Reims’ Summer Tour of Japan: Friendly Recaps and Moments

Stade de Reims have been in Japan for a few days now, connecting with their fans and winning over new ones during their summer tour. Here's a recap of the trip so far, with players like Keito Nakamura and Junya Itō taking the lead.

In May, Reims announced that it would travel to Japan for the first time to prepare for the 2024-25 season. Reims' general manager, Mathieu Lacour, called this tour "a huge honor and a source of great pride for Stade de Reims to be going to Japan."

While players like Nakamura and Itō have grown the French club's presence in Japan, Les rouges et blancs want to strengthen the strong ties it has now forged with its many Japanese supporters, which is why they're having four friendlies in the country.

Luka Elsner and his team have played two of the four matches in Japan so far. Reims played Júbilo Iwata to a 1-1 draw last Wednesday in Iwata City at Yamaha Stadium with a goal from Oumar Diakité in the 79th minute.

Reims lost 3-0 to Shimizu S-Pulse in their second friendly in Japan on Saturday at IAI Stadium Nihondaira. The Ligue 1 side have two more friendlies left on this tour: FC Machida Zelvia on Wednesday at Machida GION Stadium and Vissel Kobe on August 3rd at Noevir Stadium Kobe.

During its tour of Japan, Stade de Reims also stopped in Nagoya, a sister city of Reims, to check out the training center of the Nagoya Grampus football club.

The French club have also embraced the local Japanese culture in their video announcement for their new defender, Cédric Kipré, on Saturday. Reims' tour of Japan continues this week, and more exciting moments are on the way!

Photo credit: @StadeDeReims

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