Japan Goes 4-0 in Pool Play and Advances to Playoffs at World Lacrosse Men’s Championship

After earning four consecutive blowout victories, Japan leads all teams with 70 goals at the World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.

Published By Hidemitsu Kaito

To put Japan’s scoring feat in context, Italy, which was second in scoring during pool play, notched 60 goals.

Dynamic players Shinya Tateishi and Hiroki Kanaya scored 16 goals apiece for Japan, giving coach Naofumi Suzuki’s team a huge spark on offense. They also played at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2022, helping lead Japan to a third-place finish.

In addition, Kanaya, a key veteran on the current squad, competed for Japan at the 2018 World Championship in Israel.

A Look Ahead

Up next for Japan: A playoff match against the Iroquis, HAUDENOSAUNEE, June 28 in San Diego… after beating Germany, 9-4, in their first playoff game. Japan is aiming to earn a top-four finish at the 2023 World Championship.

Weekday Workers, Weekend Lacrosse Players

The Japan men’s national team has two student-athletes on its roster at the 2023 World Championship. However, the rest of the team is comprised of men who are working at various jobs.

Indeed, it is not easy to receive more than two weeks of vacation to take part in this tournament.

Keiji Victor Ishii, a senior at Keio University, took a leave of absence to take part in this tournament. He’s going to graduate from college and begin working at an automobile maker next spring (2024).

“If I was working as a freshman this year, I could not receive a longer vacation to take part in the sports event privately,” Ishii said. “So I made up my mind to take a leave of absence.”

Tateishi, who has attracted attention with his marvelous performances in San Diego, is employed at an advertising agency. As his company is doing business within the sports industry, it welcomed his participation as  a player at the World Lacrosse Men’s  Championship.

Therefore, Tateishi was granted permission to take a special vacation.

The 2023 World Championship concludes on Saturday, July 1, and Tateishi and his teammates are aiming to end their California excursion with a successful showing in the playoffs.

At the 2010 World Championship, Japan finished fourth, its best-ever showing in lacrosse’s global tournament. In 2014, Japan placed eighth, followed by a sixth-place finish in 2018.

 

 

 

 

Source: https://japan-forward.com/japan-goes-4-0-in-pool-play-and-advances-to-playoffs-at-world-lacrosse-mens-championship/

Japan
Japan has emerged as a rising force in the lacrosse world over the past few years, and their performance in the tournament thus far solidifies their potential. Their dominant victory over France showcased their superiority, leaving no doubt about their ability to control the game. Shinya Tateishi’s five goals and four assists, along with Hiroki Kanaya’s six goals and two assists, highlighted their offensive prowess. However, what sets Japan apart is their cohesive team style of play. They outmaneuvered France consistently by employing an open-set principal-based offense, leaving France struggling to keep up. This style of offense, which facilitates scoring opportunities across the field, is bound to pose challenges for other teams in the tournament. With a strong faceoff game and efficient clearing, Japan stands a good chance of competing for a bronze medal.