Japanese comedian Shintaro Moriyama and captain Kō Itakura share 2026 World Cup reflections

Comedian Shintaro Moriyama, a member of the Japanese sketch group "Mitariz" and a passionate football fan, attended Japan’s 2026 FIFA World Cup group match against Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico. It was his first time watching a World Cup live outside Japan. He described the event as a "festival" with high‑volume music, street celebrations and strong support for Japan, noting that local fans greeted him in Japanese‑style chants and even offered him drinks. Moriyama said the national anthem played at the stadium moved him to tears, highlighting his pride in seeing the team represent the country abroad.

Midfielder Kō Itakura, who captained Japan after the injury to Wataru Endō, reflected on the tournament in a post‑match talk. He said the squad has grown over the past four years, no longer fearing strong opponents such as the Netherlands or Brazil. Itakura praised the enthusiastic support from Mexican fans who wore Japan’s jersey and emphasized the team’s determination to improve and compete on equal footing with world‑class teams.