“You said you won? Why are you leaving work already?”… Kamada’s ‘bone-hitting’ remark and Japanese soccer’s tears

Japan’s World Cup, which started ambitiously with promises of victory, was blocked by Brazil and resulted in a bitter defeat in the round of 32. In response, Daichi Kamada made a determined statement, saying, “If soccer does not become Japan’s true national sport, winning the championship will be impossible.” It is pointed out that the reality of not being able to attract excellent sports talent to soccer due to baseball being the root cause of preventing the country from winning the World Cup. In the end, unless Japanese soccer becomes a ‘national sport’ that surpasses the stronghold of baseball, winning the World Cup is expected to remain in the distant future for the time being.