Introduction: The S16 season has officially kicked off, and most players have been closely following the recent competitions. The LPL and LCK regions remain the focus of many fans. This year is particularly important, with the Asian Games being held in Japan. At the last Hangzhou Asian Games, esports became an official event, but League of Legends only managed to secure a bronze medal. This time, they certainly aim to improve. Unexpectedly, the host nation Japan recently announced their refusal to participate in the League of Legends event. Meanwhile, South Korea's head coach revealed is not Kkoma, but a coach who has been on a break.

Japan team refuses to participate in LOL Asian Games

Most players are quite familiar with League of Legends. Back in the S8 season, League of Legends was part of the Asian Games as an exhibition event in Jakarta. Although there was no domestic broadcast, many fans still watched the matches. Ultimately, China defeated South Korea and won the gold medal for that exhibition. Uzi, as the team captain, was at his peak then, appearing on many shows and promoting esports. However, at the Hangzhou Asian Games, our performance was less impressive. We were defeated by South Korea in the semifinals and ended up with a bronze medal. Under Faker's leadership, South Korea claimed the championship.

The 2026 Asian Games in Japan are about to begin, with esports remaining an official event. Many are discussing the lineups of various countries. As the host, Japan recently announced a surprising decision: they will not participate in the League of Legends event at the 2026 Asian Games. This news quickly sparked heated discussions online. As hosts, they are giving up the event, but there are reasons behind it. Japan's teams generally perform modestly and often rely on Korean players to hold their ground. If they start five Japanese players, they likely wouldn't make it past the first round.

The main issue is that the Japanese region has been dissolved and now must compete alongside LCK teams. Back then, only two notable Japanese players emerged: Shaco and Ceros, who measured his screen with a ruler. With no real chance of winning, their withdrawal is understandable. Many fans even joked about canceling the League of Legends event altogether since it seems to hand the gold medal to South Korea. Honestly, given the current state of play, it’s unclear which five domestic LPL players could stand up to LCK teams.

Recently, South Korea revealed their Asian Games head coach, surprising fans as it is not Kkoma but Hirai, who had been on a break. Previously, in 2023, he coached the KT team. It’s unexpected that he is now leading the Korean team. Back then, his KT squad performed well, finishing first in the summer regular season for two or three years and earning full first-team honors. However, in the playoffs, they made a surprising choice by picking T1, which not only boosted T1 but also affected the World Championship draw. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals. Still, the Korean head coach role seems flexible — with five top-tier players, anyone could fill the position.

Farewell Thoughts

It’s surprising that Japan officially announced their withdrawal from the League of Legends event at the Asian Games. Recently, they just defeated GAM to advance, but the domestic players’ form in the region remains weak. If they can’t earn honors, why embarrass themselves? Their decision is understandable, though it means we won’t see matchups between China and Japan.

What do you, the viewers, think about this situation?