From a young boy survivor of the atomic bomb to a pioneer of Japanese football... 'Moriyasu's mentor' Imanishi passes away at the age of 85.

*This content was translated by AI.

Kazuo Imanishi, former head coach of Sanfrecce Hiroshima who discovered Hajime Moriyasu (58), the pioneer who led the rise of Japanese football and current head coach of the Japanese national team, has passed away. He was 85 years old.

Japan's "Mainichi Shimbun" reported on the 16th that Kazuo Imanishi, who served as head coach of J League's Sanfrecce Hiroshima and is credited with laying the foundation for Japanese soccer, passed away today at the age of 85.

The deceased was also a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. According to media reports, former director Imanishi was exposed to radiation at his home in Hiroshima city, approximately 2 km from the hypocenter, on the 6th, 1945, at the age of 4. Regarding the horrific memories of that time, he stated in a lifetime interview, "I did not know what had happened at all, but I remember that the left side suddenly flashed with light."

At the time, he was left with burn scars on his left hand and left leg, which led to bullying and mockery with derogatory nicknames during his school years. Although he began playing soccer as early as high school due to his speed, it is reported that he had strong reservations about exposing his burn scars through his short-sleeved and short-pant uniforms.

Football was the catalyst that helped him overcome physical and mental scars. Now a working adult, he said the wounds no longer bothered him, adding, "When I stepped onto the field, everyone cheered for me, which allowed me to forget any sense of rejection. I feel as though football saved me."

After finishing his playing career at Toyo Kogyo (now Sanfrecce Hiroshima), he held various key positions within the club, including manager. He actively introduced organized play, and when the team was relegated to the J2 League, he brought in Dutch manager Hans Ooft to oversee on-field coaching.

He focused on scouting activities, player education, and creating an environment where he could dedicate himself entirely to soccer as the head coach. In particular, he personally scouted Moriyasu during his time at Nagasaki Nihon University High School, when he was still unknown. Former coach Imanishi recalled that day, saying, "Moriyasu was neither fast nor technically gifted, but he had an excellent attitude toward soccer."

Under the coaching philosophy of former manager Imanishi, who emphasized that players must first become excellent members of society, numerous Japanese national team players and top-tier coaches have emerged. Moriyasu, whom he discovered, became a key player for Hiroshima after the establishment of the J.League and excelled as a national team player under coach Offt. Moriyasu later transitioned into a coaching role, leading Hiroshima to three J1 League titles, and currently manages the Japanese national team.

The media stated, "It is impossible to discuss the current leap of Japanese football without acknowledging Mr. Imanishi's foresight," and paid tribute to the late, saying, "It was a life dedicated to the development of football, which provided an opportunity to move forward from the painful experience of radiation exposure."

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*This content was translated by AI.