Japan's Moriyasu weeps again during national anthem before World Cup opener

Japan national football team head coach Moriyasu Hajime was moved to tears during the national anthem — again.

Moriyasu wept before Japan's Group F opener against the Netherlands at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday.

During the pre-match anthem ceremony, Moriyasu sang along with a solemn expression as "Kimigayo" rang through the stadium after the Dutch anthem concluded. His eyes reddened within moments, and tears streamed down his cheeks. After the anthem ended, he was seen dabbing the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief.

Moriyasu has frequently been seen tearing up whenever "Kimigayo" plays at international matches. In an interview with a Japanese outlet, he explained the reaction by saying, "It's because I have pride in being Japanese."

Meanwhile, Japan showed resilience in their World Cup debut against the Netherlands, salvaging a point in a hard-fought draw. Trailing 2-1 deep into the second half, Japan equalized in the 88th minute through Kamada Daichi (Crystal Palace) to finish 2-2.

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