@melsorbit They are desperate to drive a wedge between us and Japan because the idea that two countries can fight a bloody war and 80 years later be the best of friends totally demolishes the leftist narrative about past oppression, historical injustice, reparations, "stolen land", etc.
@harukaawake "...try building something useful, for once."
This is why you guys are awesome. Please don't change, Japan. Protect your people. Protect your culture. Ignore the screaming communists, they're going to complain no matter what.
🇯🇵 I was just blocked by a BBC journalist after I called her out for running two fake stories about Japan.
The first one was about how "everyone in Japan is talking about maternity leave". This is a lie. We're not. No one is talking about this here.
The second one told Japanese men to "clean at home" and stop cleaning World Cup stadiums. This story was picked up by Chinese communist media and went viral.
Commentator: I think Japan thinks they're taller than they really are, because whenever they get a corner kick, they kick it high and the Dutch, who are taller obviously headbutt it away
*2 minutes later*
Japan shoots another corner kick, teammate jumps and actually headbutts it into the net
Equalizing the score (2-2)
Commentator: I owe an apology to Japan
Jamie Carragher on Japan players displaying Wataru Endō's jersey after the dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands national football team:
🗣️ “That moment after the final whistle said everything about this Japan team. They weren't celebrating a draw, they were playing for someone who should have been here with them.
When I saw the players holding up Endō's shirt, I thought it was powerful. This is a player who dreamed of leading his country at the World Cup, only for injury to take it away from him at the last moment.
People don't always understand how much that hurts. You spend years preparing for a tournament, making sacrifices, pushing your body to the limit, and then suddenly it's gone. Just like that.
What impressed me was how the squad responded. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they turned that disappointment into motivation. Every tackle, every run, every minute they fought against the Netherlands felt like they were carrying Endō with them.
And let's be honest, that equalizer in the 89th minute wasn't just about football. It was about emotion. It was about a group of players refusing to give up because they knew someone important was watching from home.
Moments like that can unite a squad. Sometimes a team needs something bigger than tactics and formations. Sometimes it needs a cause.
The scary thing for the rest of the tournament is that Japan now have one. And if they keep playing with that level of heart and determination, they could become a problem for a lot of teams.”