Japan’s men’s hockey team are bracing for a charged and potentially intimidating atmosphere at the Asia Cup later this month — none more so than in their pool-stage showdown against hosts India. From 29 August to 7 September, Rajgir’s state-of-the-art venue will play host to the continent’s finest, with the Samurai determined to turn the home-crowd roar into fuel for their performance.
We expect the stadium atmosphere to be highly charged, especially during the match against India. But we will use the atmosphere created by the fans as fuel to boost our performance and stay positive.
India’s Set-Piece Threat
India, with their Olympic pedigree and recent FIH Pro League form, present one of the stiffest tests in the group stage. “India’s high technical skills and tactical understanding, especially in penalty corners, make them a formidable opponent,” Fujimoto observed. “Their set-piece execution is especially dangerous.”
Lessons from Narrow Defeats
The Samurai’s preparation has been shaped by lessons from the FIH Nations Cup in June, where narrow defeats underlined the fine margins at elite level. “We lost several matches by narrow margins, which highlighted the decisive impact a single goal can have,” Fujimoto said. “For the Asia Cup, we are focusing on avoiding early concessions and preventing goals immediately after we score. Improving our penalty corner conversion rate is also a priority.”
Training camps and matches against South Korea have fine-tuned cohesion and leadership within the squad.
The leadership among our experienced players has grown, and the younger players have shown remarkable development.
No Easy Route in the Group Stage
Japan’s group also features South Korea and Malaysia — both dangerous in their own ways. “South Korea combines speed, skill, and physicality,” Fujimoto said. “Malaysia are agile, unpredictable, and astute. We respect all opponents, but we have our own strengths which we hope to showcase in exciting matches.”
Adapting Like a Chess Master
Tactically, Japan will keep their rivals guessing. “We are always prepared with tactical surprises,” Fujimoto explained. “It will be like a chess match of moves and countermoves, but ultimately it comes down to how much we can bring out our own game.”
Heat, Humidity, and Mental Strength
The late-summer conditions in Bihar will add another test.
We have already experienced difficult conditions, such as the heat and humidity during the FIH Nations Cup in Malaysia. We are preparing to handle any situation.
Building for the Future
For Japan’s younger players, the Asia Cup is a proving ground. “Delivering strong performances on such a big stage will boost their confidence and aid their growth,” Fujimoto said.
But the Samurai’s ambitions extend far beyond Rajgir. With an eye on the 2026 Asian Games, the 2026 World Cup, and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics — where they hope to echo their silver medal heroics from 1932 — this tournament is another stepping stone.
We will carry that history with pride and play with the awareness that we are building a bright future for Japanese hockey. There is no doubt this tournament comes with considerable pressure, but we will approach it with enthusiasm and determination. We aim to deliver matches our supporters can truly enjoy.
