Sports | Nov 02

Japan's roster for soccer World Cup in Qatar announced

TOKYO, Nov 02 (NHK) - Japan's national soccer team has announced its 26 players for the 2022 World Cup opening this month in Qatar.

Japan coach Moriyasu Hajime announced the list in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The team's goalkeepers are Kawashima Eiji of RC Strasbourg in the French top division, Gonda Shuichi of Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan's first division J-1, and Schmidt Daniel of Sint-Truiden in the Belgian first division.

Defenders include Nagatomo Yuto of F.C. Tokyo in J-1 and Yoshida Maya of FC Schalke 04 in the German top division. Nagatomo has been selected for a fourth straight World Cup, and Yoshida a third.

Other defenders are Sakai Hiroki of the Urawa Reds in J-1, Taniguchi Shogo and Yamane Miki of Kawasaki Frontale in J-1, Itakura Ko of Borussia Monchengladbach in the German top division, Nakayama Yuta of Huddersfield Town in England's second division, Tomiyasu Takehiro of Arsenal in England's Premier League, and Hiroki Ito of VfB Stuttgart in the German top division. Itakura has been away from the national team due to injuries.

Midfielders and forwards include Endo Wataru of VfB Stuttgart in the German top division and Ito Junya of Stade de Reims in the French top division. It will be Endo's second World Cup. Ito scored goals in four straight matches of the final Asian qualifiers.

Other midfielders and forwards are Shibasaki Gaku of CD Leganes in the Spanish second division, Asano Takuma of VfL Bochum 1848 in the German first division and Minamino Takumi of AS Monaco in the French top division. Asano has not been active on the national team due to injuries. ...continue reading

MORE Sports NEWS

Ohtani Sets New Record for Most MLB Home Runs by a Japanese Player

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani has surpassed Hideki Matsui to become the Japanese player with the most home runs in Major League Baseball, hitting his 176th homer.

Ohtani Chooses Hawaii for His Dream Winter Home

Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, famed for his dual role as a pitcher and hitter, has embarked on a personal project that marries his love for nature with luxury: building a winter home in Hawaii.

Morning and Evening Games Introduced at Summer Koshien to Combat Heat

The Japan High School Baseball Federation has announced the adoption of a split schedule for the Summer National High School Baseball Championship at Koshien Stadium as a measure against the heat.

POPULAR NEWS

BBC Accused of Distorting Smile-Up President's Comments

Japanese company Smile-Up, the former talent agency known as Johnny & Associates, says it has sent a letter of protest to Britain's public broadcaster BBC over its program on sexual abuse by its late founder. (NHK)

Japan's Population Crisis: 744 Municipalities Could Disappear by 2050

A private organization has revealed that approximately 40% of the national municipalities, totaling 744, could potentially disappear by 2050 due to declining populations.

Young Faces, New Trends: The Rise of Makeup Among Japan's Students

Youngsters in Japan are enthusiastically embracing the world of cosmetics, with a recent survey reporting some 60% of elementary students own some form of makeup.

Decoding U.S. 'Black Ship' Data Centers in Japan

Major American IT companies like Microsoft and Oracle have announced substantial investments totalling 4 trillion yen ($26 billion) in data centers in Japan, sparking concerns about digital sovereignty and AI development.

Former Host Pleads Guilty to Receiving 25 Million Yen from "Riri-chan"

A former host admitted to knowingly receiving approximately 25 million yen that had been deceitfully obtained by convicted scammer "Riri-chan," in a trial held on April 23.

FOLLOW US