Latest news with #SamuraiBlue
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Japan football legend Kunishige Kamamoto passes away aged 81
Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's record goalscorer with 75 goals in 76 matches, passed way on Sunday. He was 81. The former forward played 13 years for the Samurai Blue and spent his entire club career at Yanmar Diesel, now known as Cerezo Osaka. 'Kumamoto Kunishige, former vice president of the Japan Football Association, had been undergoing medical treatment for some time and passed away at 4:04 a.m. on August 10th at a hospital in Osaka Prefecture due to pneumonia,' the Japanese Football Association said in a statement. Kamamoto helped Japan win the bronze medal at the 1968 Olympics, where he finished as the highest goalscorer (7 goals) — the country's best finish in men's football to date. In 2005, he was inducted into Japan football's Hall of Fame. Later, he coached Matsushita Electric and Gamba Osaka and then served as the vice president of Japan Football Association for eight years from 1998. 'In memory of his achievements, GAMBA OSAKA will hold a moment of silence before the match against Fagiano Okayama in the 25th Sec. of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE , which kicks off at 7pm today, and players and staff will wear mourning badges,' Osaka said in a statement. Related Topics Japan / Kunishige Kamamoto
The National
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Celtic's Daizen Maeda makes 2026 World Cup target clear
The forward will likely represent his nation, Japan, at the tournament next summer. Maeda turned out for the Samurai Blue at the last World Cup, scoring one of his four international goals in a last-16 loss to Croatia. "There is one year left until the North-Central America World Cup," said Maeda [KICK OFF! KANSAI]. "I want to make connections with Japanese national team players special. Read more: "Like at Celtic, there were many scenes where I thought my teammate was coming but my timing with the passer was in sync. After three and a half years, my teammates understand me." Maeda scored 33 goals and registered 11 assists in green and white last term, leading to heightened speculation over his future. The 27-year-old is contracted at Parkhead until at least the summer of 2027. During the recent off-season, he returned to one of his former clubs, Mito HollyHock, for training. Boss Naoki Mori was impressed: "Daizen Maeda is clearly a world-class athlete. I think he will set new standards this season, even for him. "He took part in our training this week because he wanted to be ready for the return to Celtic and used it as part of his conditioning. "So as long as we didn't injure him, it was good! "He was a great motivator for my players. They only need to look at him and see what he has done since he left our club. "He was talking to them for the two days he was at our club about lots of things. "Obviously, he has improved in every aspect since he was last at our club and he has taken his game to an entirely new level. "I am sure he will have another great season and play at the World Cup at the end of it."
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
EAFF E-1 Men Preview: South Korea vs. Japan Title Decider
The 2025 men's EAFF E-1 Football Championship will be decided on Tuesday when South Korea take on Japan. The Taeguk Warriors are looking to reclaim the title they lost to Japan in 2022 and extend their record to six overall, while the Samurai Blue are looking to make it back-to-back titles for the first time. Advertisement (Photo by) Overview & Match Information Fixture: South Korea vs. Japan Competition: EAFF E-1 Football Championship Matchday 3 Venue: Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin Date: Tuesday 15th July, 7:24 PM KST It's the big one, the 'Han-Il Jeon,' South Korea versus Japan, two rivals locking horns in a competitive match for the first time since the 2022 competition decider. Korea, as the host nation, will be under a bit of pressure to beat Japan, but with something of a psychological advantage after the resounding 3-0 win in 2022, not to mention convincing performances in their first two matches. Advertisement EAFF E-1 Form South Korea are yet to concede a goal, having kept clean sheets against both China and Hong Kong. The 3-0 victory over China to start