Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu thanks Dutch mentors after 2-2 World Cup draw

After Japan’s 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, head coach Hajime Moriyasu asked for a brief extension of the press conference and expressed gratitude to Dutch football. He said, “I would like to thank the people of the Netherlands again,” and highlighted the influence of former Dutch coaches Hans Ooft, who led Japan in the early professional era, and Wim Jansen, who worked with him at club level.

The tactical changes Moriyasu introduced in the match sparked a viral meme on social media linking his notebook to the Japanese manga "Death Note." Fans jokingly called his strategic notebook a “Death Note,” suggesting it contains secret instructions that can alter the course of a game. The meme spread quickly, portraying Moriyasu’s in‑match adjustments as having supernatural effect.