Japan Reacts

Category: Sports

  • AFC to Launch a Nations League — 5ch: “Just Let Japan Into UEFA Already”

    ESPN reports that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is considering creating a Nations League-style competition like the ones already running in Europe and North/Central America and the Caribbean. Under the plan, the tournament would be held every two years starting in 2030, splitting member nations into three tiers — Tier 1 and Tier 2 with 18 countries each, and Tier 3 with 11 — with talk of it also doubling as World Cup or Asian Cup qualifying. The thread split between people hopeful that qualifying would effectively be streamlined, and skeptics who see it as just more travel for Europe-based players with little to show for it.

    The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) appears to be looking into creating an AFC Nations League. Sports outlet ESPN reported the news on the 4th.

    The Nations League format is already in place in Europe (UEFA) and North/Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF), and Africa (CAF) is expected to launch its own version starting in 2029. The AFC itself first signaled its intent to introduce the competition back in December of last year.

    According to this latest report, the AFC Nations League would be held every two years starting in 2030, with AFC member nations split into three tiers: 18 countries each in Tier 1 and Tier 2, and 11 countries in Tier 3.

    Source: soccer-king.jp / Read the original article here

    7AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:59
    It's just exhausting — who's actually going to take this seriously?
    30AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:16
    Re: #7
    If Japan loses, their FIFA ranking takes a massive hit.

    For everyone else, beating Japan is a huge chance to shoot up the FIFA rankings!

    Japan's going to have to fight tooth and nail just to defend its ranking against the rest of Asia.
    15AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:05
    I bet this gets voted down by most people, since it would effectively cap World Cup Asian qualifying at 18 teams.
    If every country doesn't keep a shot at qualifying, it's unfair — there's no need to run it as a league at all.
    Just turn the Asian Cup itself into the Nations League.
    17AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:08
    Re: #15
    I think Asian Cup qualifying is fine as it is. If they do go with a Nations League, just set a fixed number of teams for the top tier, a fixed number for the next tier, and so on.
    20AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:12
    Re: #15
    Hard to say. Even today, that's roughly how many teams realistically have a shot at the World Cup anyway.
    I think the bigger upside is for Asia's smaller nations, who'd no longer have to scramble to line up friendlies.
    23AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:13
    We don't need any of this garbage. An Asian Nations League does nothing but harm — most of the players are in Europe anyway, so why not just let us into UEFA?
    25AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:14
    The Europe-based players won't even show up for this and nobody's going to watch, so I doubt it brings in any broadcast money either.
    35AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:17
    Re: #25
    If Japan loses, their FIFA ranking tanks hard!
    Japan's the one country that has to take this dead seriously!
    31AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:16
    Lol. That's literally just Asian qualifying with a new name.
    36AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:17
    Re: #31
    It won't be standalone like in Europe — it's qualifying that's run in a Nations League format.
    39AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:19
    Nothing but harm. Just let Japan into UEFA already — swap us with Kazakhstan.
    56AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:28
    Re: #39
    European countries aren't going to want to fly back and forth to Japan every year for various competitions — geographically that's basically a non-starter.
    45AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:21
    Re: #35
    Strengthening the squad matters more than the ranking.
    Europe-based players improve more by playing for their clubs — this would just end up being a training exercise for domestic-league players and clueless coaches.
    75AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:37
    Re: #45
    If all you ever do is play Asian teams ranked outside the top 100…
    that's exactly the kind of thing that won't make you any stronger.
    82AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:39
    Re: #75
    I don't think Japan would actually end up in the same tier as teams at that level.
    88AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:44
    Re: #75
    Which is exactly why there's no point in the Europe-based players taking part.
    47AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:21
    An 18-team round-robin is unrealistic though — how are they actually going to run this?
    48AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:22
    Re: #47
    They'll probably split them into groups.
    50AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:25
    Is it even allowed to make the Nations League double as World Cup qualifying? In other regions, the Nations League and World Cup qualifying are basically kept separate.
    51AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:25
    Re: #50
    I don't think FIFA would have a problem with it — you've got to give the smaller nations a chance too.
    59AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:29
    Re: #50
    At the youth level there are already cases where the Asian Cup doubles as World Cup qualifying. If there's a promotion/relegation system and every Asian country gets a path in, I doubt anyone would object.
    52AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:26
    Re: #48
    The Swiss system — the one they use for the Champions League and such.
    64AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:31
    Re: #52
    I don't really know much about the Champions League — what's that?
    53AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:26
    How did football end up this fragmented? The old days were better.
    65AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:32
    Re: #53
    Money, that's why. The broadcast revenue now is on a completely different level than it used to be.
    No idea if the AFC can actually pull in that kind of money, though.
    Also, Africa's always fighting over money too.
    54AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:26
    We need this, don't we? Are people scared of Korea and Iran? You can dream about Europe all you want, but they're busy over there (lol).
    69AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:32
    If they're going to do this, the prize money needs to be big enough that Japan actually feels it's worth showing up for.
    77AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:38
    Re: #69
    There might be a decent payout to hope for. It gets overlooked a lot, but whether the national team can actually generate revenue matters a lot for the sport's development too. If there's any upside for Japan in joining, that's probably it.
    72AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:34
    You get to experience brutal away trips all across Asia.
    74AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:35
    Re: #72
    World Cup qualifying alone is already more than enough. Honestly, I can't take any more of this.
    85AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:42
    So it'd be capped at just 10 World Cup qualifiers? That's… actually not bad?
    95AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:46
    Re: #85
    The problem is the years when a World Cup spot isn't on the line, right?
    92AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:45
    The momentum toward launching a Nations League is probably unstoppable at this point.
    In Asia, it's really only Japan, Korea, Australia, and Iran that regularly face top teams from other continents — most matches are Asia-on-Asia anyway.
    Japan would be smart to just switch gears quickly and focus on securing a good position within it.
    What matters is the money and the World Cup spot.
    104AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:50
    Re: #92
    Public interest in the national team is going to drop even further than it already has.
    Unless the Middle East puts up LIV Golf-level prize money, it just isn't worth it.
    102AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:49
    If it doubles as World Cup qualifying, Japan would no longer have to go through what's currently the second qualifying round, so the number of matches against Asian teams would stay about the same or even go down.
    If Japan was ever going to slip up, it was always in that second round — get rid of that and Japan is almost guaranteed to reach the World Cup, while still getting tense, meaningful games against Asia's top teams. Not bad at all.
    105AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:50
    Re: #102
    It just means every international match window becomes an all-Asia affair, that's all.
    112AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:53
    Re: #105
    Even now, the international match windows during World Cup qualifying are already all-Asia.
    121AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:55
    Re: #105

    Current system:
    2nd round qualifying — 6 matches ← this part is a total waste
    Final round qualifying — 10 matches
    Total — 16 matches

    Proposed system:
    NL Tier 1 — 12 matches
    If you advance all the way to the final, 16 matches total

    The maximum number of matches is the same either way — it only drops if you lose.

    Basically, World Cup qualifying just becomes more compact.

    Background and Key Points of This Debate

    Since launching in 2018, the UEFA Nations League has become firmly established as a mechanism that generates substantial broadcast revenue and payouts for member federations; CONCACAF has already adopted the format, and CAF is aiming to launch its own version in 2029. The AFC had already signaled its intent to introduce such a competition back in December of last year, and this latest report represents the concrete proposal that followed. What split the thread was how to judge the idea of having it double as World Cup qualifying: one camp welcomed the prospect of fewer throwaway qualifiers and more tense matchups between top nations, while the other argued it would mainly saddle Europe-based players with extra travel for little real benefit. What tends to get overlooked is that in Europe and CONCACAF, the Nations League is, in principle, kept separate from World Cup qualifying — making it double as qualifying requires FIFA’s sign-off, and if the AFC’s plan goes through, it would be a format unlike anything used in any other region.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hassoku+) thread “[Soccer] AFC considering creating a Nations League… format that would double as World Cup or Asian Cup qualifying, possibly launching in 2030“.

  • Arc de Triomphe: Daryz Repeats as Champion, Japanese Horses Fall Short Again — 5ch: ‘My Trifecta Ticket Went From ¥100 to ¥5,000’

    On the 4th, Europe’s premier Group 1 race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (turf, 2,400 meters), held at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, saw last year’s winner Daryz repeat as champion. Meishou Tabaru, ridden boldly from the front by Yutaka Take, finished 14th, while Admire Tera finished 11th — meaning Japan’s long-held dream of a first Arc victory will have to wait until next year or beyond. On 5ch, discussion flared between posters recalling the near-misses of Orfevre and Nakayama Festa (both runners-up in years past) who asked “Is there any point keeping at it when the track doesn’t suit Japanese horses?” and others arguing “You only get stronger by challenging yourself.”

