From Roppongi Cheering on the Japan National Soccer Team

 

Asahi Shimbun, the match sponsor for the Japan National Soccer Team, held the "Dreams into Power 2014 Japan National Soccer Team Support Event" (Supported by: Japan Football Association (JFA) / Special Sponsor: Audi Japan / Sponsors: Adidas Japan, Konami Digital Entertainment) at Roppongi Midtown in Minato Ward, Tokyo, from May 16th to 18th. Former Japan National Team players and coaches participated in talk sessions. A concurrent "Soccer Photo Exhibition" traced the Japanese team's journey from the "Tragedy of Doha" to qualifying for the Brazil World Cup.

At the opening ceremony on the first day, President Kimura stated, "We aim to provide comprehensive coverage of the Brazil tournament through both print and digital media to energize the National Team. We wish them spectacular success," before cutting the ribbon alongside representatives from the JFA and sponsors.

   

In the opening talk, former national team player and sports journalist Tetsuo Nakanishi touched on topics related to the national team members, stating, "I believe this year marks the beginning of Japan's quest to win the World Cup. Winning in 2030 is the goal. The possibility is not zero." The evening talk featured Takeshi Okada, who coached the team at the previous South Africa tournament, and former national team player Masashi Nakayama. Okada stated, "Among the teams in the qualifying group, Japan has the highest overall strength and could finish first. I expect them to reach the quarterfinals or semifinals." Nakayama added, "I hope they cherish their fighting spirit and show the world Japan's strength," while their humorous banter also energized the venue.

Former national team player Hiroshi Nanami took the stage for the talk session on the 17th. Sharing his perspective as a soccer fan, he said, "Kagawa is the key man in attack. Finishing second in the group stage would make the first knockout match against Italy an interesting matchup." Afterwards, Mr. Nanami and attendees participated in the "adidas Circle Project." This initiative involves forming a circle to cheer for the national team; participants linked arms and shouted "Form a circle, Japan!" to send their support. Additionally, the "adidas Giant Jersey Caravan" took place on the lawn plaza. Supporters wrote passionate messages of support for the team on a giant jersey. The Giant Jersey will be unveiled at the "Kirin Challenge Cup Japan vs. Cyprus" match on May 27. On the final day's stage, former national team player Tsuneyasu Miyamoto appeared, sharing insights based on his experience about mindset and preparation. His prediction for the group stage results—1 win, 2 draws—matched Mr. Nanami's, prompting laughter as he joked, "We didn't coordinate beforehand!"

 

Audi Japan displayed 11 special edition models, including the TT Coupe, S5, and S6, painted in SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) colors as part of the "Audi × SAMURAI BLUE 11 Limited Edition" series throughout Midtown. Konami Digital Entertainment set up a game experience corner for its new title "World Soccer Winning Eleven 2014: The Challenge of the Blue Samurai" in its showroom at the same location. Both companies, as supporting companies of the Japanese national team, helped build excitement for the team. The venue was bustling with many visitors, with the highly detailed mannequin of Coach Zaccheroni on display becoming a hot topic.