The Black and Yellows have one more training session to complete in Dortmund on Sunday afternoon before departing on an exciting tour which will see the club make its first trip to Asia since 2007. The tour includes visits to Japan, Singapore and Malaysia as well as two friendlies.

Having participated in four major finals between 2012 and 2015, including the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2013, and won the German Bundesliga title in both 2011 and 2012 with Japanese football star Shinji Kagawa as one of the key figures in their side, Borussia Dortmund's popularity in Asia has increased in leaps and bounds in recent times.

In order to satisfy the interest of football fans in Japan, Singapore - where BVB has had a representative office for well over six months - and Malaysia, the Black and Yellows will be travelling to the Far East between 5 and 11 July. It is the club's first trip to Asia since 2007, when they travelled to Indonesia on behalf of the DFL (German Football League).

"It is also a matter of focusing on certain selected target markets in which the club has been fostering relationships for a number of years," said Director of Marketing Carsten Cramer as he explained the broader meaning of the tour: "Above all in Japan, these relationships are not just close - they are also very friendly."

Six million Japanese people have an interest in Borussia Dortmund according to a recent survey, hence why the BVB homepage and the online fan shop also have a Japanese language version adapted to the specific requirements of local fans. Since the summer of 2012, children and youths have been training in Japan under the guidance of BVB coaches and the BVB Evonik Soccer School in Tokyo now offers courses all year round.

The friendly matches against Kawasaki Frontale on 7 July (kick-off 12:00 CET) and then against Johor Southern Tigers two days later (15:45 CET) represent the sporting highlights of the Asia Tour. In addition, the Black and Yellow contingent will also be stopping off in Singapore, where BVB has had a representative office in the premises of the club's main sponsor Evonik since October 2014. "Singapore is becoming an increasingly important component for all those across the entire region interested in BVB," added Cramer.

Extensive reporting in the form of videos, photographs and general information will be provided on all of BVB's digit channels in order to keep all Black and Yellow fans up to date with the trip through Asia. (br)

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