Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

Japan national team forward Kento Shioi came on as a substitute in the October 5 match against New Zealand, won the ball back in his own half, and carried it forward alone — attempting to force his way through three defenders before losing the ball. Asked about the play afterward, Shioi explained that it wasn’t that he “chose not to pass,” but that he simply “didn’t see” teammate Keito Nakamura, who was wide open, and expressed deep regret. On 5ch’s live-commentary threads, opinions split over whether to take that explanation at face value. Some argued it was simply a case of limited vision due to inexperience, while others suspected he actually saw Nakamura but chose not to pass — and the discussion expanded into debates about Shioi’s career history and future potential.

Japan national team forward Kento Shioi has revealed the truth behind the “viral moment” that split fan opinion.

On October 5, Japan faced New Zealand in the final match of a September–October series featuring four international friendlies. Japan won 2–1, claiming the Kirin Cup for the first time in 15 years.

Shioi came on as a substitute in the 78th minute, playing at center forward, and it was a single moment in the 85th minute that had the whole stadium buzzing. After collecting a loose ball in his own half, Shioi beat midfielder Alex Rufer with a slick double touch. He then drove forward alone into the opposition half, and even after being surrounded by three defenders — including Rufer — he forced his way to the right. In the end, though, his dribble was stopped just short of the penalty area.

Source: times.abema.tv / Original article here

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisports Sokuho+) thread “Kento Shioi’s forced breakthrough splits opinion — it wasn’t that he “didn’t pass,” but that he “didn’t see” — overlooking Keito Nakamura, he deeply reflects, saying “all I was thinking about was taking him on”.”

Tokyo University of Science Professor Emeritus Kenso Soai has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with Paris-Saclay University Professor Emeritus Henri Kagan. The prize cites “the discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.” This marks the third consecutive year a Japanese national has won a Nobel Prize, and the 10th Japanese Chemistry laureate, following last year’s Susumu Kitagawa. NHK’s “News 7” led with the story, but even pundits said they “hadn’t expected this for the Chemistry Prize,” since Soai’s name was missing from the pre-announcement prediction lists — sparking surprise across 5ch. Meanwhile, the cute handwriting on what looked like a hastily scrawled note at the announcement became its own hot topic, with the thread spiraling into side discussions on the feasibility of fusion power and the annual running joke about Haruki Murakami’s Literature Prize snub.

10/7 (Wed) 19:36

Tokyo University of Science Professor Emeritus Kenso Soai has been named a winner of this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences made the announcement on the 7th. The prize was awarded “for the discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis,” shared with Paris-Saclay University Professor Emeritus Henri Kagan. This is Japan’s third straight year producing a Nobel laureate, the 31st Japanese individual recipient overall, and the 10th in Chemistry, following last year’s Susumu Kitagawa.

The good news broke just after 6:50 p.m. Japan time on the 7th. NHK’s “NHK News 7” ran it as the top story.

Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

42AnonymousOct 7, 2026 20:55

48AnonymousOct 7, 2026 20:58

Re: #42
This handwriting's cute enough they could sell it as a font

70AnonymousOct 7, 2026 21:32

Re: #42
My parent's a science elite too, and their handwriting is genuinely awful

71AnonymousOct 7, 2026 21:33

Re: #42
I was so distracted by the handwriting that not a word of the explanation sank in

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Kenso Soai Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry — NHK Pundit: “Didn’t Expect It”; Hastily Scrawled Handwritten Note Goes Viral Online: “Hilarious”.”