Toronto FC midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran scores a goal in win over Columbus Crew

TORONTO – Whether spearfishing in the blue waters off Cyprus, encountering a kangaroo on an Australian road or mulling over his latest art creation in his new Toronto home, Issey Nakajima-Farran is making the most of life.

Club soccer has taken him to Japan, Singapore, Denmark, Australia, Cyprus and now back to Canada with Toronto FC. Thirty caps for the Canadian national team have added to his globe-trotting.

“I’ve loved it,” he said. “Getting to enjoy all these different cultures and places. You’re not only there for a week on holidays or whatever, you’re getting to enjoy a whole country for a whole year or two years, three years —Denmark (it was) five years.

“For me it’s just been a great experience. Meeting a whole bunch of different people, enjoying different kinds of fans. For me, it’s just been a dream career.”

The 29-year-old midfielder’s life journey is just as diverse and interesting.

Born in Calgary to a Japanese mother and a British-Canadian father (who was born in Rhodesia), he moved to Tokyo when he was three and London when he was 10. He spent his teenage years in the British capital, playing in the Crystal Palace youth system before heading to Japan to begin his pro soccer career.

For Toronto FC manager Ryan Nelsen, Nakajima-Farran adds to the depth of his roster. He’s experienced, good on the ball and offers creativity in midfield.

Give him the ball in a tight space and Nakajima-Farran can dazzle. But one can argue, this soft-spoken sporting vagabond has yet to find a soccer home.

Toronto FC, which brought him into training camp this year and officially signed him last week, hopes the two are a good fit.

“He’s very energetic and he’s very comfortable on the ball and he can take players on,” said Nelsen, who used him as a substitute in Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake.

“He’s a lovely guy,” Nelsen added.

And an interesting one. Away from the soccer pitch, Nakajima-Farran paints, with portraits ranging in subject matter from Marlon Brando to the Joker.

One of his favourites — titled “Love of the Game” — shows a woman chesting a soccer ball in what looks like a beach soccer snapshot. It’s available for $4,000 with limited edition prints available for $600 in different sizes.

He has sold more than two dozen works, which thanks to his career path means that Nakajima-Farran’s originals are hanging around the globe.

It all started back at age 13 when he broke his ankle. His father put a paintbrush and canvas in front of him and said “OK, let’s do something else.”

Apart from physical education, art was about the only thing that kept his attention at school. And it remains a big part of his life today.

“It just took my mind off football,” he said. “With all the crap that goes on behind (the scenes in) football, you really need something … so you can come back training fresh.”

First it was a way to decorate his apartment. Then it expanded to galleries, cafes and charity events. Fellow footballers and fans started buying his art (www.isseyfarran.com/).

via Toronto FC midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran and the art of soccer.