There's been something of a minor culture shift in Scotland since Ange Postecoglou 's arrival from Japan.
Coupled with the spectacular goalscoring exploits of Kyogo Furuhashi, the new Celtic boss has shone a light on football outside of Europe.
And it's something fans, pundits - and even managers now, apparently - are beginning to take notice of.
Postecoglou looks set to return to Japan in January with Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi all on the agenda.
And now Hearts have shifted focus from A-League to J-League after bidding for forward Tsuyoshi Ogashiwa, though it seems the striker is keen to stay at Consodale Sapporo on this occasion.
January deals are notoriously hard to pull off in Europe but the Japanese calendar, with its close-season lining up with the Premiership's winter break, brings the opportunity for cut-price deals.
So as more and more eyes turn to the Far East on the hunt for potential bargains, we've taken a look at some of the soon-to-be out-of-contract stars that Premiership clubs in Scotland may be having a look at.
Thiago Martins
Brought to Yokohama F. Marinos by Postecoglou himself, Martins has been a smash-hit in the J-League and was a key part of the side who famously won the division in 2019.
His loan from Palmeiras was soon made permanent and he was the skipper for Postecoglou's side in the early part of this year.
Though not exactly towering at just under 6ft1', centre-back Martins more than makes up for it with his presence on the pitch and he'll be one Marinos are keen to keep.
But whether the 26-year-old - known for his supermodel good looks - fancies another season in the J-League, a return to his native Brazil, or an ambitious expedition to Europe remains to be seen.
Kei Chinen
The success of Kyogo at Celtic means half of the Premiership will be eyeing the J-League for a scoring sensation but they certainly don't grow on trees.
One potential gem that might be flying under the radar is 26-year-old Kei Chinen, however.
On the face of it, four goals in 22 league appearances last season is hardly prolific - but it looks a whole lot better when you consider he only started four times.
He managed four in five in the AFC Champions League and actually finished the season with an average of a goal for every 117 minutes of football he played.
For whatever reason the Kawasaki Frontale man isn't quite fancied - but the 6ft striker could easily be someone else's gain.
Ryo Hatsuse
Creative full-backs are the name of the game nowadays. Whether it's James Tavernier breaking all sorts of goal and assist records last season or Postecoglou's inverted ingenuity turning around Anthony Ralston's career, everyone seems to want a piece of the action.
The problem is finding full-backs with both the ability to wreak havoc in the final third and the energy and discipline to do the defensive work well.
Step forward Vissel Kobe's Ryo Hatsuse who seems to have gone from strength to strength in the season just passed.
His numbers aren't phenomenal but they are impressive and steady - eight assists in 44 appearances for a side who conceded less than a goal per game while he was on the pitch.
Kento Misao
A well-known name to anyone who follows the J-League, Kento Misao was once one of the most promising players Asian football had to offer.
In 2018, aged just 22, he was nominated for the Asian footballer of the year award and came within a hair's breadth of going to the World Cup with Japan.
His career hasn't quite taken off as it was expected to but the combative midfielder is one of the J-League's most consistent performers and currently captains Kashima Antlers.
At just 25, he has already accomplished plenty, but so much time remains for a career second wind. And he could have one eye on an eventual move to Europe to make it happen.
Thomas Deng
Versatile defender Thomas Deng is one who will certainly be a free agent from February having already announced his departure from Urawa Red Diamonds.
And given the Japanese season is already over, it hardly seems there will be much resistance if any club wants to take him a month or so early.
The Kenyan-born 24-year-old has already played football in Australia, Holland and Japan, and earned a cap for the Socceroos in 2018 while at the height of his powers for Melbourne Victory making work permits a skoosh.
He also captained a young Australia side at the 2020 Olympics and led them to a momentous 2-0 win over Argentina.
He's been no stranger to an ambitious move to broaden his horizons and does seem like one who would certainly be open to a left-field switch to Scotland providing the offer was right.
Yuki Soma
After a few seasons of simmering under the surface, 2021 was a big year for Yuki Soma whose creative form was one of the driving forces behind Nagoya Grampus' strong season.
Eight assists in 33 J-League appearances helped them see out a fifth-placed finish and his tricky style of play caught eyes all over Japan.
At just 5ft 4', there are obvious drawbacks to his diminutive stature but he was a fixture for Japan at the Olympics and has played three times for the association side, suggesting a real pedigree.
And there were those who said Kyogo was too small, after all.
