As the Broncos went through their pregame warmups ahead of a Week 9 game against the Texans, Kohdai and Yoshikatsu flashed up on the ThunderVision screen that stretches across the south side at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

Standing at the edge of the south end zone, they held up signs that featured Japanese characters, the mileage from Tokyo to Denver and a message to the rest of the stadium.

"We are the representatives of Broncos Country from Japan."

But the in-stadium camera didn't hold their attention for long.

On TV — and from the stands — it's hard to get a real appreciation for the size of most NFL players. Now that they were close to the action — closer than they'd ever been — they finally got the chance to form a true evaluation.

"I couldn't even imagine," Kohdai says, "On the TV, every player is kind of the same type or same size. I cannot tell how big they are. I thought Phillip Lindsay was a little bit smaller, but he's actually bigger than I imagined."

Kohdai also had the chance to put his own journey in perspective. Standing on the field, it becomes clear that it's more than a 10-hour flight from Tokyo to Minneapolis, a six-hour layover and then a two-hour flight to Denver.

The Broncos, he says, have brought his family closer. On their trips to the U.S., Kohdai guides Yoshikatsu, who speaks little English. In return, Yoshikatsu does the driving.

"This is family time for us," Kohdai says. "The Broncos connect our family together."

And he hopes their trips continue.

Kohdai currently works at the Haneda airport in Tokyo as a customer-service agent, and he hopes to someday move to Denver to hold the same role at Denver International Airport.

He says he wants to use his Japanese and English skills to help an airline and further develop tourism between Denver and Japan.

"I want to dedicate myself to Colorado in the future," he says.

Whether or not he makes it to Denver full-time, Kohdai says he and Yoshikatsu will continue to make annual trips to the Mile High City.

They'll work hard, save money and come to watch the family's favorite team.

Well, except for Kohdai's brother, Kohsei.

"He's a Seahawks fan," Kohdai says smiling. "He's not allowed to come here."

No, Broncos Stadium at Mile High is a sacred place for Kohdai and his father — whether they're in Denver or thousands of miles apart.

"Till I die," Kohdai says. "I'm going to be a Broncos fan."