The globalisation of ultras culture: an international comparison of Japanese and Italian fan-groups

Ultras culture has become one of the most pervasive and dynamic forms of football in the 21st century. This style of support incorporates spectacular choreographies of flags, drums and flares, as well as incorporating chants and clapping to create an aural and visual spectacle. Ultras are overwhelmingly masculine and the pride and love of their club and hometown is central to their identity. From its origins in Italy in the 1970s, this style of fan culture has spread across the world. Ultras culture is now the most important supporters' culture in Germany, as well as emerging in Britain, France and Eastern Europe. When the J-League started in 1993, football and supporters' culture was relatively unknown in Japan. Japanese fans looked to South America and Europe for their influences. Yet they did not merely copy these cultures; they fused them with Japanese culture to produce a distinctively ‘glocalised' culture. Global media, in particular social media like YouTube, allows fans to observe and learn from other fans' performances. These variations are then incorporated into existing choreographies and help to build a distinctive ‘glocal' culture. Through an analysis of Italian and Japanese ultras culture, this paper will demonstrate how there are many similarities between these two styles of support; yet it will also demonstrate how distinctive local influences adapts ultras culture within its specific milieu.