    Europe’s top race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1, turf 2,400 meters, 16 runners), was held on the 4th at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France.

    Two Japanese horses took part, but the long-sought breakthrough didn’t come. The first Japanese win will have to wait until next year or later.

    Meishou Tabaru (Kuri stable, trainer Ishibashi, 5-year-old colt), ridden by Yutaka Take (57, Kuri/freelance), boldly dashed to the front and set the pace for the field at his own speed.

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

    2AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:37
    I hit the trifecta — my ¥100 ticket turned into ¥5,000!
    5AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:38
    Doesn't Yutaka Take always push his horse too far forward in the Arc?
    10AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:40
    Japan's being stubborn about chasing the Arc, but the turf doesn't even suit them — is there any point going?
    22AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:44
    Re: #10
    These days it's entries driven by betting sales. The racing association is basically begging the top stables to send their horses. The Arc has a good race time slot, so it sells a ton of tickets no matter what.
    42AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:50
    Re: #10
    Doesn't it multiply the horse's stud value once it retires?
    48AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:51
    Re: #10
    If you keep making excuses about the track not suiting you instead of ever winning, you'll never improve.
    Japanese racing has risen to a world-class level precisely because they kept challenging themselves.
    Looking down on the Arc and European racing for some 'moral victory' without ever actually winning is what washed-up losers do.
    13AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:41
    Daryz is 8-for-9 at Longchamp, so Croix — who's beaten Daryz there — looks even better now.
    81AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:59
    Re: #13
    He only won because of interference from that veering.
    24AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:45
    I wish Forever Young had run the Arc without a prep race.
    89AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:00
    Re: #24
    The difference in finishing speed is just too big lol
    98AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:01
    Re: #24
    Forever Young probably would've won the Arc outright, but if a dirt horse actually won it, that would be a massive embarrassment for the JRA — so they'd never let that happen.
    27AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:46
    Orfevre's probably still the best result Japan's ever had, right?
    31AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:47
    Re: #27
    Nakayama Festa (too)
    59AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:53
    Re: #27
    Orfevre finished second twice.
    28AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:46
    If Juryoku Piero had gone… there might've been a real shot — like with Orfevre as a 3-year-old filly.
    40AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:49
    Re: #28
    No way it survives air transport.
    33AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:48
    Bring a horse that actually suits the Arc's track for once.
    36AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:48
    Re: #33
    Recently, Through Seven Seas was well-suited to it.
    41AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:49
    Isn't it true lately they're not even running to win, just running to sell betting tickets?
    55AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:53
    Re: #41
    That's exactly why horses that have run the Arc recently can still perform decently in their next race. Back in the day they went there to actually win, so there was all this talk about the toll of overseas travel — but now it's just a lap around Europe, basically an overseas vacation.
    44AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:51
    Honestly, I think if they'd taken Oju Chosan there in his prime, he would've won.
    53AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:52
    Re: #44
    No chance — he doesn't have the finishing speed.
    62AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:54
    So bring a dirt horse already.
    97AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:01
    Re: #62
    I get that, but then American dirt horses — from the home of dirt racing — don't even show up there, so maybe Longchamp just doesn't work that way. Still, I do wonder how Forever Young ("Eva-Yan") would've done.
    110AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:03
    Re: #97
    If a horse with JRA earnings of just 7.2 million yen won the Arc, it'd get ripped apart even worse than El Condor Pasa did. Nobody wants that.
    71AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:56
    Re: #48
    I don't think continuing to challenge European racing counts as 'progress' anymore — it's basically a different sport at this point. It's like making Ohtani drill soccer to win the World Cup, or having Kubo take a thousand fungoes (baseball infield practice) to win the WBC.
    106AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:02
    Re: #71
    That analogy is way off lol
    77AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:57
    El Condor Pasa really had the best shot of all. It's annoying that Ebina ended up winning it instead — if only he'd just won it clean back then.
    83AnonymousOct 4, 2026 23:59
    Re: #77
    You mean Festa (Nakayama Festa).
    93AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:00
    This Croix horse that beat Daryz
    102AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:02
    Re: #93
    It only survived by veering into others while running on fumes.
    103AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:02
    If Orfevre had had Ikezoe aboard, he would've won back-to-back.
    105AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:02
    Re: #103
    Even being generous, there's no way he wins the second one.
    107AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:02
    Re: #103
    He'd get thrown off if he won twice in a row.
    109AnonymousOct 5, 2026 00:03
    Re: #103
    Wasn't he torn apart by Treve anyway?

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    The Arc de Triomphe has a long history of Japanese horses falling agonizingly short — El Condor Pasa finished second in 1999, Nakayama Festa was runner-up in 2010, and Orfevre finished second in both 2012 and 2013. This time, with Meishou Tabaru finishing 14th and Admire Tera 11th — both well off the pace — the thread split between voices saying “there’s no point even trying anymore” and others arguing “every challenge builds up Japanese racing’s strength.” Underlying the debate is the point that Longchamp’s light turf and grinding, attrition-heavy ground suit a different kind of horse than those raised on Japan’s fast tracks, and in recent years some see entries as being more about selling betting tickets or overseas campaigns than actually chasing prize money. There’s also persistent talk of sending dirt-suited horses like Forever Young, though there’s resistance to the idea of a dirt horse winning the JRA’s flagship overseas showcase race — meaning this isn’t a simple question of which horses are “strong enough.”

    *This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[Horse Racing] Arc de Triomphe: Daryz Wins Back-to-Back! Japan’s Meishou Tabaru (ridden by Yutaka Take) Finishes 14th, Admire Tera 11th.”

  • J2 Side Niigata Apologizes After Supporters Spray Liquid at Stadium — 5ch: ‘Is This Really Worth Making Such a Fuss Over?’

    On October 4, J2 side Niigata apologized on its official website for a nuisance act committed by supporters during the home match against Iwata on September 19 (Denka Big Swan Stadium). Reports describe the act as “spraying liquid,” but what exactly was sprayed has not been specified. On 5ch, discussion centered on the fact that the club — rather than the individual fan responsible — was the one apologizing, why the liquid’s contents were kept vague, and the particular etiquette (or lack thereof) in the goal-end supporters’ section.

    Published 10/4 (Sun) 18:07

    Sports Nippon (Sponichi Annex)

    J2 Niigata updated its official website on the 4th, apologizing after confirming that Niigata supporters had committed a nuisance act during the home league match against Iwata held at Denka Big Swan Stadium on September 19.

