Local star and World Cup run draw Thai fans to Japanese soccer

BANGKOK — Japan’s top soccer league is gaining a growing following in Thailand, thanks to both a deeper push into the market by the J.League itself and a grassroots-driven boom.

A survey by the league found that interest among Thai audiences reached 61% last year, triple the 2013 level. A poll by a U.S. company showed interest more than doubling over the past few years to 49% — behind England’s Premier League and Spain’s La Liga, at 84% and 62% respectively, but still a healthy figure.