<figure id="attachment_467423" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-467423" style="width: 2329px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="82ded87b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/05/cb7005adfa8be0387815df9b309dd1f8.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-467423" class="wp-caption-text">Itakura Koh(29) Ajax DF / Helped defeat Germany and Spain at the last World Cup, playing in a back three with Shogo Taniguchi(34) and Maya Yoshida(37). How much can he improve in just over a month?</figcaption></figure>
<h3> The rise of a rival is rather welcome!</h3>
<p> Good news has arrived for Japan&#8217;s national soccer team recently with the return of defender Koh Itakura (29).</p>
<p> Itakura, who plays for Dutch first division club Ajax, returned to action for the first time in two and a half months on April 11 in a league match against Heracles. Although he was used as a volleyball player instead of his main position of center back, he played calmly. After the game, he smiled and said, &#8220;I am finally back.</p>
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<p><a href="https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/article/467054"> Sano Kaiyu &amp; Kodai: &#8220;Our goal is to be the first brothers in history to make the national team&#8221; Moriyasu Japan&#8217;s &#8220;key players in attack and defense&#8221; talk about their thoughts on the World Cup.</a></p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> It&#8217;s been a long time since I got here, but I&#8217;ve finally made a step forward. I was in a hurry, but it was not a muscular pain but a back pain, so I made adjustments while carefully watching my balance. Unlike normal injuries, it was my back (which is also the core of my body), so I didn&#8217;t know when I would be able to start running or when I would be able to return to the field, and there were times when it was mentally difficult. First of all, I want to take it as a positive that I was able to play for the first time in a while. I hope I can improve from here.&#8221;</span></p>
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<p> Itakura experienced the previous tournament in Qatar and played a central role in the back three during the final qualifying round in Asia. However, due to poor conditions, Itakura was absent from both of Moriyasu Japan&#8217;s two wins over strong opponents, against Brazil last October and England in March of this year. In the meantime, new players such as Junnosuke Suzuki (22) have emerged in the final line. Considering his own position, he must have a sense of crisis.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I was watching the England game at home. It was not an easy game, but I was inspired by the way everyone was fighting with the competition in mind. I understand that there were many players who played well while I was away, and it is natural that there is competition because it is the national team. （There is no one player whose position is safe (in the national team).</span><br>
<span class="strongInContent"> However, defense is something that the whole team works together on. I myself have grown since the last tournament, and the emergence of new players can only be a positive for the team. I welcome the fact that the team&#8217;s depth has increased, and I would like to show off my talents in the process.</span></p>
<p> It was also reported that Hajime Moriyasu, 57, visited the club before his return.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I won&#8217;t go into the details of what we talked about at &#8230;&#8230;, but I was honestly happy that he was concerned about me.</span></p>
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<p> In Qatar, Morisbo played in three group league games, but was unable to play in the elimination match against Croatia in the first round (last 16) of the final tournament due to a cumulative warning. The North and Central American tournament will be an opportunity for the team to take revenge for that loss.</p>
<p> In Qatar, he injured ligaments in his knee before the tournament began, and his participation was in doubt, but he played almost without warning and lived up to expectations.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Thinking back to the last time, it was good that I was able to pitch at this time,&#8221; said Itakura.</span></p>
<p> In Itakura&#8217;s return match, fellow Ajax player Takehiro Tomiyasu (27) also played from the middle of the second half. Itakura was also out of action, but had the misfortune to leave the field after about 15 minutes. Still, the fact that both players were able to play on the pitch is good news.</p>
<p> The World Cup roster will be announced on May 15. The Samurai who are sharpening their fangs in Europe await that day with various thoughts in their minds.</p>
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<p><a href="https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/article/467054"> Sano Kaifu and Kodai &#8220;Aiming to be the first brothers in history to make the national team&#8221; Moriyasu Japan&#8217;s &#8220;key players in attack and defense&#8221; talk about their thoughts on the World Cup.</a></p>
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<p><a href="#" data-ident_hash="3e35b2e8"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/05/ad74f8ae081dbd4ee8cf73a02525e9e9.jpg" alt=""></a></p>
<p> From the May 15 and 22, 2026 issue of FRIDAY</p>


 Masao Kurihara

 Watanabe Koji

 Good news has arrived for Japan's national soccer team in the form of the return of defender Itakura Koh. Itakura, who experienced the Qatar tournament and played a central role in the back three in the final Asian qualifying rounds, has been out of action for a long time due to poor conditions.

 The World Cup is about to begin! Samurai Blue in Europe: Part 2

Itakura Koh: &#8220;I&#8217;m back at last!&#8221; Moriyasu Japan&#8217;s &#8220;key man&#8221; reveals his true feelings about his return to the field after a two-and-a-half month absence.

Itakura Koh: “I’m back at last!” Moriyasu Japan’s “key man” reveals his true feelings about his return to the field after a two-and-a-half month absence.

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