Grassroots Activity at Nashville Community Day - FIFA World Cup 2026 Japan National Team Open Training
2026/6/11
On June 8, the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville hosted a reception bringing together Tennessee lawmakers, government officials, Japanese and Tennessean business representatives, and members of the Japan Football Association (JFA) at the community day event organized by the City of Nashville. This event welcomed the Japan National Team competing in the FIFA World Cup 2026, which chose Nashville as its base camp. The reception provided an opportunity to reaffirm the strong bonds of friendship between Japan and Tennessee, with a particular focus on economic ties.
At the reception, Consul-General Watanabe emphasized the friendship between Japan and Tennessee, stating “More than 200 Japanese companies operate in Tennessee, supporting around 50,000 jobs. The warm hospitality shown to the Japan team reflects the strong friendship, trust, and mutual respect that Japan and Tennessee have built over many years.” Other participants, including the Mayor of Nashville and the Deputy Governor of Tennessee, also offered remarks, commenting on the bilateral relationship including economic ties. A message board filled with words of encouragement from the participants was presented by Consul-General Watanabe to JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto.
At the subsequent community day event, held before an audience of several thousand spectators, a performance by the Nashville Taiko drumming group was followed by a rendition of the Japanese national anthem on the shakuhachi by Nashville-based American shakuhachi player Shawn Head. When the Japan National Team took to the pitch, the crowd erupted with excitement and energy, filling the venue with an electric atmosphere.
We sincerely wish the Japan National Team all the best in at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
At the reception, Consul-General Watanabe emphasized the friendship between Japan and Tennessee, stating “More than 200 Japanese companies operate in Tennessee, supporting around 50,000 jobs. The warm hospitality shown to the Japan team reflects the strong friendship, trust, and mutual respect that Japan and Tennessee have built over many years.” Other participants, including the Mayor of Nashville and the Deputy Governor of Tennessee, also offered remarks, commenting on the bilateral relationship including economic ties. A message board filled with words of encouragement from the participants was presented by Consul-General Watanabe to JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto.
At the subsequent community day event, held before an audience of several thousand spectators, a performance by the Nashville Taiko drumming group was followed by a rendition of the Japanese national anthem on the shakuhachi by Nashville-based American shakuhachi player Shawn Head. When the Japan National Team took to the pitch, the crowd erupted with excitement and energy, filling the venue with an electric atmosphere.
We sincerely wish the Japan National Team all the best in at the FIFA World Cup 2026.