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

    7AnonymousOct 4, 2026 19:44
    I mean, there are liquids you're allowed to spray around, you know
    9AnonymousOct 4, 2026 19:46
    Liquid like drinking water or something
    Is this really worth making such a fuss over?
    21AnonymousOct 4, 2026 19:51
    Re: #9
    Sure, it'd be nice if you could check what's being thrown before it's sprayed, but what happens when some 'guy with nothing left to lose' takes advantage of everyone just shrugging this off and dumps acid instead?
    62AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:15
    Re: #9
    I bet it was some supporter who wandered into the heart of the goal-end section for the first time and got caught in the crossfire
    That spot's basically lawless — in summer people are spraying drinking water everywhere, moshing, all sorts
    That area's claimed by the diehard chanting crowd who care more about cheering than the actual match, so it's best to steer clear
    During chants mid-match, huge flags get waved around so much you often can't even see the pitch properly
    30AnonymousOct 4, 2026 19:56
    It's just about salmon-spawning season, so it can't be helped (Niigata's rivers are famous for salmon runs this time of year)
    80AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:49
    Re: #30
    lol
    lol fun fact, salmon aren't even tasty by the time they're swimming upstream lol
    lol
    31AnonymousOct 4, 2026 19:57
    If it's getting sprayed down from up in the stands, yeah, that's a nuisance
    32AnonymousOct 4, 2026 19:57
    Did the victim file a police report? For assault, or property damage?
    35AnonymousOct 4, 2026 19:58
    Does J2 even have spectators? lolololol
    44AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:02
    Re: #35
    Attendance is hitting an all-time high right now — how do you even write something like that?
    46AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:03
    Re: #35
    It's basically the third-string team, so no wonder nobody's interested, right?
    47AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:03
    Re: #35
    This particular match actually drew 20,708 spectators
    36AnonymousOct 4, 2026 19:58
    First it was Sendai's mascot messing up, now this — it's pathetic when it's always someone other than the players causing trouble
    37AnonymousOct 4, 2026 19:59
    Why'd they even spray it around?
    Was it some kind of celebration, or was it meant to harass someone?
    39AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:00
    This is the same club that once blasted sprinklers on its own fans in the stands, you know
    40AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:01
    They won the match though — can't they cut them a little slack?
    42AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:01
    Unrelated, but does Geisupo (5ch's Entertainment & Sports News board) not start match-result threads anymore?
    52AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:05
    Re: #42
    Same with news sites — articles about match results just don't get the clicks
    48AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:03
    There's probably some reason they had to go out of their way to say 'liquid' instead of just 'beverage'
    49AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:04
    Soccer fan behavior these days is like Hanshin Tigers fans 40-50 years ago (the Tigers' fanbase was notorious for rowdiness back then)
    50AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:05
    For some guy who's neither a player nor staff…
    why does the team have to apologize for him?
    57AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:09
    Re: #50
    They're always saying supporters are the '12th player,' aren't they
    70AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:32
    Re: #47
    '20' people lol
    Isn't that '.708' not even a whole person? (joking that 20,708 reads like '20.708' people)
    86AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:59
    Re: #70
    Just round that to an average, come on
    75AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:41
    My image of the J.League is small-town clubs getting cocky and causing trouble
    82AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:55
    Why though?
    Aren't they doing well right now?
    85AnonymousOct 4, 2026 20:58
    Re: #82
    Nobody cares

    Background and Key Points of the Debate

    Denka Big Swan Stadium, located in Niigata City, is J2 Niigata’s home ground, and posters in the thread noted that the match in question drew 20,708 spectators. J.League attendance overall has been trending upward in recent years, and some replies pushed back against the “does anyone even watch J2” skepticism by citing that actual figure. Opinion in the thread split over whether it was appropriate for the club to apologize on behalf of an individual fan’s misconduct. While there’s a culture of treating supporters as the “12th player,” plenty of posters pushed back, arguing they’re simply spectators. The fact that the official statement never specified what the “liquid” actually was — leaving it to readers’ imagination — also seems to have helped fuel the online buzz. The reporting itself went no further than confirming the nuisance act and the club’s stern-warning response; neither the liquid’s identity nor further details of any harm have been made public.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News Breaking+) thread “[Soccer] J2 Niigata: Supporter sprays liquid at stadium in nuisance act, club apologizes: “We deeply apologize for the discomfort caused”.”

  • Modrić stunned as Croatia suffer historic 0-7 thrashing by England at home

    In the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, Croatia suffered a crushing 0-7 defeat at home to England on October 3 (local time). Croatia’s previous record margin of defeat was 0-6 against Spain in 2018, making this the biggest loss in the national team’s history. They conceded four goals in the first half alone, then let Kane and Saka add more in the second half, prompting the local newspaper 24sata to brand it “the worst match in history.” On 5ch forums, many pointed to the aging of key players like Modrić and a stalled generational transition, drawing attention to the contrast with an England side stacked with young talents like Bellingham and Saka.

    The UEFA Nations League 2026/27 League A, Group 3, Matchday 3 clash between Croatia and England took place on October 3 (local time), with Croatia suffering a massive 0-7 defeat at home. Their previous record defeat margin was 0-6 against Spain in 2018, so this surpassed that to become the largest losing margin in the national team’s history.

    Croatia conceded the opener to Harry Kane in the 8th minute, then goals from Jude Bellingham in the 21st, Anthony Gordon in the 39th, and Bukayo Saka right before halftime made it four goals down by the break. The second half brought more from Kane and Saka, and Morgan Rogers added a seventh in the 87th minute. Croatia never mounted a response, sealing a historic rout.

    Local media tore into the beaten Croatian side. Croatian newspaper 24sata called it “the greatest humiliation at Rujevica,” slamming it as “one-sided from start to finish — a game of cat and mouse,” and noting that “the players were completely unprepared, both mentally and physically.”

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

    3AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:09
    That was a great match.
    You don't get to see a scoreline like that very often.
    5AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:10
    Guess Croatia's era is over.
    They've been through a war and they're a small country, so they really did well to get this far.
    7AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:14
    Does Croatia even have a go-to guy up front anymore?
    Is Modrić still the main man?
    16AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:24
    Re: #7
    He's benched a lot at Real Madrid too these days —
    whenever they face a strong team in the Champions League, he just doesn't have the intensity anymore.
    8AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:14
    Gordon only got 4 minutes of total playing time
    at the Euros under Southgate, remember.
    11AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:16
    England (5ch nickname “Chin,” a juvenile pun on “Ingurando”) are strong — just not when it's an actual major tournament.
    14AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:18
    Re: #11

    World Cup 3rd place — that's clearly strong.
    13AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:16
    Reminds me of Brazil's humiliating loss to Germany.
    15AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:22
    This could've just as easily been 10-0.
    Hard to say whether England (5ch nickname “Chingrand”) were just that strong or Croatia were just that weak,
    but at home, this is clearly a historic humiliation for Croatia.
    53AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:47
    Re: #15
    If it were just a friendly, fine, but this is the Nations League — not much prestige yet, but a real competition nonetheless.
    This is going to stick in Croatian fans' memories as a painfully bitter one.
    72AnonymousOct 4, 2026 08:07
    Re: #15
    Honestly, 0-7 almost feels like it could've been worse.
    Bellingham especially looked like he was having the time of his life, doing whatever he wanted out there.
    Croatia's midfield was way too porous.
    17AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:25
    England are just plain strong right now.
    Japan would probably lose to them too, something like 0-3.
    20AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:28
    Croatia clearly botched their generational transition.
    25AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:32
    Re: #20
    Uruguay has about the same small population, and they struggle with generational turnover for the same reason — not enough people to draw from.
    74AnonymousOct 4, 2026 08:08
    Re: #25
    The population argument doesn't hold up — just look at India or China.
    21AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:29
    Croatia's stadium looks pretty shabby.
    23AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:31
    Even without Kane and others, Japan beating England on the road at the hallowed Wembley Stadium right before the World Cup was genuinely impressive.
    So why did they turn around and play such a sloppy second half against Brazil?
    24AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:31
    Croatia, Japan, South Korea, Argentina —
    all entering a dark age.
    26AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:33
    How much longer is Croatia going to keep running out old guys like Modrić, lol.
    Looks like their generational transition straight-up failed, lol.
    27AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:33
    If they're not calling up Boban, Šuker, Bokšić, or the Kovač brothers, this is about what you'd expect.
    28AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:34
    Wait, Modrić is still playing? I figured he'd retired from the national team along with Messi and Ronaldo.
    31AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:36
    That's an insult to San Marino.
    Compare them to the Faroe Islands at best.
    33AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:37
    What happened to Kovačić, Rakitić, and Mandžukić?
    66AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:59
    Re: #33
    *tsk*… we're, uh, reflecting on it.
    35AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:38
    The fact that Modrić is still out there says it all, doesn't it?
    36AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:38
    Bellingham at #10 is just way too good.
    77AnonymousOct 4, 2026 08:12
    Re: #36
    He's the best midfielder in Europe right now, surely.
    37AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:41
    How big of a talent gap do you need for a 0-7 in football?
    There's no way this score is just luck.
    39AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:42
    Re: #37
    Motivation probably played a big part in it too.
    38AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:41
    I've never seen Japan concede 5+ goals even on the road.
    40AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:42
    Croatia used to be stronger than Japan — have they really fallen this far?
    59AnonymousOct 4, 2026 07:53
    Was Baturina playing?
    70AnonymousOct 4, 2026 08:07
    Re: #59
    Both Baturina and Vušković started.

