Tranmere Rovers are set to receive a special visit from J. League executives this week as part of an exchange of technical and football business methods.
A contingent of 16 Japanese football officials will spend two days at Prenton Park before watching Tranmere play Peterborough United on Saturday, 4 September.
The visit is being delivered with the support of the University of Liverpool Management School, who also deliver the MBA Football Industries.
On Friday, the group, which includes the managing director of the J. League and senior officials from 12 teams, will speak with Tranmere Manager Les Parry before watching the team train. They will then visit the Club's refurbished Recreation Centre before receiving presentations from the Club's Learning Centre, Tranmere Rovers In the Community and Youth department.
The University is then sponsoring Rovers' game against Peterborough at which the Japanese officials will be special guests.
As well as visiting Rovers, the group will also spend time at Football League headquarters in Preston and Bolton Wanderers FC.
Chief Executive Mick Horton said: "We are delighted to be welcoming officials from the J. League later this week.
"Football is growing rapidly in Japan and the chance to exchange ideas with their executives was something we couldn't refuse.
"We are very proud the visiting party decided to spend time at Tranmere Rovers particularly as one of the key areas they wish to learn about is our Club's community work, something we place great importance in."
Football League Head of Communications, John Nagle, a former student on Liverpool's MBA course said: "This is a great opportunity for the world's original league football competition to share ideas with a progressive league that has been the catalyst for the growth of football in Japan.
"By visiting Tranmere Rovers they will see how clubs and local communities can work hand in hand to deliver substantial benefits for both parties.I'm sure it will be a extremely useful exercise for everyone at the club and our visitors from the J. League."
The Director of the Football Industry Group, Dr Rogan Taylor, added: "The J League clubs are all, of course, fairly new organizations historically, compared to Tranmere Rovers but they both face similar issues in many ways; issues around community; finance and operating successfully in a limited, regional market. The hospitality they've received at the Club has added considerably to their enjoyment of their study tour of English football too."
