Asahi Shimbun Launches Series Tracing the Roots of Japan National Soccer Coach Hajime Moriyasu
The Asahi Shimbun Company has started distributing a series titled "The Eye of the Connoisseur" on its digital deep-dive content platform "A Stories," exploring the origins of Japan national soccer team coach Hajime Moriyasu's coaching philosophy. The series visualizes the lineage of talent scouts from Kazuo Imanishi, the first general manager of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, to Coach Moriyasu, featuring rare photos and videos. It is a sequel to the 2022 series "Misha Effect" and part of the special coverage for the upcoming World Cup in North and Central America.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 3, 2026 at 11:21
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 7, 2026 at 01:23 (86h 2m after Collected)
The Asahi Shimbun Company (President and CEO: Kaku Tsunoda) has begun distributing "The Eye of the Connoisseur" (Mekiki no Ryugi), a series that traces the origins of Japan national soccer team coach Hajime Moriyasu's coaching, starting from the 1st on its digital deep-dive content platform "A Stories." This series visualizes the "lineage" of talent scouts from Kazuo Imanishi, the first general manager of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, to Coach Moriyasu, and features a wealth of rare photos capturing their true faces, along with videos. Even those unfamiliar with soccer can find hints for thinking about talent discovery and development in this story.
A Stories: The Eye of the Connoisseur (4 parts total)
The series "The Eye of the Connoisseur" is a sequel to "Misha Effect," which was distributed before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It is a special feature page that weaves the story of Coach Moriyasu and others influenced by the coaching of Mihailo Petrović (currently coach of Nagoya Grampus), who had a significant impact on Japanese soccer. Viewing them together will enhance your understanding of the Moriyasu Japan team.
Misha Effect: DNA Engraved in Japanese Soccer
■ World Cup Special Feature Page
The special feature page allows you to view related articles. Content using videos will also be enhanced. Data such as introductions of all participating countries and Japan national team members, as well as all match schedules and results pages, are also substantial. Please enjoy them along with World Cup news.
World Cup Special Feature Page
Japan National Team Match Schedule & Player Information
Match Schedule & Results
■ Depicting the World Cup as Coach Moriyasu's Culmination in a Grand Story by Satoshi Ushio, Sports Department Reporter
I have been following Japanese soccer since before the J.League's professionalization. I myself have experience as a player for the University of Tsukuba soccer club and know the era when participating in the World Cup was still a dream. Times have changed, and Japan has become a regular contender, challenging the World Cup for the 8th consecutive time.
How does Coach Moriyasu, in his second challenge, plan to fight in this culminating tournament? I wondered if I could depict this as a grand, epic story like a historical drama, tracing the continuous connections from before the J.League to the present. This led me to the existence of Kazuo Imanishi, who discovered Hajime Moriyasu when he was an unknown high school student. In my mind, this is positioned as the second installment following the rich content "Misha Effect" I produced four years ago. Sports are colored not only by victory and defeat but by rich stories. I hope to convey the joy of "reading" as a follow-up to playing, watching, and supporting, and I intend to continue conducting multi-layered interviews over time.
Satoshi Ushio, Sports Department Reporter
Joined the company in 1987. He has covered the Soccer World Cup on-site for nine consecutive tournaments, from the 1994 USA tournament to the upcoming North and Central America tournament. His books include "Commander Takeshi Okada" (Asahi Shimbun Publications) and "Theory of Japan National Team Coaches" (Kodansha).
A Stories: The Eye of the Connoisseur (4 parts total)
The series "The Eye of the Connoisseur" is a sequel to "Misha Effect," which was distributed before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It is a special feature page that weaves the story of Coach Moriyasu and others influenced by the coaching of Mihailo Petrović (currently coach of Nagoya Grampus), who had a significant impact on Japanese soccer. Viewing them together will enhance your understanding of the Moriyasu Japan team.
Misha Effect: DNA Engraved in Japanese Soccer
■ World Cup Special Feature Page
The special feature page allows you to view related articles. Content using videos will also be enhanced. Data such as introductions of all participating countries and Japan national team members, as well as all match schedules and results pages, are also substantial. Please enjoy them along with World Cup news.
World Cup Special Feature Page
Japan National Team Match Schedule & Player Information
Match Schedule & Results
■ Depicting the World Cup as Coach Moriyasu's Culmination in a Grand Story by Satoshi Ushio, Sports Department Reporter
I have been following Japanese soccer since before the J.League's professionalization. I myself have experience as a player for the University of Tsukuba soccer club and know the era when participating in the World Cup was still a dream. Times have changed, and Japan has become a regular contender, challenging the World Cup for the 8th consecutive time.
How does Coach Moriyasu, in his second challenge, plan to fight in this culminating tournament? I wondered if I could depict this as a grand, epic story like a historical drama, tracing the continuous connections from before the J.League to the present. This led me to the existence of Kazuo Imanishi, who discovered Hajime Moriyasu when he was an unknown high school student. In my mind, this is positioned as the second installment following the rich content "Misha Effect" I produced four years ago. Sports are colored not only by victory and defeat but by rich stories. I hope to convey the joy of "reading" as a follow-up to playing, watching, and supporting, and I intend to continue conducting multi-layered interviews over time.
Satoshi Ushio, Sports Department Reporter
Joined the company in 1987. He has covered the Soccer World Cup on-site for nine consecutive tournaments, from the 1994 USA tournament to the upcoming North and Central America tournament. His books include "Commander Takeshi Okada" (Asahi Shimbun Publications) and "Theory of Japan National Team Coaches" (Kodansha).
FAQ
How many parts is 'The Eye of the Connoisseur' series?
It is a 4-part series.
Who is the reporter for this series?
The reporter is Satoshi Ushio from the Asahi Shimbun Sports Department.
What is 'Misha Effect'?
It is a 2022 feature that told the story of Coach Moriyasu and others influenced by the coaching of Mihailo Petrović.