5'2" is small even by Japanese standards, even though he's only 16.
I get why he may never come over, but you gotta think at some point he needs to take the plunge. The NHL is small-friendly like it's never been before. Even a short career in the AHL would be a lifetime experience like no other.
However in Japan the education is a feeder system that starts as early as kindergarten. My niece is 14 and studying for JHS entrance exams. If he left Japan he would never have a "normal" white collar career in Japan. I don't think he'd be suited for that kind of job, but the local pressure to fit into the pipeline will be non trivial.
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