Japan Men's Blind Soccer National Team Players' Post-Tournament Comments Released ~Daicel Blind Soccer Week 2026 in Umeda~
The Japan Blind Football Association (JBFA) has released post-tournament comments from the Japan Men's Blind Soccer National Team players who participated in the 'IBSA Blind Soccer Men's Asia Championship 2026 in Umeda,' held as part of 'Daicel Blind Soccer Week 2026 in Umeda.' The team finished as runner-up and is now focused on securing a spot in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 19:36 (9h 5m after Collected)
NPO Japan Blind Football Association (hereafter, JBFA) announces the post-tournament comments from the Japan Men's Blind Soccer National Team players who participated in the 'IBSA Blind Soccer Men's Asia Championship 2026 in Umeda (Division 1),' held from Wednesday, April 15, 2026, to Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Grand Front Osaka Umeda Plaza (Osaka, Osaka Prefecture) as part of the international tournament 'Daicel Blind Soccer Week 2026 in Umeda.' The Men's Japan National Team finished the tournament as runner-up.
The opportunities to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics are the IBSA World Games to be held in June 2027 and the IBSA Blind Soccer World Championship to be held in October of the same year.
The post-tournament comments from the Men's Japan National Team are as follows:
High-Performance Director Ko Uozumi
'First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Daicel Corporation and many other partner companies who made efforts to host the Asia Championship in Japan, to the staff of the Japan Blind Football Association who supported the operation of the tournament, to the volunteers, and to all the supporters and blind soccer family members who gathered. This Asia Championship had a big dream. Of course, it was about securing a ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, but also to conquer Asia in front of everyone who has supported blind soccer for many years, and to share that joy together. We wanted to bring smiles to those we have repeatedly disappointed. That was our feeling. Throughout the tournament, many comrades gathered. The 'Japan' calls in front of Osaka Station, an incredible situation, deeply moved us and gave us strength. The players and staff truly strived for victory, but we fell one step short, which is truly frustrating. We still have chances to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics in the 2027 World Games and World Championship. To quote Coach Nakagawa, 'We will continue to evolve as a team that strives for victory.' And although we couldn't achieve it this time, we will definitely conquer the Asia Championship when it is held in Japan next time. We ask for your continued support.'
Coach Eiji Nakagawa
'I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fans, supporters, and partner companies who supported us in the Asia Championship, as well as the operational staff, volunteers, and sponsor companies who supported the tournament. It is very regrettable and frustrating that we could not achieve our goal of becoming Asian champions and securing a spot in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics at this tournament. However, we do not have time to be down or sad. From here, the entire team will stand up again, become even stronger, and will definitely win the Asian championship in the Asian Paralympics, which we could not achieve this time, and secure our spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics in next year's world tournament. We would appreciate your continued support for our evolving team, which will strive for victory after this disappointing tournament.'
FP So Oomoto
'This was my first time participating in a major international tournament. Watching the games and the performances of my seniors from the bench, I strongly felt the high level of their skills and the world standard of blind soccer. At the same time, I keenly felt my own weaknesses and inadequacies. I will continue to strive to improve my fundamental skills and become a player worthy of Japan's name.'
FP Rei Kawamura
'It was a tournament we challenged with the aim of winning the Asia Championship, but we lost in the final, which is a very frustrating result. The Paralympic qualification was within reach, but we couldn't grasp it, which is very frustrating. Thank you very much to the association, partners, and everyone who supported and energized this tournament from various angles, and to everyone who cheered loudly for the Japan National Team at the venue on the day of the match. I will continue to work hard so that I can deliver victories to everyone with an even stronger and more mature appearance.'
FP Masaki Goto
'To everyone who supported us in this tournament, and to all the tournament officials, thank you very much. I wanted to secure a Paralympic spot in Japan, in front of everyone, and express my gratitude, but I'm sorry that we couldn't achieve it due to our lack of strength. However, the path to the Paralympics is not over yet. I want to refocus and dedicate myself to training again, to share the joy of participating in the Paralympics and winning a medal with everyone. I ask for your continued unwavering support.'
FP Yuki Saito
'Everyone, thank you for your tremendous support.
The opportunities to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics are the IBSA World Games to be held in June 2027 and the IBSA Blind Soccer World Championship to be held in October of the same year.
The post-tournament comments from the Men's Japan National Team are as follows:
High-Performance Director Ko Uozumi
'First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Daicel Corporation and many other partner companies who made efforts to host the Asia Championship in Japan, to the staff of the Japan Blind Football Association who supported the operation of the tournament, to the volunteers, and to all the supporters and blind soccer family members who gathered. This Asia Championship had a big dream. Of course, it was about securing a ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, but also to conquer Asia in front of everyone who has supported blind soccer for many years, and to share that joy together. We wanted to bring smiles to those we have repeatedly disappointed. That was our feeling. Throughout the tournament, many comrades gathered. The 'Japan' calls in front of Osaka Station, an incredible situation, deeply moved us and gave us strength. The players and staff truly strived for victory, but we fell one step short, which is truly frustrating. We still have chances to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics in the 2027 World Games and World Championship. To quote Coach Nakagawa, 'We will continue to evolve as a team that strives for victory.' And although we couldn't achieve it this time, we will definitely conquer the Asia Championship when it is held in Japan next time. We ask for your continued support.'
Coach Eiji Nakagawa
'I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fans, supporters, and partner companies who supported us in the Asia Championship, as well as the operational staff, volunteers, and sponsor companies who supported the tournament. It is very regrettable and frustrating that we could not achieve our goal of becoming Asian champions and securing a spot in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics at this tournament. However, we do not have time to be down or sad. From here, the entire team will stand up again, become even stronger, and will definitely win the Asian championship in the Asian Paralympics, which we could not achieve this time, and secure our spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics in next year's world tournament. We would appreciate your continued support for our evolving team, which will strive for victory after this disappointing tournament.'
FP So Oomoto
'This was my first time participating in a major international tournament. Watching the games and the performances of my seniors from the bench, I strongly felt the high level of their skills and the world standard of blind soccer. At the same time, I keenly felt my own weaknesses and inadequacies. I will continue to strive to improve my fundamental skills and become a player worthy of Japan's name.'
FP Rei Kawamura
'It was a tournament we challenged with the aim of winning the Asia Championship, but we lost in the final, which is a very frustrating result. The Paralympic qualification was within reach, but we couldn't grasp it, which is very frustrating. Thank you very much to the association, partners, and everyone who supported and energized this tournament from various angles, and to everyone who cheered loudly for the Japan National Team at the venue on the day of the match. I will continue to work hard so that I can deliver victories to everyone with an even stronger and more mature appearance.'
FP Masaki Goto
'To everyone who supported us in this tournament, and to all the tournament officials, thank you very much. I wanted to secure a Paralympic spot in Japan, in front of everyone, and express my gratitude, but I'm sorry that we couldn't achieve it due to our lack of strength. However, the path to the Paralympics is not over yet. I want to refocus and dedicate myself to training again, to share the joy of participating in the Paralympics and winning a medal with everyone. I ask for your continued unwavering support.'
FP Yuki Saito
'Everyone, thank you for your tremendous support.