the competition was then followed up by a 2-0 win over Hong Kong with a heavily rotated starting XI. Hong Kong 0-2 South Korea Highlights Japan are the tournament's top scorers, having hit Hong Kong for six in the first game thanks in part to four goals in the first half from Ryo Germain. The 6-1 triumph was followed up by a routine win over China, thanks to goals from Mao Hoseyo and Henry Heroki Mochizuki. Japan 2-0 China Highlights Head-to-Head Japan have won the last two meetings, both by the same 3-0 scoreline. The most recent was the 2022 EAFF E-1 title decider with Yuki Soma, Sho Sasaki, and Shuto Machino on target. Before that, in March 2021, Japan ran out 3-0 in a friendly thanks to goals from Miki Yamane, Daichi Kamada, and Wataru Endo. Before that, Korea had remained unbeaten in three against Japan with back-to-back wins in the 2017 and 2019 EAFF competitions. Advertisement In EAFF action, there have been 15 total encounters with Japan earning six wins, Korea four, and five draws. Overall, from 71 meetings, Korea have 36 wins, Japan have 17, with 18 draws. South Korea in Focus with Seo Bo-won How have Korea's performances been in the first two games? First of all, Coach Hong Myung-bo utilized a back-three formation, likely with strong opponents at the World Cup in mind. However, since he adopted a more defensive back-three against China in the first match and a more attacking version against Hong Kong in the second, this could indicate a focus on tactical flexibility. Of course, simply using wingers as wing-backs doesn't necessarily equate to being 'flexible,' but at the very least, it shows an effort to address the lack of a Plan B, which the national team struggled with during the third round of World Cup qualifiers. That said, it's a bit concerning that against Hong Kong, players seemed to focus on personal showcases rather than team play. They clearly see this tournament as their last chance to make the final World Cup squad and are playing with urgency, but at times their style appears a bit selfish. Still, the two clean-sheet wins are a satisfactory result. Advertisement Japan next in a big game that will decide the tournament, what are you expecting to see from Hong Myung-bo tactically? While Japan seems to be treating this tournament as a true 'testing ground,' Korea has taken a less experimental approach in terms of squad selection and match management. This makes it harder to predict what tactics Japan might bring, but regardless, Korea needs a proactive approach that doesn't shrink in the face of pressure. I believe this is the best way to truly assess the gap in quality between the two teams. If Coach Hong shares this view, we're likely to see a match with intense physical duels and fast-paced passing to draw out that contrast. Given the hot and humid conditions, I expect both teams will try to decide the game in the first half, and experiment with new options in the second half when the tempo drops. Korea lost 3-0 to Japan in the last EAFF. What went wrong in that game, and what do Korea need to do this time? In the last edition of this tournament, Paulo Bento's Korean team couldn't even approach Japan's penalty area. That's how good Hajime Moriyasu's Japan was in terms of ball possession, compactness, and especially their rapid ball progression. Rather than blaming Bento's tactics, I'd say Japan simply played extremely well. In this tournament, too, they've maintained that same tactical identity. The midfielders and wingers combine smoothly to create space, and they've had no problem breaking down deep-lying defensive teams like Hong Kong. What's more, Moriyasu's side now has continuity—and that's where I see the real difference in quality. Advertisement Who will be Korea's key players against Japan? That's quite a tough question… But I would say Lee Dong-gyeong is the most likely key player. Whether or not he can get enough touches on the ball could determine the direction of the match. In fact, for Lee Dong-gyeong to get those touches, Kim Jin-gyu needs to establish a strong presence in midfield. Both players will play crucial roles against Japan. If Lee Dong-gyeong can get the ball in the final third, I believe we might even be able to take the initiative in the match. He has become a more creative player and currently looks to have the sharpest shooting instincts. - Korean football