    Background and Key Points

    Croatia have long been a powerhouse, finishing runners-up at the 2018 World Cup and third at the 2022 World Cup, but the squad is said to be aging around veterans like Modrić, with the next generation slow to emerge. England, by contrast, are stacked with players in their early twenties like Bellingham, Saka, and Gordon, and are often held up as a contrasting example of a successful generational handover. Some in the thread floated match-fixing suspicions given the lopsided score, but the Nations League also serves as a developmental competition, and gaps can show up in extreme ways between teams at different stages of squad-building. It’s more reasonable to read this as a generational talent gap surfacing rather than anything untoward. For reference, the previous record losing margin was 0-6 against Spain in 2018, a mark this result has now surpassed.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Geisokuho+) thread “[Soccer] Modrić stunned as Croatia suffer historic 0-7 defeat to England at home, local media slams it as “the worst match in history”.”

  • 8 Osaka Students Barred from National Track Meet Over Federation’s Paperwork Blunder — Governor’s Plea Rejected, 5ch Fumes: ‘Adults Screw Up, Kids Pay the Price’

    Because the Osaka Junior High School Athletic Association (Osaka Chutairen), made up of junior high school teachers, failed to complete the entry procedures, eight junior high and high school students who had been selected to represent Osaka at the Junior Olympic U16 Championships in Mie Prefecture have been barred from competing. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura submitted a formal request to the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) asking that the students be allowed to compete, but the federation responded that it would not make any exceptions. Even though the mistake was made by the adults handling the paperwork, it’s the athletes themselves who bear the consequences — a situation that split opinion on 5ch between sympathy for the students and the more principled stance that ‘if you make an exception once, there’s no end to it.’

    JOC Track Meet Entry Omission Issue: Governor Yoshimura’s Request Rejected, JAAF Says ‘No Relief Measures’

    Eight junior high and high school students from Osaka Prefecture have been unable to compete in a national tournament at the end of this month because Osaka’s athletics federation was late submitting their entries. The Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF), which organizes the tournament, announced that it “will not take any relief measures.”

    The eight students, all residents of Osaka Prefecture, were selected as Osaka representatives at a competition held in Osaka City last month and were set to compete in the Junior Olympic U16 Championships in Mie Prefecture this month. However, it was discovered that the Osaka Junior High School Athletic Association (Osaka Chutairen), made up of junior high school teachers from within the prefecture, had not completed the entry procedures.

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

    2AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:34
    That 'just kick up a fuss and it'll work out' mentality is so Kansai.
    3AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:34
    The ones who forgot to file are at fault — I hate this trend of treating the federation like the villain when it did nothing wrong.
    56AnonymousOct 4, 2026 02:19
    Re: #3
    The ones at fault are the adults who forgot to submit it.
    The problem is there's no system to hold them accountable.
    Neither the federation nor the kids did anything wrong, yet the kids get punished and the federation gets painted as the villain too.
    Meanwhile the one idiot who actually screwed up faces zero consequences.
    4AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:35
    Yoshimura: 'Excuse me, I'm the leader of a ruling coalition party.' (he heads Nippon Ishin no Kai, part of the ruling coalition)
    5AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:35
    How long are you going to keep wasting time on this nonsense online?
    Do you have nothing better to do?

    Just leave it be and mind your own business.
    7AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:36
    Forget special exceptions — if a teacher's mistake causes a missed entry, just make them pay a fine and let the kid compete as a matter of course.
    17AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:44
    Re: #7
    Like a late-entry fee in horse racing?
    33AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:58
    Re: #7
    About 3 million yen (~$20,000) per kid?
    47AnonymousOct 4, 2026 02:08
    Re: #7
    Exactly. They just need to build a system that accounts for human error in the first place.
    8AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:37
    Everyone's got their own life to live, give it a rest already.
    9AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:37
    Depends on why it wasn't submitted — it's not like the coach was off pocketing bribes or something.
    10AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:38
    Wow, so there really are that many other athletes losing their shot because of incompetent adults at these athletic federations.
    11AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:38
    If you allow this once, there's no end to it.
    But it's definitely rough on the students.
    13AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:40
    Re: #11
    Why not just slap the athletic federation with a penalty or sanction?
    77AnonymousOct 4, 2026 02:36
    Re: #11
    Clueless adults have been pulling this kind of thing forever.
    Like forgetting to book tickets or lodging for a school trip until the day it's happening.
    If it only hurt the adults who messed up, fine, but the kids end up suffering too.

    And the fact that the federation has never bothered to come up with any kind of relief measure for this until now is also pretty questionable.
    12AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:40
    Are there other athletes out there who've been turned away from competing too?
    14AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:42
    Don't dig your heels in over something this trivial.
    Just let them compete.
    Are you serious?
    22AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:47
    Re: #14
    This exactly.
    Just change a dumb rule like that already. Don't keep it out of some misplaced guilt toward past athletes — make the rules with future athletes in mind.
    Seriously, what is this federation even for? Nothing but idiots.
    15AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:43
    It's definitely rough on the students, but the JAAF isn't the one at fault here — it's the adults who blew the deadline.
    16AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:44
    So the teachers never filed the entry paperwork?
    Then both the federation and the students are victims here.
    By the way, why did Yoshimura even get involved?
    He must have known there was no way to push this through.
    18AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:44
    Why not just hold a competition in Osaka on the same day?
    19AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:45
    So you want special treatment just for Osaka?
    What is this, Trump and the World Cup?
    20AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:45
    Just sue them already and rake in a fat settlement.
    21AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:45
    As punishment, make the Osaka Chutairen officials snort 100 takoyaki balls up their noses.
    23AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:48
    I get it logically, but man, I still feel so bad for the students.
    25AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:49
    The federation did the obvious, correct thing.
    Yoshimura shouldn't be butting in just to score political points.
    27AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:52
    Political interference in sports.
    What is he, Trump? lol
    29AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:53
    Re: #27
    It's a human rights issue and an education issue for junior high and high schoolers, so of course it's a political matter.
    28AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:53
    Guess Osaka Prefecture will be cutting subsidies to any facilities tied to the JAAF now.
    30AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:55
    Rough on the students, but it's the right call.
    From here, it'll just have to be settled through damages.
    31AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:55
    My guess is Yoshimura got asked to step in and couldn't really refuse.
    The teacher responsible should get a stern warning and a good smack on the backside.
    34AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:58
    At least explain to the students why it's a no-go.
    Or is it just 'rules are rules'?
    37AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:59
    Just have the students handle their own entry paperwork from now on.
    74AnonymousOct 4, 2026 02:33
    The adults made the mistake.
    The kids take the punishment.
    Whoever designed this system is a genius, truly.
    83AnonymousOct 4, 2026 02:48
    Re: #74
    Once you're out in the working world, you really learn how unfair life is.
    Good thing they're getting that naive fantasy of 'doing the right thing always wins' smashed this early.

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    The tournament in question is a national track and field competition called the “Junior Olympic U16,” which only athletes who have cleared prefectural qualifiers can enter. The reason these students were barred this time is that Osaka Chutairen (Osaka Junior High School Athletic Association, a group of teachers) — the body responsible for managing the entry deadline — failed to complete the submission; neither the athletes themselves nor the JAAF were at fault. Opinion on the thread split between sympathy for the students and the more principled argument that “granting an exception once sets a precedent that becomes impossible to contain” — though notably, neither camp directly blamed the JAAF by name. On the other hand, Governor Yoshimura’s (Governor of Osaka Prefecture and leader of the Japan Innovation Party) submission of a formal request sparked a wave of posts that drifted from what should have been the core issue — the lack of any system to hold the adults who made the mistake accountable — into unrelated political arguments about the Japan Innovation Party, inflation, and diplomacy; those tangents have been left out of this article. Neither the original article nor the thread specifies what preventive measures might follow or the exact circumstances behind the delayed submission.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisoku Sokuho+) thread ‘[Track and Field] 8 Osaka junior high/high schoolers miss national tournament entry due to Chutairen error — Governor Yoshimura submits request, but JAAF says ‘no relief measures’.’

  • Korea’s Flag Alone Missing at Asian Games Soccer Medal Ceremony, Fans Boo

    At the Asian Games currently underway in Aichi/Nagoya, South Korea beat Japan 1-0 in the men’s soccer final (October 3, Toyota Stadium). But at the medal ceremony, only the flag of the champion nation, South Korea, failed to go up — it stayed lowered even as the national anthem played. Korean supporters in the stands responded with boos, and the players reportedly looked bewildered. On 5ch, opinions split over whether this was a simple operational blunder or deliberate harassment, with some pointing to a string of past mishaps involving the Korean delegation and saying “this can’t be a coincidence.”

