Japanese coach exclaimed one thing after a shocking loss to Indonesia in the Asian semifinals

Kensuke Takahashi, head coach of Japan’s futsal team, acknowledged that he was defeated by a very powerful Indonesian side.

Japan’s defeat to Indonesia in the 2026 Asian Futsal Cup semifinals not only brought joy to the host nation but also left the visiting team with profound reflections.Japan lost 5-3 to Indonesia in a thrilling match held at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Thursday evening (February 5, 2026).

This result secured Indonesia’s place in the final and marked a historic first official Asian tournament victory over Japan. Meanwhile, Japan had to abandon their hopes of returning to the final.

Japan futsal coach Kensuke Takahashi became one of the most talked-about figures after the matchIt is no coincidence that Takahashi has a deep emotional connection with Indonesian futsal, having previously coached their team. In the post-match press conference, he expressed deep gratitude to Indonesia. He also candidly admitted failing to lead Japan into the final while praising Indonesia’s rapid progress.

Despite praising Indonesia, Coach Takahashi did not shy away from taking responsibility for his team’s defeat. He emphasized that as Japan’s head coach, the failure to reach the final was entirely his responsibility.

“As the head coach of Japan’s futsal team, my role is to compete against Indonesia. But I failed, so I bear a great responsibility,” he stated. Takahashi also described the semifinal as a clash between two strong teams. He said Japan gave their best effort, but Indonesia was better prepared and more effective at key moments.

“Today, Japan’s futsal team faced a very strong opponent in the semifinals. I know some Indonesian players I have worked with before, but at this moment, I was focused only on the match. In the end, we lost,” Takahashi concluded.