In a regular season, J. League Chairman Mitsuru Murai's news conferences would rarely draw more than 30 media representatives to the league's headquarters at JFA House in downtown Tokyo.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the league to a halt, Murai and other league officials quickly adapted to the "new normal" — regularly giving briefings to as many as 300 reporters at a time on Zoom.

While Murai has not avoided controversy during his seven years in charge, it is his candor for which he will best be remembered when he steps down as chairman in the winter of 2022.