    [Image]

    [Soccer U-21] Stunning scene at the medal ceremony… champion South Korea’s flag never raised, supporters boo as players look on in confusion… Asian Games

    ◆Aichi/Nagoya Asian Games ▽Men’s Soccer Final: Japan 0–1 South Korea (Oct. 3, Toyota Stadium)

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

    2AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:03
    Now that they've got their military service exemption, they probably couldn't care less about this
    3AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:05
    Yeah, this one's gotta be on purpose
    4AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:05
    The organizers running this tournament
    Japan Football Association, take responsibility!
    5AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:06
    They went and created a 'flag desecration' crime back home and this is what happens
    8AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:06
    This is embarrassing — if the roles were reversed and this happened at a tournament in Korea, they'd be furious calling it harassment
    Why do these mysterious "mistakes" keep happening?
    11AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:06
    I bet there are a few higher-ups from the organizing committee in here on 5ch spamming posts to stir things up
    12AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:06
    At this point it's almost impressive
    They're just making a mockery of Korea nonstop
    18AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:09
    Re: #1
    [Important]

    ・Korea played one fewer match than Japan (Iraq withdrew), so while Japan dominated the first half, Japan — having played the extra match — ran out of stamina and lost focus in the second half, and Korea capitalized on that opening to score. Japan was completely worn out by then

    ・Despite being the host, Japan actually had a worse schedule than Korea (less rest time before the final)

    ・Japan's whole squad was U21 (two years younger). Korea's squad was entirely 23 and up, fully using all three overage slots too

    ・Military service exemption [on the line for Korea]

    ・On top of that, Japan's side was far from its best lineup — basically a reserve/third-string squad of players 21 and under
    36AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:16
    Re: #18
    That last bit about age — if they lost because they were slacking off and underestimating the opponent, that's just lame, nothing more
    19AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:10
    I'm not a fan of Korea, but I don't think pulling this kind of harassment is right
    21AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:11
    How do you even manage to run a tournament this badly?
    24AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:12
    Have we turned into such a joke we can't even manage to raise a flag properly? ("crab" here is 5ch slang mocking incompetence)
    25AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:12
    More importantly
    why isn't there an article about the China vs. Uzbekistan third-place match?
    It nearly turned into a brawl, that was hilarious
    26AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:13
    They'll do anything to drag Japan's credibility through the mud, huh
    Typical Nagoya
    27AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:13
    Harassment out of spite for losing? What kind of low-class behavior is that?
    28AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:13
    Re: #22
    It's just pathetic that people this shameless exist
    30AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:14
    Is this happening everywhere and we're only hearing about the Korea-related screwups, or what?
    35AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:16
    Either nobody read the manual, or there wasn't one to begin with, lol
    44AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:18
    The fact that they banned the Rising Sun flag and Taiwan's flag already gave it away
    45AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:18
    Has Korea or China ever pulled this kind of stunt on Japan?
    52AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:20
    Welcome them with a portrait of Hideyoshi
    Put them on a bus and take them to the wrong training ground
    Play North Korea's national anthem
    Don't play the anthem at all
    Don't raise the flag ← New

    Apparently there's a country that's kept up this kind of harassment against Korea
    61AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:22
    Re: #52
    This kind of thing just drags Japan's reputation through the mud
    If anything, my opinion of Korea went up for staying calm about it
    77AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:26
    Re: #52
    I don't know the facts, but at this point it's only natural people assume it's intentional — this is beyond mere coincidence
    54AnonymousOct 4, 2026 01:21
    This tournament's organizers are just the worst
    All they're doing is needlessly stirring up conflict
    Go grovel and apologize already

    Background and Key Points

    This year’s games are the 2026 Asian Games, hosted by Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City; the men’s soccer final was held at Toyota Stadium, with South Korea defeating Japan 1-0. Tournament organizers have issued no official explanation as to whether the failure to raise the flag at the medal ceremony was a mistake or intentional, and it’s worth noting that the “deliberate harassment” and “scheme by a specific country” theories circulating on 5ch are all unsubstantiated speculation. Within the thread, opinions are split between those who see it as a simple human error and those who, pointing to other alleged incidents raised in the same thread (such as anthem mix-ups and guidance errors), believe it was intentional — neither side has solid proof. The broader games have also seen other flashpoints, such as the handling of the Rising Sun flag and Taiwan’s flag, and this incident is partly being discussed as an extension of that.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisoku Sokuho+) thread “[Asian Games] Trouble at soccer medal ceremony… champion South Korea’s flag not raised, anthem plays while only Korea’s flag stays lowered, supporters boo, players confused.”

  • Asian Games Soccer Final: TBS Airs Japan vs. South Korea Live

    On October 3, the men’s soccer final of the Asian Games, currently underway in Aichi and Nagoya, was held at Toyota Stadium, with TBS broadcasting the match between the Japan U-21 national team, led by manager Tsuyoshi Oiwa, and South Korea live starting at 7:30 PM. Since South Korea had added overage players to its roster while Japan fielded a squad made up entirely of U-21 players, opinions on 5ch’s live-commentary thread were split over how to judge the gap in strength. Some praised Japan for “putting up a good fight against a stronger opponent,” while others pointed out that the “Strongest Japan Ever” caption shown on the broadcast seemed at odds with the reality of the starting lineup.

    Kickoff at Toyota Stadium, 7:30 PM

    The Japan U-21 national team has announced its starting lineup for the match against South Korea.

    The Japan U-21 national team, led by manager Tsuyoshi Oiwa, faces South Korea at Toyota Stadium on October 3 in the final of the Asian Games being held in Aichi and Nagoya.

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

    3AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:32
    The 'O-N-I-P-P-O-N' chant sounds so thin lol
    Gotta bring some deeper voices or you'll never intimidate the other team
    30AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:44
    Re: #3
    Same one-note chant every time, no rhythm, totally flat support
    Seriously, change it up already
    7AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:34
    Japanese fans need to wake up and recognize how strong Korean soccer actually is (original post was in broken Japanese, possibly a non-native speaker)
    9AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:36
    Can't do a thing, just getting steamrolled orz
    11AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:38
    Gonna half-watch this on my phone while playing a mobile game, hoping for a brawl to break out
    12AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:38
    Korea's just straight-up the stronger team here (´･ω･｀)
    20AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:40
    Re: #12
    Well, yeah, obviously
    Actually, if a U-23-plus-overage squad is only even with a U-21 team, that says a lot (´･ω･`)
    14AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:38
    'Strongest Japan Ever' again today, huh lol
    17AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:39
    Japan's defense looks rattled
    If they can hold it scoreless till the nerves settle, they might be fine
    18AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:39
    How many foreign hired guns does Japan even have out there
    25AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:41
    Re: #18
    How many do you think?
    19AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:40
    Re: #1
    It's flashing 'Strongest Japan' on screen
    But this lineup's nothing but U-21 players
    28AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:43
    What button do I press to make that 'strongest ever' banner in the top right go away?
    33AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:45
    Re: #28
    Guess you'll just have to tape a newspaper over it
    31AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:44
    Conceding a goal is just
    a matter of time at this point (´･ω･｀)
    37AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:48
    Japan's way too weak lol, way too sloppy lol
    38AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:49
    Getting exempted from Korea's mandatory military service must feel better than winning 10 million yen in cash
    And if they lose, it'd be a despair they've never felt before — like, want-to-die level
    43AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:51
    Their bodies are just built thicker, plain and simple
    Though who knows how it'll look in 5 or 10 years
    44AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:51
    What's with that hand-flapping-at-the-mouth gesture they keep doing
    What kind of taunt is that supposed to be?
    47AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:53
    Someone turn down Gon Nakayama's mic (the ex-striker-turned-commentator) — he's so loud it's annoying
    49AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:54
    They can't even get a shot off at all
    57AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:56
    Nwadike just self-destructed lmao

    Looks like an ACL injury lol
    63AnonymousOct 3, 2026 19:59
    Just realized something
    Isn't this one of those games where whichever team scores more goals wins?
    65AnonymousOct 3, 2026 20:00
    Re: #63
    I hate sharp kids like you (riffing on the classic anime line 'I hate kids with good intuition')
    76AnonymousOct 3, 2026 20:08
    Yokoyama's just kind of fast, that's about it
    Though apparently he's being hyped as 'the dribbler Kagawa approved of'
    116AnonymousOct 3, 2026 20:25
    Re: #76
    Seriously
    That whole 'the guy Kagawa approved of' label thing is totally unnecessary
    91AnonymousOct 3, 2026 20:15
    Japan's so-called third-string squad doing surprisingly well
    vs. Korea's first-string squad surprisingly struggling, lmao
    106AnonymousOct 3, 2026 20:22
    Isn't 21 supposed to be the age you're already a starter overseas?
    108AnonymousOct 3, 2026 20:23
    Re: #106
    Even in the J.League that's rare

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    This match was the final of the men’s soccer tournament at the Asian Games (held in Aichi and Nagoya), and its unusual eligibility rules became a source of confusion in the live thread. South Korea’s squad included experienced players under the overage (OA) slot, while Japan fielded a team made up entirely of U-21 players, making the matchup hard to judge on equal terms in age and experience. In the thread, opinions split between those taking a positive view — “a U-21 team holding its own against a U-23-plus-OA squad” — and those calmly pointing out that “the conditions are just too different for a fair comparison in the first place.” Meanwhile, the “Strongest Japan Ever” caption on the broadcast appeared to be a stock phrase referring to Japan’s entire delegation at the Games, but it was taken as if describing the strength of the soccer team’s starting lineup, becoming a source of irony and misunderstanding among commenters. The actual intent behind the caption, or any explanation from the event organizers, cannot be determined from the material at hand.

