The cleaning manners that Japanese soccer fans showed at the World Cup stadium drew rave reviews from people around the world, including FIFA. The sight of them tidying up the stands after the game was praised as 'impeccable manners' and became an icon symbolizing Japan's sense of order. However, within Japan, self-deprecatory voices are rising about this external image. The core of the criticism spread mainly on social media is the statement that "sharing domestic labor within the home takes priority over cleaning the stadium." This points out the social reality of Japanese men's low participation rate in housework, and sharply explores the gap between external display and daily practice.

On the field, the Japanese national team truly showed their fighting spirit in the first match of the group stage against the Netherlands. Japan, ranked 18th in the FIFA rankings, pulled off a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, ranked 8th, despite giving up the lead twice. Coach Hajime Moriyasu said that through this game, the players came together as one and improved their tactical perfection, and that the J-League's systematic player training and the international competitiveness built up by many European players are bearing fruit. However, apart from this tactical success, the injury of Wataru Endo, the team's spiritual leader, and his subsequent announcement of retirement from the national team caused a great shock to the Japanese soccer world.

Japanese soccer is currently suffering from a serious power leak behind its brilliant performance. Japan's plans to win the championship were disrupted as key players, including captain Wataru Endo, Mitoma, and Minamino, left the team due to injuries or were unable to participate in the World Cup. In particular, Coach Moriyasu's worries are deepening as even ace Takefusa Kubo's participation in the second round of the group stage becomes uncertain due to injury. Although the player base has grown thicker, the absence of veterans who anchored the team is likely to be a fatal weakness for Japan as it seeks to advance to the tournament. This is more than just the absence of one or two players, it is a test of the leadership and tactical flexibility of the entire team.

Another external factor facing the Japanese soccer world is the gaze toward Asian countries and harsh international evaluations. As the results of games in Korea and other Asian countries affect the rise and fall of the FIFA rankings, and discussions about the status of Asian soccer as a whole become more active, sensitive reactions are appearing in Japan about the actions of players from other countries. In addition, opposing team leaders, such as Tunisia coach Renard, are reminding us of the weight of the World Cup stage by emphasizing the principle that we must focus only on the game and not be swayed by external factors such as social media. The world's attention is focused on whether Japan will be able to overcome the pressure and structural criticism pouring in both inside and outside the stadium and move forward toward their goal of winning.