Mon. 22 August

The U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad, dubbed as '00 Japan' began a training camp in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture. Haven’t had any activity in the past month, this will be their last training camp in the run-up to the upcoming AFC U-16 Championship India 2016. The squad are scheduled to play training matches against Kagoshima Josei High School and Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School on Thursday 25 August.

'00 Japan' are aiming to win the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 in September of next month and grab a spot for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 in the following year. This camp will be very important for them with only three weeks to go until the qualifiers.

At the opening meeting, coach MORIYAMA Yoshiro sent a message to his players, "I guess you all felt many things, watching the matches of Japan's Rio de Janeiro Olympic team. And you must have been inspired by other Olympians’ performances in other sports who are of the same age group. In order to follow their footsteps, must-win Asian battles to qualify for global competitions, including the FIFA World Cup and Olympics, await us." I will try to improve the team during this camp. 

The players started training right after the meeting in the evening. They did not show any signs of travel fatigue. They kept their concentration from the warm-ups and aggressively worked on each training including an eleven-a-side practice game that took place at the very end of the session.

Today's training started with ball handling and moved on to 5-on-5 plus with a neutral player drills. In the same five-a-side drills with goalkeeper, the squad showed quality battles on both offence and defence, and it didn’t take long for the newcomers and recently re-invited players to get used to the team.

Tue. 23 August

On the second day, they reviewed their team concept and training plan at a meeting before a two-hour training session. The training started with a 3-on-2 passing exercises and followed by one-on-ones focusing on winning the ball. They also check on different combinations in 2-on-2 drills on both offence and defence. The session finished with 8-versus-7 and eleven-a-side intra-squad scrimmages.

Despite the scorching condition over 35 degrees (Celsius), the players worked hard with high level of concentration. Although the players' level of tactical understanding varied, the outstanding performance by some of the team leaders raised the level of the entire team.

In the afternoon, the players spent a precious time where they learned important life lessons and a part of the Japanese history when visiting Chiran Peace Museum.

On Wednesday 24, training session is scheduled in the morning.

* "00 JAPAN" is the nickname of the U-16 Japan National Team that consists of members who were born after 2000.

Players' Comments

GK  OUCHI Issei (Yokohama FC Youth)
The training was held in a very hot weather during the past two days, but the entire team showed high motivation. We know that this camp is very important for the upcoming AFC U-16 Championship 2016.

Ahead of the championship, we learned the importance of the quick shift from defence to offence to create chances. I will communicate with my teammates more actively and try to improve on it. Every day counts and we need to be focused. I hope we can eventually take part in the U-17 World Cup.

I don't really have a chance to think about the war in my daily life, but today we visited Chiran Peace Museum and learned how terrible the war was. We are very fortunate to be able to play our beloved football. Not being satisfied with the current situation, I want to work hard every day and make my best efforts not only in football but in everything I do.

DF  KOBAYASHI Yuki (Vissel Kobe U-18)
It’s been a while since my last call-up to the Japan National Team and I am very happy about it. Teammates' play and team staff's advice stimulate me a lot. I think we had a productive training time in the past two days including swift transition from offence and defence (conversely from defence to offence) and positioning.

Ahead of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016, the team atmosphere is very good during training. In the afternoon, we went to Chiran Peace Museum and learned how fortunate we are. We need to appreciate the current environment that enables us to play football and practice hard with high level of concentration from tomorrow’s training.

MF  TANIMOTO Shunsuke (Cerezo Osaka U-18)
Because I was called up for the first time, I was tense at first. But I think I was able to get into the training fairly well. It was also my first time to join the national team’s training, and I felt my ability to win the ball and quickness to put pressure on defence are still not good enough. On offence, I learned that constantly getting involved in the play around the ball and becoming the initiating part of attacking are important. In the training for the past two days, we showed to the fullest our ‘never-give-up’ attitude until the end. In the training from tomorrow, we will focus on what we've learned so far.

After visiting Chiran Peace Museum and finding that a lot of people of my age passed away during the war, it strongly reminded me that we can't sit around being satisfying in our daily life. I am fortunate to be able to play football. I want to keep working hard tomorrow.

Schedule

*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.