Japan Referee at World Cup Also Juggles Job as City Employee

Matsue, Shimane Pref., June 21 (Jiji Press)–A member of the squad of FIFA match officials appointed for the ongoing FIFA World Cup also works as an employee of a city government in western Japan. Those working with Jun Mihara, 45, at the city government of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, have voiced how proud they were of their peer being part of one of the biggest men’s soccer tournaments, saying that, in his work as a city government employee, Mihara is a dependable person with extensive knowledge. Hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, the quadrennial soccer event kicked off on June 11. Juggling his life as a soccer referee, Mihara also works for the sports promotion division at the Matsue city government, being tasked with bringing sports tournaments and training camps to the city and providing participants with information on Matsue’s sightseeing spots and restaurants. He is also working to boost support for the Shimane Susanoo Magic in the Japan Professional Basketball League, or B.League. The team is Shimane’s only professional sports team. While Mihara himself does not have a background in competitive soccer, he was drawn into the world of refereeing as a high school student watching the 1998 World Cup in France on television. He obtained a Class 4 referee license granted under the Japan Football Association’s system in 2003, the same year he started working at the city government. Mihara made his debut as an assistant referee for the Japan Professional Football League, or J.League, in a J2 second-division match in 2013, and became an international referee in 2017. After officiating various games on the international stage, including the Asian Football Confederation’s Asian Cup 2019, he won the 2025 J.League Awards Assistant Referee of the Year. On Mihara, Shinichi Kamiyama, who heads the sports promotion division, said, “He is extremely hardworking and his work is thorough.” “He is also a person of action and is dependable,” Kamiyama said. Shogo Edo, one of the younger members of the division, said that when he asks a question, Mihara provides hints that help him find the answer, instead of simply giving him the answer. When Mihara takes time off from his city government job to referee matches, he always provides a smooth work handover and is reachable if needed, Edo said. “I have never had any issues,” he added. Mihara has never neglected his efforts to hone his on-pitch decision-making accuracy and maintain a rigorous workout routine, and is famous among his work peers for going to the gym after work hours and following a sprinting and running regimen. He is also known for using the stairs to travel up and down the city government building, which is a six-story structure with a basement floor. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen (Mihara) use the elevator, except when he’s pushing a trolley to transport things,” Yuto Shoji of the division said. In late May, shortly before he left Japan for the 2026 World Cup, Mihara voiced gratitude for his colleagues. Touching on the times he had to take leave from his city government job to officiate matches, Mihara said, “There were many occasions when those around me had to take on a heavier workload or support me.” Saying that he will go into the massive tournament carrying the hopes of those who cheer him on, Mihara added, “I’ll (be involved in matches) as I always do, with a calm mind.” “I’ll work to make sure that the tournament leaves you all with positive memories,” he said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]