journalistSeo Bo-won The Opposition with Sean Carroll (Photo by) What have you thought of Japan's performances so far? I think they've been steady but unspectacular. With a lot of uncapped players (and, in Yuto Nagatomo, one who just made his first appearance for 950 days) and having started with two totally different XIs in their two games, that's perhaps to be expected, though. Overall, they've still managed to control both games, but the Korea game will be the real test. Advertisement Who have been their most important players? That's a tricky one on account of the rotation. Yuki Soma has looked a level above on his third straight appearance in the competition, Satoshi Tanaka impressed in central midfield against China, and both Ryo Germain and Mao Hosoya have shown they can finish up front. Who will be key for Japan to get the win? It sounds obvious, but I think the centre backs and strikers. I expect it to be a game of few chances, so there's no room for errors at the back or profligacy in front of goal. They will have the psychological advantage over Korea after the last meeting. Could this lead to complacency? How seriously are Japan taking this competition, and generally, how seriously does the JFA take it? I'm not sure the last game really factors into it, as the squads are so different. Moriyasu takes every game seriously and will be demanding the same of his players, and while overseas players obviously can't be called up, I get the impression the JFA see this tournament as a useful exercise to run the rule over players not ordinarily afforded the opportunity to play for their country. Advertisement It depends who starts to an extent (Keisuke Osako looks certain to be in goal for instance, so if his Sanfrecce Hiroshima teammate Hayato Araki is in the back three, that will negate the issue a little), but the fact that there is no existing partnership at centre back means Korea could cause problems there. - Japanese football expert & journalist Sean Carroll What to Watch With Japan's superior goal difference (7-5), Korea will have to win to secure the title; a draw won't do and would mean Japan make it back-to-back titles for the first time. This means Korea will have to attack and will have to pick their moments. Japan's quick passing and deadliness in transitions could prove fatal if Korea go in all guns blazing and leave themselves exposed. Central midfield selection will be key, players who can go box-to-box while in attack, Korea will have to be clinical. Joo Min-kyu might just be the man for Hong Myung-bo looks to to lead the line, as he did against China.
Kyodo News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Germain nets again, Japan beat S. Korea in East Asian final
YONGIN, South Korea - Ryo Germain built on his impressive form with an early strike as Japan held on to beat South Korea 2-1 to claim their second successive East Asian E-1 men's football championship on Tuesday. Germain scored his fifth goal of the tournament just eight minutes into the winner-take-all finale, volleying in a cross from Yuki Soma at Yongin Mireu Stadium in a Seoul suburb. A week earlier, the 30-year-old Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker netted four times in the Samurai Blue's 6-1 opening win over Hong Kong when he made his national team debut. "My players made a great effort," Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu said. "They showed the pride of the J-League and the depth of our national team. The way they played this tournament made it difficult for me to select the World Cup squad." Japan's E-1 squad was selected entirely from the domestic J-League. The South Korean squad did not include players such as Tottenham star Son Heung Min, either. Japan and South Korea came into the match after both defeated China and Hong Kong in the four-team, round-robin event. South Korea first went close to scoring, with Na Sang Ho's shot hitting the far post in the seventh minute. The Koreans ramped up their attack in the second half, but Japan hung tough to defend dangerous situations en route to their third overall E-1 title. With the latest victory, Japan improved their win-loss record against South Korea to 16-40 with 23 draws. Both teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Earlier Tuesday, China edged Hong Kong 1-0 thanks to a 20th-minute goal from Huang Zhengyu.
