MetroFanatic: Kosuke, there was some talk recently that the Japanese National Team was taking a look at you.
Kosuke Kimura: My name's been out there for a while, ever since I won the MLS Cup with Colorado. I've played regularly at each team I've been with in MLS, which helps, but my position on the national team is very deep, there are a lot of good players and young guys coming up behind them. Who knows, if I keep pushing, maybe I have a chance?

MF: Is there any indication, pre-World Cup, that you might get called in?
KK: There are still a couple camps before the World Cup, so I'm hoping they might call me up. Right now, the starting right back is injured, so you never know.

MF: Last year, you battled with Brandon Barklage for a spot, and this year they bring in Richard Eckersley. Does that put more pressure on you?
KK: Well, it's not necessarily pressure. This league is growing, and each team needs to have at least two players for each position. It's a long season and we also have CONCACAF, the Open Cup, the MLS Cup playoffs, there's so many games. Mike and I have a good understanding that we need to be rotating players. Last year, Mike said to me, "Kosuke, we're gonna keep your legs fresh, we're gonna keep you in a rotation." I think that's fine, I'm a team player, when I get the chance I'll do my best and when I'm not playing, I'll do my best to support the team. It's not pressure, Eckersley is a good player and if we can push each other to get better, that will be fantastic.

MF: What's the perception of MLS in Japan?
KK: For both, they're pretty similar. The Japanese think they're the better league, and the Americans think MLS is the better league.

MF: What do you think?
KK: It comes down to that it's a different style of play. Here in MLS, the players are faster, better athletes. In the J-League, it's more technical and tactical. They don't have the big bodies like we do in America, like this guy over here! (laughs, points to Ibrahim Sekagya) If you look at MLS vs the EPL, they're getting more similar, with the focus on pace of play. I think this league has so much potential, we have so many players coming in from European countries and South America. The J-League, they don't get that many foreign players like that. They can't get quality players like them. MLS is growing so much faster than the J-League. I can see five or six years form now, this league will get a lot of attention from other countries.