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Geisports Sokuho+) thread “[Live] Asian Games Men’s Soccer Final ‘Japan vs South Korea’ TBS 19:30~“.

  • U-21 Japan Falls 0-1 to South Korea in Asian Games Final, Misses First Title in Four Editions — 5ch: “Not Even Disappointed”

    On October 3, in the Asian Games football final at Toyota Stadium, the Japan U-21 national team lost 0-1 to the South Korea U-23 national team, missing out on their first title in four editions and settling for silver. This marked the third straight tournament in which the final came down to a Japan-South Korea matchup, with Japan having lost to South Korea in the previous two editions as well. The thread’s comments ranged widely — from assessments of midfielder Yokoyama’s performance and technical gripes about his crossing, to questions about event operations (“tickets sold out but the stands looked empty”), speculation on who the next senior national team manager will be, and debate over team-building policy, namely how to balance the Olympic generation with the Asian Games generation.

    On October 3, the Japan U-21 national team faced the South Korea U-23 national team in the Asian Games final at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture. This was the third straight tournament in which the final came down to a Japan-South Korea clash, and Japan had lost to South Korea in the previous two editions. With the tournament being held on home soil this time, hopes for the title were higher than ever, but Japan came up just short, losing 0-1 to South Korea and missing out on its first championship in four editions.

    [Photo] The moment a South Korean midfielder’s hand struck a Japanese player’s face, drawing blood

    Having beaten the Uzbekistan U-21 team in a penalty shootout in the semifinal, Japan made ten lineup changes for the final, with only midfielder Hisatsugu Ishii — the team’s top scorer this tournament with three goals — staying in the starting eleven. Goalkeeper Rui Araki started, along with captain and defender Rion Ichihara anchoring the back line, midfielder Yotaro Nakajima, and forward Uche Brian Nwadike among the starters.

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

    22AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:26
    This Yokoyama guy's no good, he's never gonna make it.
    He never even tries to run into space.
    He's like old Usami but with worse finishing.
    344AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:33
    Re: #22
    Football starts once the ball's actually at your own feet, man.
    That's just schoolyard-bully stuff from PE class.
    378AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:34
    Re: #22
    The thing with Yokoyama is he just doesn't run into space.
    Well, it's very Cerezo — kind of close to Kakitani.
    Usami could at least straight-up kill it on shooting, so he could dominate against weak opponents.
    55AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:27
    This Yokoyama guy is like old Nakajima — no good.
    93AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:27
    Re: #55
    That's way too disrespectful to Nakajima (different kanji here — a jab implying a different player entirely).
    162AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:29
    Re: #55
    Nakajima does that selfish "look-at-me" dribbling, but his mid-range shooting was good. (オナドリ = slang short for "onanie dribble," i.e. ball-hogging, show-off dribbling)
    680AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:42
    Re: #55
    Makes you wonder if Nakajima would still be shining now if he'd just picked the right transfer club.
    185AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:29
    Don't know why, but I'm not even disappointed.
    246AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:31
    Re: #185
    Against a South Korea squad that's just U-23s plus a couple of overage players, our U-21s should be thrashing them — that's the bare minimum.
    278AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:32
    Re: #246
    What are you even making excuses for?
    Fielding pros and still losing isn't an excuse.
    Face it — our "ball-kicking" is below South Korea's, that's the reality.
    296AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:32
    Re: #246
    It was a real match, and there was plenty of good buildup play.
    The forwards being shaky has been obvious since the Uzbekistan game.
    211AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:30
    Some people are saying Yokoyama should look inside more, but the real problem is he's beating guys one-on-one and there's nobody in the box for him to find.
    280AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:32
    Re: #211
    Yokoyama's picked up a bad habit of hitting crosses dead straight.
    A cross should be more about dropping it in, like Ito's crosses for the senior national team.
    Nobody can connect with the crosses Yokoyama's putting in.
    315AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:33
    Re: #211
    Yokoyama loses the ball a lot, so you can't exactly commit numbers into the box for him.
    And his cross timing doesn't make much sense either.
    270AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:32
    335AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:33
    They call this "development for the Olympics," but that team's results haven't exactly been great either, so honestly they should just go ahead and call up the real U-23s.
    856AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:48
    Re: #335
    To give you a real answer: that wouldn't mean much, since the U-23s just won the Asian Cup in a blowout this past January.

    Soccer: Japan wins U-23 Asian Cup for the second straight time, beats China 4-0
    January 25, 2026
    Japanese players celebrating their U-23 Asian Cup title at the award ceremony (Jan. 24, Jeddah) — Getty/Kyodo
    The U-23 (under-23) Asian Cup final was held on the 24th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with Japan cruising to a 4-0 win over China to claim back-to-back titles.
    857AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:48
    Re: #335
    The actual U-23 best XI is full of overseas-based players — you couldn't call them up to begin with.
    387AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:34
    Sold out but the stands are empty — how does that even work?
    425AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:35
    Re: #387
    Probably local companies bought up the tickets or something.
    430AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:36
    Re: #387
    Same deal as baseball, lol.
    498AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:38
    Re: #387
    It's Toyota's home turf, so of course they just handed tickets out.
    Watching soccer's a waste of time anyway — wouldn't go even if it were free.
    482AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:37
    Throw in Ryunosuke Sato and Shiogai and Japan could flat-out dominate South Korea's U-21s.
    521AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:38
    Re: #482
    South Korea's side is U-23s plus overage players, though.
    489AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:37
    Japanese soccer has no future.
    Where's he even aiming that pass?
    Felt like watching old Nakata out there.
    516AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:38
    Re: #489
    This group of players has no track record of ever moving up to the senior national team.
    592AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:40
    Re: #516
    They were past Asian Games squad members, you know.


    666AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:42
    Re: #592
    Unlike the old days, there are now too many overseas-based players to release for the Asian Games.
    That's why not a single member of the Hangzhou Asian Games squad made it to the senior national team.
    813AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:46
    Re: #592
    The Asian Games from four years ago —
    zero players from that squad are on the senior national team now.
    https://www.jfa.jp/national_team/u22_2023/asiangames_hangzhou_2022_men/member.html
    517AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:38
    Why isn't Kosugi being used?
    Also, are they still banking on Michiwaki?
    Is this guy really good enough for the senior team? South Korea was weak out there.
    And yet Oiwa still couldn't get the win.
    551AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:39
    Re: #517
    He got injured.
    581AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:40
    Re: #517
    Kosugi played the full match last game, so that was never gonna happen.
    Though the management not being able to field the regulars for the final is a bit sketchy.
    607AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:40
    Re: #517
    Obviously he's not making the senior team.
    It's "Master" Michiwaki we're talking about, lol.
    518AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:38
    If it's a choice between Oiwa and someone like Kenta Hasegawa, Hasegawa would be better. Oniki would be the top pick, but he's managing Kashima, so that's probably not happening.
    562AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:39
    Re: #518
    No way, absolutely not.
    Just look at Nagoya and you'll get it, lol.
    621AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:40
    Re: #518
    Oniki's family is against it — they can't stand the thought of his father getting slandered online as badly as Moriyasu has been.
    712AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:43
    Re: #518
    Oniki's family opposes it too, for the same reason — they can't bear his father getting bashed online the way Moriyasu has been.
    655AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:42
    Yokoyama's a good player.
    This guy looks like he could make the senior team.
    724AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:43
    >Re: #655
    Is that what they call a "rebound step"?
    The way he bursts forward vertically, like pushing off a wall, looks so satisfying.
    767AnonymousOct 3, 2026 21:45
    Re: #655
    Did the Usami/Ienaga type "shuffle-in-place statue" dribblers actually survive at the senior level? (コネコネ地蔵 = slang for players who just fiddle with the ball in place like a stationary statue instead of advancing)

