ODDS and EVENS | Hajime Moriyasu Deserves Applause for His Stellar Work as Japan Boss

Reflecting on the stellar job that Hajime Moriyasu has done as manager of the Japan men's national soccer squad since the summer of 2018, two things immediately come to mind.

First and foremost, Moriyasu has raised expectations for the Samurai Blue. Whenever they step onto the pitch for a match, the players now believe that they are capable of winning.

In addition, the 57-year old boss has melded the individual talents of the players into a cohesive unit that has been praised worldwide for its organized play, its blue-collar work ethic and its discipline.

"Managing is like holding a dove in your hand," former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda once said. "Squeeze too hard and you kill it, not hard enough and it flies away."

Dick Williams, another World Series-winning manager, has also opined on the essence of managing.

"Managers don't win games. They prepare players to win games," Williams said, according to Dr Criswell Freeman's The Wisdom of Old-Time Baseball, an excellent 1996 compilation of quotes.

Indeed, Williams' comments and Lasorda's are applicable to recognize the impact of a strong motivator/tactician like Moriyasu.

During Moriyasu's time as Japan manager, he has presided over a team that has played 108 matches. The Samurai Blue have 74 wins, 16 draws and 18 defeats (a 68.5% winning percentage) with Moriyasu at the helm.

Growth of the Japan National Team

Japan's performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which ended with a 2-1 loss to Brazil in the round of 32 on Monday, June 29, demonstrated a couple of things.

One, the Samurai Blue are much closer to becoming one of the world's elite teams than they were before Moriyasu's arrival. Japan's 1-0 halftime lead against five-time World Cup champion Brazil is one vivid reminder of that. And the fact that Moriyasu's men defeated two former World Cup winners, Germany and Spain, at the 2022 World Cup, delivered additional evidence.

Two, the collective talent of the Japan squad, now ranked No 17 in the world, is blossoming, capitalizing on the fact that 23 of 26 players on its World Cup roster were employed by European clubs before the quadrennial tournament kicked off.

*Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki in action against Brazil in the first half on June 29 in Houston, Texas. (©SANKEI)*

A Great Opportunity for Suzuki to Test His Skills

Italian Serie A goalkeeper Zion Suzuki of Parma is 23 years old. He gained invaluable experience at the World Cup and made a plethora of difficult saves in the Samurai Blue's four matches in North America.

The World Cup provided a great opportunity for Suzuki to test his skills against the Netherlands, Tunisia, Sweden and Brazil.

After the loss to Brazil, Japan's starting goalkeeper reacted to his performance. Suzuki also shared some impressions about the team.

"We expected that once we took the lead, we would have to spend long periods defending," Suzuki told reporters in Houston, Texas, referring to Kaishu Sano's 29th-minute goal.

He added, "We managed to cope in the first half, but when Brazil raised the intensity after the break, we could not hold out. That is the most frustrating part for me. Looking back at the goals we conceded, I feel there were things I could have done better. I believe I could have prevented them, so I know I still have plenty to improve."

What else was on Suzuki's mind after the match?

"One thing that really stood out to me was our bench," he said. "The unity within this squad is second to none. I genuinely believe no team is more united than we are. That is one of Japan's greatest strengths, and it is something we must preserve. As one of the players in this group, I want to help carry that culture forward."

Hajime Moriyasu Assesses Japan's World Cup Campaign

The frustration of Japan allowing the go-ahead goal in the fifth minute of second-half injury time against Brazil was included in Moriyasu's post-match remarks on Monday. He also spoke about the team's growth.

"I do feel that Japan has moved much closer to the standards set by the world's leading teams," the Samurai Blue manager told a news conference. "At the same time, today's match underlined that there are still moments when we are overpowered by top-level teams, and that there remains a gap we must continue to work to close."

To move closer to that goal, Hajime Moriyasu has effectively challenged his players, planting the seeds for future progress. And they won't forget what he told them after the defeat to Brazil.

"The final message I gave the players in our huddle was to never forget this disappointment and to use it as motivation for the next stage of their development," Moriyasu said. "Very few of these players are at the end of their international careers, and the same applies to our staff.

"Success is, of course, the ideal teacher, but disappointment can also make you stronger. I told them to keep improving and continue fighting for Japan."

Has the Moriyasu Era Ended?

Based on the overall quality of his work throughout his managerial tenure for the Samurai Blue, I believe the Japan Football Association should strongly urge Hajime Moriyasu to remain on the job.

As of press time, it's not 100% certain that Moriyasu will continue to lead the national team.

He has, of course, earned the right to pursue other coaching opportunities. Or he may want to take a much-deserved sabbatical at this stage of his life.

With that in mind, Moriyasu said the right things upon his return to Japan on Thursday, July 2.

"After resting a bit, I firstly want to thoroughly review the tournament," Moriyasu was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "That is all that is decided for now."

Author: Ed Odeven

Follow Ed's [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.