Defense Minister Thanks Japan Team After World Cup Defeat to Brazil

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expressed his gratitude on X on June 30 for the Japan national team’s spirited performance after it fell 2-1 to Brazil in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup.

Koizumi shared a photo of himself wearing a Japan national team jersey alongside comedian Hiroya “Zakiyama” Yamazaki of the comedy duo Untouchable.

In his post, he wrote: “To everyone on Japan’s national soccer team, thank you for all your hard work. At this morning’s Cabinet meeting, the ministers were all enthusiastically talking about the match.”

‘Fought Until the Very End’

Looking back on the tournament, Koizumi said he had several opportunities to watch matches in person. “One of my fond memories was watching a match with the Dutch defense minister during his visit to Japan […] Throughout the tournament, I was reminded of how soccer creates meaningful connections between people.”

Addressing the players, whose campaign ended in the first knockout round of the 32-team tournament, he added: “To everyone on Japan’s national team, hold your heads high and come home with smiles on your faces. I’m proud of the way you wore the Hinomaru [Japanese flag] on the world’s biggest stage and fought until the very end without ever giving up.”

He closed with a final message of encouragement: “I’ll continue supporting your dream of becoming world champions. Thank you, Japan national team!”

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Author: Makoto Chiba, The Sankei Shimbun