Former U-17 Japan national team manager Yoshiro Moriyama vividly remembers Takefusa Kubo’s arrival to the squad at just 13 years old. In a recent interview, Moriyama reflected on the young prodigy’s extraordinary mindset.
“Even at that age, Kubo had the mentality to demand, ‘Give me the ball,’” Moriyama said. “He wasn’t shy about asking for the play to go through him. That level of confidence and self-belief in a player so young was rare and truly impressive.”
Kubo, now 24 and starring for Real Sociedad in La Liga, has long been recognized for his technical skill, but Moriyama highlighted that his psychological strength was equally apparent from the very beginning.
“He didn’t just wait for the ball to come to him; he actively wanted to be the one making decisions and leading the attack,” Moriyama added. “That mental toughness, combined with his talent, set him apart early on.” {IMAGE_1}
The former coach’s comments offer a glimpse into the mindset that has helped Kubo develop into one of Japan’s key players ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
