signing for Dundee United, Manager Mixu Paatelainen said about him: "As for Eiji, he is quality. He is very agile and quick. He commands and is a leader behind the defence. He talks a lot and sometime demands better action from the defenders." Personal life As a member of Japan's national team, Kawashima helped develop a program to improve the foreign language skills of Japanese athletes and coaches who play and coach internationally. Outside of football, he was also involved in helping children with disabilities. In addition to his native Japanese, Kawashima speaks English, Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. He was quoted saying about the importance of languages: "It is difficult if the keeper cannot speak, I cannot argue with myself." In addition to football, he's a fan of fashion. Kawashima revealed that he wears contact lenses when he's on the pitch. In December 2008, Kawashima signed for an agency with Tetsuro Kiyooka, a FIFA Players' Agent (Sports agent), in hopes of moving to Europe. It worked when he joined Lierse two years later after signing for Tetsuro Kiyooka. In September 2014, he revealed on his blog that he was married. He said he met his wife four years ago and began dating three years later before getting married. In December 2015, Kawashima revealed on his blog that he was father for the first time when his wife gave birth to a son named Kensei. In October 2010, Kawashima signed a sponsorship with Samantha Thavasa. He was featured in June 2012 cover of Ermenegildo Zegna magazine. Outside of football, Kawashima is considered very popular in his native country Japan. During a 1–1 draw against Genk on 18 December 2010, at least 500 Japanese Kawashima's supporters visited Herman Vanderpoortenstadion to watch him play. Career statistics Club International Honours Japan AFC Asian Cup: 2011 Individual J.League Best Eleven: 2009 J.League Individual Fair-Play Award: 2009 References External links Living people 1983 births Association football people from Saitama Prefecture Association football goalkeepers Japanese footballers Japan youth international footballers Japan under-20 international footballers Japan international footballers J1 League players J2 League players Belgian Pro League players Scottish Professional Football League players Ligue 1 players Omiya Ardija players Nagoya Grampus players Kawasaki Frontale players Lierse S.K. players Standard Liège players Dundee United F.C. players FC Metz players RC Strasbourg Alsace players 2007 AFC Asian Cup players 2010 FIFA World Cup players 2011 AFC Asian Cup