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The story
FC Tokyo’s Yuto Nagatomo (39) sparked discussion on 5ch’s “Geisports Sokuho+” board after saying, in an interview with Hajime Moriyasu — the coach he’s played under for more than eight years — “I want us to win the Asian Cup and carry Coach Moriyasu on our shoulders.” The interview took place on September 3, 2026, and since Nagatomo suffered a serious injury shortly after making the comment, many replies in the thread focused on the timing of the remark itself. Opinions on Moriyasu’s management were also split, with some supporting him staying on and others naming potential successors — Tatsuya Oniki, Go Kuroda, and Tsuyoshi Otsuka — while calling for an early change in leadership.
Defender Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), 39, has played in five consecutive World Cups. This interview, the third installment, centers on Hajime Moriyasu, the coach he’s fought alongside for more than eight years.
Is Japan hard on Japanese coaches!?
The job of Japan national team coach always comes with brutal pressure. No matter how good the results, every tactical choice and lineup decision draws merciless criticism from the media and fans. Hajime Moriyasu’s eight years in charge were no exception — he’s weathered storms of bashing so fierce it often seemed unreasonable.
Source: goetheweb.jp / Original article here
What people said
No thanks.
Japan will get even stronger with a tactical wizard in charge, so I'd like Coach Moriyasu to step down as soon as possible.
That was the dark ages, man
Before Nagatomo joined, the squad was crowded out by the match-fixing scandal but still won the Champions League. After he joined, all they won was the Coppa Italia — that's basically the dark ages.
lol
So he actually thought he'd get picked for the Asian Cup if he hadn't gotten injured? lmao
It'd be a problem if he ended up at the JFA or something.
I just want him to stay out of soccer entirely.
Divine punishment, lol
Eight years too late though
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I don't get the feeling Hasebe is that soft a guy
if Moriyasu stays on as coach, Japan's going to miss out on the Asian Cup title three times in a row.
focus more on your performance instead.
The JFA probably really wanted Oniki, if we're being honest.
But Oniki has said all along he won't take the national team job.
The only other Japanese option is Machida's Kuroda, so they're stuck going with Otsuka.
They probably judged that Kuroda is still too soon.
They won't even give Moriyasu credit, yet they're saying stuff like this — who would actually satisfy them?
They'd probably just get excited over slapping some random foreign coach in charge.
This is rough to watch, honestly.
He's already got those cringe catchphrases like "Amore" and "Bravo" ready to go.
Nah, guys like Nagatomo are exactly the type who end up properly joining the federation and building a solid career.
No doubt about it.
lend us your strength as an honorary player for life.
Oniki >> Kuroda >> Otsuka >> Johfuku >> Kimori
That's honestly about the level we're working with.
If Oniki's out, it's really just Otsuka left.
Kuroda's picked up too much of a "dirty" image.
Gotta say, I'm impressed.
Isn't now the time to start fresh with a new coach?
Going into the World Cup with Otsuka would be a waste in itself.
Japan's player quality is consistently at a high level now, so they should pay whatever it takes to bring in a coach who actually knows how to win at a World Cup.
That's the only missing piece — there's no other answer.
Background and key points of discussion
Hajime Moriyasu has led the Japan national team for eight years, and Nagatomo, a veteran defender, has fought alongside him for most of that span. Nagatomo’s comment came from an interview conducted on September 3, 2026, and since he suffered a serious injury after the interview took place, much of the thread’s reaction centered on the timing of the remark. Opinions were mainly split on two points: how to evaluate Moriyasu’s management itself, and whether Nagatomo should continue to be involved with the national team going forward. Judging from the replies, Tatsuya Oniki (Kawasaki) is seen as the leading candidate for the next head coach job, though he’s reportedly reluctant to take the national team post; Go Kuroda (Machida) has plenty of results but is seen as too soon for the role; while Tsuyoshi Otsuka (current assistant coach) is viewed as the frontrunner mainly by process of elimination. Neither the article nor the thread directly addresses the actual severity of the injury Nagatomo suffered after the interview, or whether he could still be called up for the Asian Cup itself — a point readers could easily misunderstand.
*This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Geisports Sokuho+) thread “[Soccer] Yuto Nagatomo: “I want us to win the Asian Cup and carry Coach Moriyasu on our shoulders”.”
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