Go Oiwa, the Japan Under-23 men's soccer national team manager, attends a news conference in July 2024. (©SANKEI)
Go Oiwa was named the successor to Japan men's soccer national team manager Hajime Moriyasu on Thursday, July 23.
The Japan Football Association announced that Oiwa, currently serving as the Under-23 national team boss, will take over as the Samurai Blue's new manager after the 2027 Asian Cup.
In Moriyasu's most recent match in charge, Japan lost 2-1 to Brazil in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32.
Moriyasu, 57, has led the national team since 2018.
Before the managerial change is made, Moriyasu will be tasked with guiding the Samurai Blue at the Asian Cup (January 7-February 5) in Saudi Arabia.
The JFA is scheduled to hold a news conference on Friday, with Moriyasu and Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, the organization's president, set to attend.
Getting to Know Go Oiwa
A Shizuoka native, Oiwa was a defender during his pro soccer career in the J.League (1995-2010) for Nagoya Grampus, Jubilo Iwata and the Kashima Antlers.
Oiwa, 54, worked as an assistant coach for Kashima (2011-17) before becoming the manager, a post he held from 2017-19.
The Antlers won the 2018 Asian Champions League with Oiwa at the helm.
In the years following his departure from Kashima, Go Oiwa has had stints leading Japan's U18, U21, U22 and U23 squads. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he oversaw the U23 team, which reached the quarterfinals.
Oiwa will make his Samurai Blue managerial debut during an international friendly in March 2027. Prior to that, he'll lead the U21 national team at the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya.
His contract will expire at the end of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
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Sumo
4-Way Tie for Lead At End of Day 12
Shishi, Takerufuji, Aonishiki and Kirishima share the lead at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament heading into Day 13 at IG Arena.
On Day 12, 14th-ranked maegashira Shishi, who was born in Ukraine, improved to 10-2, utilizing an underarm throw to beat 10th-ranked Asanoyama (8-4).
Also on Thursday, July 23, maegashira No 13 Takerufuji defeated seventh-ranked Takayasu (9-3) via an overarm throw.
In an all-sekiwake showdown, Kotoshoho (5-7) deployed a frontal push-out to prevail against Ukrainian Aonishiki (10-2).
And in the day's final bout, ozeki Kirishima collected his 10th win against two losses, beating yokozuna Onosato (6-6) with an arm-bar throw.
On Wednesday, Aonishiki took the sole lead at the 15-day tournament with a victory over maegashira No 2 Gonoyama.
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Baseball
Sasaki Signs Contract with Marlins
First baseman Rintaro Sasaki signed a contract with MLB's Miami Marlins on Monday, July 20.
Before he flew to South Florida to sign his first pro contract for $210,200 USD (¥34.4 million JPY) at the Marlins' home ballpark, Sasaki held a news conference in his hometown, Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture.
The 21-year-old slugger explained his decision to pursue an MLB career.
"I want to live a life where I choose to challenge myself or not, rather than focusing on whether I succeed or fail," Sasaki was quoted as saying on July 19 by Kyodo News.
Sasaki had the option of launching his pro career with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks or returning to Stanford University.
Instead, he chose the most challenging path.
Sasaki reflected on his decision in an Instagram post.
"More than anyone else, I understand that I still have a lot to prove," he wrote. "I know better than anyone that I have a long way to go.
"Even if this path ultimately turns out to be the wrong one, I don't want to live with any regrets.
"Rather than measuring my life by whether I succeed or fail, I want to measure it by whether I had the courage to take on a challenge. That belief is what led me to make this decision."
The 235th overall pick (eighth round) in the 2026 MLB Draft, Sasaki played two seasons of college baseball at Stanford University. In 106 games, Sasaki had a .265 batting average with 23 home runs and 88 RBIs.
Before moving to California to attend Stanford, Sasaki belted a Japanese high school record 140 home runs at Iwate Prefecture's Hanamaki Higashi High School.
Lacrosse
Women's World Championship Begins in Tokyo
The 16-team World Lacrosse Women's Championship gets underway on Friday, July 24 at Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward.
Tournament host Japan faces Group D foe Czech Republic in the opener at 6:30 PM on field 1. At the same time, Israel and the Philippines meet in another Group D match on field 2. (Check out the full schedule on the tournament website.)
In Group A, the entrants are Haudenosaunee (also known as the Iroquois Confederacy or Six Nations in North America), Ireland, Taiwan and the United States, the four-time reigning world champion.
Group B features Australia, Canada, Germany and Wales.
In Group C, the participants are Argentina, England, Puerto Rico and Scotland.
The lacrosse tournament concludes on August 2 at Prince Chichibu Stadium.
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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.