    Background and Talking Points

    This year’s U-21 squad was put together right after the U-23 national team crushed China 4-0 to win the Asian Cup in January 2026, which fueled thread comments arguing that “the Olympic generation has already delivered results, so there’s no need to force a separate generation.” Countering that, others pointed out that most U-23 regulars play overseas and are hard to call up in the first place, underscoring just how tricky the development strategy really is. Another recurring point was that “almost no one from past Asian Games squads has stuck with the senior national team” — commenters noted that not a single player from the 2022 Hangzhou squad remains on the senior roster today. Note that the individual player assessments reflect reactions to this one match and aren’t meant as definitive verdicts on anyone’s future potential. Also, the “tickets sold out but the stands looked empty” question is just an impression about the venue — the thread never got past speculation on the cause, and nothing there should be read as a confirmed fact.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geino/Sports Hōsoku+) thread “[Soccer] Japan U-21 loses to South Korea, takes Asian Games silver — sold-out final… misses first title in 16 years.”

  • U-21 Japan Announces Starting XI for Asian Games Final vs. South Korea — Ozeki, Yokoyama Return to Lineup

    The starting lineup for the U-21 Japan national team has been announced ahead of the men’s football final at the 20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya), where they’ll face the U-23 South Korea team. Ten changes have been made from the semifinal win over Uzbekistan — which Japan won on penalties — with key players Tomoto Ozeki, Rio Ichihara, and Yuki Yokoyama all returning to the starting XI. On 5ch’s Geisports Sokuho+ (Entertainment & Sports Breaking News) thread, fans traded worries about pitch conditions after the semifinal went to penalties, pointed out that South Korea has won every Japan-Korea final at this year’s Games so far, and compared the track records of various past coaches.

    The starting lineup for the U-21 Japan national football team ahead of the men’s football final against U-23 South Korea at the 20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya) has been announced.

    Ten players have been changed from the semifinal against Uzbekistan, which Japan won on penalties. Key players Tomoto Ozeki, Rio Ichihara, and Yuki Yokoyama are back in the starting XI.

    The U-21 Japan starting lineup is as follows.

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

    7AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:14
    How's the pitch condition?
    If it's bad, we're guaranteed to lose.
    38AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:23
    Re: #7
    The China vs. Uzbekistan third-place match went to penalties too,
    so even though I haven't seen it, the pitch must be pretty torn up by now.
    13AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:17
    Where's our boy Michiwaki?
    25AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:19
    Re: #13
    He's been withdrawn from the squad
    16AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:17
    Wait, are the Asian Games and the Asian Cup different things?
    23AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:18
    Re: #16
    Different things — this year's (U-21) Asian Cup, Japan fielded this same generation and won it.
    24AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:19
    Isn't it pretty impressive to be an 'Ozeki' at U-21? (大関/Ozeki is also a sumo rank, second only to Yokozuna — hence the sumo jokes below)
    30AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:20
    Re: #24
    Araki's the most insane one by far
    and he's still only 18
    39AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:24
    Re: #24
    Something like 'guaranteed to be Yokozuna in the near future'? (continuing the sumo-rank joke — Yokozuna is sumo's top rank)
    52AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:30
    Re: #24
    Kitanoumi became Yokozuna at 21 years and 2 months old.
    40AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:24
    So is this basically the best XI this generation has to offer?
    41AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:25
    Re: #40
    None of the real key players are even in it.
    56AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:31
    Isn't it kind of rough on Korea that Japan limits itself to U-21 players? They're expected to win, so losing would be humiliating for them.
    81AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:38
    Re: #56
    Japan builds its squads around the Olympic cycle.
    Korea missed out on the last Olympics doing it this way, so from Japan's side, that's not really their problem.
    57AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:31
    Unlike baseball, where Japan is strong enough to win both globally and in Asia,
    'ball-kicking' (soccer) always seems to lose to Korea.
    63AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:33
    Re: #57
    Well, soccer did beat Venezuela.
    64AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:33
    Re: #57
    'Asia' meaning (Korea and Taiwan).
    60AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:32
    Commentator: 'We won't pronounce the ン (N). Let's just call him Wadike.'
    Gon: 'Now, about that move by Nwadike just now—'
    67AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:34
    Re: #60
    Just call him Theo!
    66AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:33
    Apparently so far at this Asian Games,
    Korea has won every single Japan-vs-Korea final.
    96AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:44
    Re: #66
    That's because Korea's fielding their full-strength squad — exemption from military service is on the line for them.
    68AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:34
    Re: #63
    Big Bro Korea has crushed Ecuador and Uruguay, you know.
    75AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:35
    Re: #68
    Uruguay 4-1 Korea.
    Yeah, a real 'crushing win' alright (sarcasm).
    78AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:38
    Re: #75
    Qatar World Cup, Group H:

    1st: Portugal
    2nd: Big Bro Korea
    3rd: Uruguay
    4th: Ghana
    90AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:42
    Re: #78
    Their head-to-head match was a scoreless draw though.
    87AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:41
    Re: #76
    This guy's gonna wet himself if he finds out the recent senior-team head-to-head record.
    97AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:44
    Re: #87
    'Baseball' ('yakyu,' a mocking meme spelling) is in trouble too, you know.
    100AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:45
    So this is Oiwa's best XI, huh.
    If they win with this, give him the senior national team job.
    105AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:48
    Re: #100
    U-23 Asian Cup:
    Moriyasu — eliminated
    Moriyasu — eliminated
    Oiwa — champion
    Oiwa — champion

    Moriyasu has zero Asian titles as a national coach, whether at youth level or with the senior team.
    Oiwa's actually got the better results.
    101AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:45
    Re: #97
    Though they lost this time around —
    but that was pros versus amateurs, mind you.
    107AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:49
    Re: #101
    Korean pros are weaker than Japan's corporate-league amateurs, so if Korea fielded their all-stars, that result makes sense.
    111AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:50
    Soccer's on TV every single night, so why is baseball never broadcast at all
    in Japan, of all places — the baseball nation?
    112AnonymousOct 3, 2026 18:50
    Re: #111
    Soccer's just got deep-pocketed sponsors.
    That's really all there is to it.

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    Japan is competing at the Asian Games with a squad built mainly around its Olympic-generation players, treating it as part of its team-building effort for the Olympics — a squad that has already won this year’s U-21 Asian Cup. South Korea, meanwhile, tends to field a near-full-strength squad at the top of the age limit for this tournament, since a military-service exemption is on the line, so the two countries bring different motivations to the same event. The thread raised the point that ‘Korea has won every Japan-Korea final at this Asian Games so far,’ but that’s specific to this tournament and should be read separately from the two countries’ overall head-to-head record at the youth level. Comparisons of the coaches’ track records also came up, but it’s worth noting that results in age-restricted tournaments and results at the actual Olympics are judged on different scales.

    *This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Geisports Sokuho+) thread “[Soccer] Asian Games Final: U-21 Japan Announces Starting Lineup for Korea Match! 10 Changes from the Semifinal, Ozeki and Yokoyama in the XI [TBS].”

  • Yoichiro Kashitani Pulls Off Rare “Four-Network Sweep” as TV Commentator Across Japan’s Four Straight Matches, Sparks Buzz

    Former Japan national team player Yoichiro Kashitani has drawn attention after serving as TV commentator across multiple networks during Japan’s recent matches — Fuji TV for the September 24 Uruguay match, Nippon TV for the September 28 Venezuela match, and TBS for the October 1 Ecuador match — with headlines dubbing it a “four-network sweep.” On the 5channel Entertainment/Sports News+ board, reactions were split: some praised how easy his commentary was to follow, while others criticized it as bland and lacking tactical insight. Comments about his hairstyle and looks were also prominent.

