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Kubo y Sato, La Liga<\/a>\u2019s Samurai, meet as rivals at Mestalla, the only Japanese players in La Liga. Their paths, from FC Tokyo<\/a> to Japan\u2019s senior side, have intertwined despite a five-year gap.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n AS notes that Shoji Jo\u2019s Real Valladolid debut on 16 January 2000 made him the first of 15 Japanese to feature in Primera. Today, the mantle rests with Kubo and Sato.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Kubo has set the standard in Spain with 224 La Liga games, 29 goals and 22 assists. A La Masia graduate, he is also the only Japanese to win a trophy in Spain, the Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad<\/a>. Sato has described him as an idol, and Kubo welcomed his Valencia<\/a> arrival with a video.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Both came via FC Tokyo and each scored six goals there. Kubo, captain and mentor for Japan, made way for Sato\u2019s senior debut on 61 minutes against Indonesia, a 6-0 win. Sato became the youngest Japanese to debut in a World Cup qualifier at 18 years and 237 days, while Kubo remains the youngest overall at 18 years and five days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n They have shared only five senior camps, and will link up again afterwards for friendlies against Uruguay, Venezuela and Ecuador.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n This will be their first club meeting, and neither is likely to start. Kubo has not been at his sharpest, while Sato was unused against Alav\u00e9s amid a change on the bench. Two Japanese outlets are accredited for Mestalla, with the match live in Japan at four am Monday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n