The blue samurai, received as heroes on their return to Japan
The players of the Japan national soccer team were greeted as heroes today by the Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, after falling in the round of 16. The “blue samurai” went to his office this Thursday and shared with him their impressions of his bitter elimination, after landing the day before at the airport in Narita, where they were received by hundreds of Japanese fans. Kishida thanked the players for the “excitement” they have conveyed to the Japanese people, described them as a “great team” and asked them to “keep going” despite having been defeated on penalties against Croatia last Monday, according to the state chain NHK.
Maya Yoshidaone of the team’s captains, conveyed to the prime minister the will of the dressing room to “have gone beyond” the round of 16, something that the Japanese team has never achieved in a world. “We could not achieve it by very little. The most important thing is that we continue working like this to achieve better results later on,” said Yoshida, who was also “surprised” by the massive welcome the team received upon their return to Japan. More than 600 people went to the airport facilities the day before to welcome the group.
“We will continue to work with pride, even though we couldn’t reach our goal of reaching the next round, and we hope that the people can continue to enjoy themselves with the team,” said the Japan coach, for his part. Hajime Moriyasu. The Japanese Prime Minister received the Japanese team accompanied by the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, Keiko Nagaokaand those responsible for the Japan Football Federation (JFA) and of the National Sports Agency.
