claming victory at the Asian Cup, will be another manager tracing the striker's progress with an eye to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™.

Fame and fortune
Whether he likes it or not, fame and fortune are chasing Okubo faster than his own speedy legs can run. After discovering he had a talent early in life, he followed Kashima Antlers as a boy and idolised Kazuyoshi 'Kazu' Miura. The championship he won with Kunimi High School remains his most cherished memory. Acquiring a fan club of his own, Okubo was snapped up by Cerezo Osaka and helped by impressive contributions at the FIFA Confederations Cup in France, he was honoured as the best young player in Asia last year.

It has been an exhilarating ride so far and one the orange-tinted, spiky haired youth is only just coming to terms with. Like all top footballers, golf has become the player's number one hobby, soothing, satisfying an artistic drive while ridding the player of excess energy.  

Should Okubo sink some chances in the tough-looking group and beyond, he could well join his team-mate Feyenoord's Shinji Ono on the greens of Europe in the not too distant future.