Japan Forward
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
Japan Wins Collegiate Baseball Championship Series
Reporting on the 45th Japan-USA Collegiate Baseball Championship Series, the Samurai Blue's success in the East Asian men's soccer tourney and more. The Japan national team poses for photos after winning the 2025 Japan-USA College Baseball Championship Series on July 13 at Tokyo's Jingu Stadium. (©SANKEI) Japan's Kai Watabe hits a sacrifice fly in the first inning. (©SANKEI) Team USA, which holds a 24-21 all-time lead in the series, scored once in the second and once in the third to tie it up at 2-2. In the fifth inning, Zion Rose's RBI single to left gave the Americans their lone lead of the game, 3-2. Japan stormed back, tacking on four more runs in the fifth to pull ahead 6-3. Nanato Sakakibara ignited the rally with a triple and scored the tying run on a groundout. Kai Watabe had the other big hit for Japan in the fifth, smacking a two-run triple. The visitors added one run apiece in the sixth and seventh, with Vahn Lackey (Georgia Tech) and Roch Cholowsky (UCLA) slugging solo home runs. Both teams had 11 hits in the final game. Team Japan reliever Taisei Suzuki, an Aoyama Gakuin University student, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the game. Japan captain Ayuto Matsushita is tossed into the air by his teammates after their victory in the tournament finale on July 13. (©SANKEI) Hosei University infielder Ayuto Matsushita was named tournament MVP. In the series finale, he had a leadoff double in the first inning and scored Japan's first run. "I'm really happy that we were able to win with a concerted effort, and that we were able to win the championship with five consecutive victories," Matsushita said during the euphoric postgame atmosphere for title-winning Team Japan on Sunday night. Japan manager Tetsuya Horii commended the team's players for a strong overall effort in the tournament. "We managed to win out over a strong team," Horii told reporters after the final game. "It was nothing but the hard work of our players. The fourth-year students, led by captain Matsushita and vice captain [Akira] Shigenaga, made a cohesive team. I hope this tournament will be an opportunity for them to become leaders in the baseball world." Shun Akiyama of Chukyo University was Japan's top hitter in the tournament with a .429 batting average (6-for-14). The five-game series, featuring top collegiate baseball players from both countries, kicked off on July 8 at Es Con Field Hokkaido. Japan triumphed 6-1 in the first game and 8-1 a day later at the same venue. The series shifted to Hard Off Eco Stadium Niigata on July 11 and 12. Japan's success continued with 2-0 and 6-5 victories in succession before the series resumed in Tokyo for the final game. For the first time since 2004, Japan reeled off five victories in as many games in the tournament. New Japanese Baseball Travel Guide is a Useful Reference for Fans Japan's Mao Hosoya scores a goal in the 11th minute against China in an East Asian Football Federation E-1 Championship match on July 13 in Yongin, South Korea. (©SANKEI) In the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Championship final round, Japan and South Korea will meet in the title match on Tuesday, July 15. Japan improved to 2-0 in the four-nation final round with a 2-0 victory over China on Saturday, July 13 in Yongin, South Korea. South Korea also owns a 2-0 record. On Saturday, Mao Hosoya gave the Samurai Blue a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute, showcasing the strength of his long-range attacking skills by blasting the ball past China goalkeeper Junling Yan. Henry Heroki Mochizuki extended Japan's lead to 2-0 in the 64th minute. "I am glad that the players took on a good challenge and made the most of a difficult match," Samurai Blue manager Hajime Moriyasu said, according to Sankei Sports . Looking ahead to Tuesday's final, Moriyasu added: "I think it will be a very difficult match [against South Korea), but we will do our best." SPORTS SHORTS | Soccer: Japan Men Look to Maintain High-Scoring Output Rio Takeda tees off in the final round of the Evian Championship on July 13 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (KYODO) LPGA Tour rookie Rio Takeda completed the Evian Championship with a 9-under 275, finishing tied for 11th place in the women's golf major in Evian-les-Bains, France. Takeda was Japan's top finisher in the tournament that wrapped up on Sunday, July 13. She had her best performance in the second round, carding a 4-under 71. "I was consistent, but I wanted to make a few more birdies," Takeda said after the final round, according to Nikkan Sports . "If I can't improve on the third and fourth days, it will be tough to contend for the championship. That is my challenge for the future." Australia's Grace Kim shot a 14-under 270 and then won the event in a two-hole playoff against Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul. Also for Japan, Chisato Iwai and Miyuu Yamashita were among a group of players tied for 14th and six strokes adrift of the winner. Four Japanese starters pitched on the same day for the first time in MLB history on Saturday, July 12. Who comprised this history-making quartet? Starting pitchers Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers), Yu Darvish (San Diego Padres), Yusei Kikuchi (Los Angeles Angels) and Shinnosuke Ogasawara (Washington Nationals). Previously, three Japanese pitchers were starters on the same day 30 times, according to Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