    Yoichiro Kashitani, a former Japan national team player now active as a TV commentator, achieved an unusual “four-network sweep” across Japan’s four matches in September and October.

    Kashitani appeared as a commentator on Fuji TV for the September 24 match against Uruguay, and on Nippon TV for the September 28 match against Venezuela.

    He then commentated on TBS’s broadcast of the October 1 match against Ecuador.

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Read the original article here

    4AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:34
    Re: #1
    First half of 2026
    Announcing the talents whose TV appearances surged the most!

    🥇 Narumi Takahashi +107 appearances
    🥈 Nana Takagi +92 appearances
    🥉 Takuro +88 appearances

    4th Chosokyu (Bullet Train) +75 appearances
    5th Yoichiro Kashitani +72 appearances ←
    6th Aぇ! group +59 appearances
    7th Don Decorte +58 appearances
    8th Rainbow +55 appearances
    62AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:59
    Re: #4
    Kashitani boosted his reputation with
    his World Cup commentary.
    6AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:35
    Yoichiro Kashitani — right now, the name of the man who excites me most.
    7AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:35
    I actually quite liked TBS's Yoshitoshi Kaneda as a commentator, but I haven't seen him around lately.
    81AnonymousOct 3, 2026 15:06
    Re: #7
    Guess nobody wants to "pay up" for Kaneda (wordplay: 金田/Kaneda contains '金,' money, echoed in 金出す/kane dasu, 'to shell out cash').
    8AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:36
    Kashitani's not bad, but personally I prefer Hayashi or Mizunuma.
    9AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:36
    Re: #1

    Post #914, Anonymous [] 2026/10/02 (Fri) 16:22:45.43

    Yesterday's two TBS soccer commentators 📺


    Masahiro Fukuda: "Unlike Tanimura, Ueda can really bring the ball under control, can't he."

    Yoichiro Kashitani: "They're different types — Ueda's great at trapping long balls,
    while Tanimura's strength is through balls and crosses finished within two touches. It would've been nice if they'd created more chances like that in the first half."
    10AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:38
    Re: #9
    Kashitani's good at filling the gaps (lol)
    13AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:39
    Re: #9
    Fukuda was clearly out to diss Tanimura from the start.
    He probably figures it's fine to rip into J.League players — and fine if they rip back.
    20AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:41
    Re: #9
    This is exactly the kind of commentary that gets Kashitani offers from every network.
    11AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:38
    Something about him just rubs me the wrong way, I really can't deal with it.
    14AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:39
    He's still just an "insider" guest commentator.
    I want commentators who can give harsher, more outsider-perspective takes.
    15AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:39
    Apparently Kashitani played in Basel, and since Swiss Basel is this movie-perfect resort town, I bet the feng shui was just really good for him (lol)
    17AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:40
    Kashitani seemed like he'd be bad at commentary but turned out surprisingly decent, while Zono (nickname for ex-player Tomoaki Makino) and Takeda seemed like they'd be bad and, yep, they're bad.
    18AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:40
    Re: #1

    Broadcasting tonight!! Live on TBS 📺

    Aichi Asian Games — Men's Soccer Final
    Sat 10/3, 19:30~

    Japan vs South Korea

    Toyota Stadium


    Kirin Cup "Congrats on Takefusa Kubo's wedding! 💍"
    Mon 10/5, 19:30~

    Japan vs New Zealand 🇳🇿

    National Stadium
    📺 On TV Asahi
    https://dec.2chan.net/up2/src/fu7351658.jpeg
    https://dec.2chan.net/up2/src/fu7351660.jpeg
    19AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:41
    It really is unusual.
    Commentators used to basically be locked to one network —
    Nippon TV had Jo, Kitazawa, Tsunami
    TV Asahi had Matsuki, Uchida
    Fuji had Ono, Inamoto, Suzuki, that kind of thing
    Guess crossing networks wasn't taboo after all.
    21AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:41
    That's exactly why they call him a "geenyus" (a jokey, exaggerated pronunciation of "genius").
    22AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:42
    Re: #1
    His hair and outfit look like a host-club guy from twenty years ago, so lame — I cracked up when Fuji had him looking more modern the next day.
    Then the next time I saw him, he'd gone right back to the old look (lol)
    Can someone do something about that dated host-club hairstyle already?
    30AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:45
    Re: #22
    Correction —
    he looked lame on Fuji for the national team match, then the next day on TBS's Asian Games broadcast he'd been updated to a more modern look (lol)
    23AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:43
    A footballer who's got everything… except the looks.
    24AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:44
    I did think he was on TV a lot lately — guess that really was unusual after all.
    25AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:44
    Among the current national team, the two who seem likely to settle into commentary careers later are Ao Tanaka and Matsuki.

    Both of them have done guest commentary a few times already and were genuinely easy to listen to.

    Among active players, the best talker by far is Takashi Usami.
    That guy's mouth works better than his feet (lol)
    26AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:45
    He's not even that good at commentary, yet he's used way too much.
    28AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:45
    Just when Makino disappeared from the scene,
    this guy shows up —
    and he doesn't even have that much of a national team record.
    32AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:47
    So who ends up losing out because of Kashitani's rise?
    46AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:52
    Re: #32
    It's more the opposite, really — Makino became a manager, and Kashitani just slotted neatly into the spot he left behind.
    Makino used to be all over pitch reports and variety shows too.
    33AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:48
    He's gotta be the only one
    still committed to that host-club-from-twenty-years-ago hairstyle.
    35AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:48
    And it's not like his career was amazing or he's got much star power either.
    39AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:51
    His commentary is bad, wish they'd stop using him.
    It's not really commentary, he's just praising the players.
    He never says stuff like "they should've done this instead" or talks tactics at all.
    47AnonymousOct 3, 2026 14:52
    Re: #39
    Yeah, that does bug me too.
    But I think he's just doing the kind of commentary meant for terrestrial broadcast.
    87AnonymousOct 3, 2026 15:08
    Re: #39
    Kashitani only ever says pleasant-sounding things, so it probably just sounds like he's good at commentary.
    During the World Cup match against Brazil, when Japan had already been overtaken and the loss was basically certain,
    he was still going "well, there's still time left~" — that floored me.
    It's got that old-school commentary vibe.
    92AnonymousOct 3, 2026 15:10
    Re: #39
    That's exactly why the JFA treasures him —
    inoffensive commentary that never ruffles feathers.
    64AnonymousOct 3, 2026 15:00
    A replacement for Uchida?
    72AnonymousOct 3, 2026 15:03
    Re: #64
    I'd say he's more of a replacement for Hayashi, honestly
    To the general public Hayashi was kind of a "wait, who even are you" / "never heard of him" type.
    65AnonymousOct 3, 2026 15:00
    Does he have a powerful talent agency behind him? Which one?
    73AnonymousOct 3, 2026 15:03
    Re: #65
    His agency's actually a small one
    you wouldn't recognize the name even if I told you.
    93AnonymousOct 3, 2026 15:10
    He's doing better now than he ever did as an active player.
    97AnonymousOct 3, 2026 15:11
    Re: #93
    Lol (草, literally "grass," is Japanese net slang for laughing)
    He's even started popping up on variety shows as Makino's successor.
    Pretty impressive, honestly.

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    Commentary for Japan national team matches has traditionally followed a network-by-network pattern, with each broadcaster sticking to its own regular ex-players (Nippon TV with Shoji Jo and Tsuyoshi Kitazawa, TV Asahi with Yasutaro Matsuki, Fuji TV with Shinji Ono and Junichi Inamoto, and so on) — commenters in the thread note that appearing across multiple networks, as Kashitani did, is unusual. According to the original article, Kashitani handled commentary for Fuji TV’s September 24 Uruguay match, Nippon TV’s September 28 Venezuela match, and TBS’s October 1 Ecuador match; the headline’s “four-network sweep” appears to include a TV Asahi appearance as well, though the excerpted article doesn’t spell out the details. The split in opinion stems from two competing views: that Kashitani’s commentary is mostly just praising players with little tactical insight, versus that it’s clear and easy to follow. The thread also floated the theory that his rise coincided with former player-turned-commentator Tomoaki Makino stepping down to become a manager, opening up a commentary slot that Kashitani then filled.

    ※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5channel (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “[TV] Former Japan National Team Player Yoichiro Kashitani Achieves Unusual “Four-Network Sweep” — Commentating for Fuji, Nippon TV, TBS, and TV Asahi!“