ABEMA Sports Time: Risa Shimizu Discusses Injury Recovery; Expert Analysis on FIFA World Cup and Emerging Talents

On May 25, the streaming platform ABEMA aired 'ABEMA Sports Time,' a program dedicated to exploring the latest in professional sports. The episode featured former MLB player Munenori Kawasaki alongside special guests and former Japanese national team players Michihiro Yasuda and Mana Iwabuchi. The broadcast focused on tactical analysis for the upcoming FIFA World Cup and featured an emotional interview with Nadeshiko Japan's Risa Shimizu regarding her recovery from a major injury.

### Tactical Analysis for the FIFA World Cup With key players like Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma absent due to injuries, the analysts discussed potential replacements for the left side. Michihiro Yasuda recommended Junnosuke Suzuki for the left wing-back position and Keito Nakamura as a left shadow striker, noting Nakamura's versatility as both a playmaker and finisher. Mana Iwabuchi agreed, emphasizing that Nakamura's ability to cross and score makes him a vital asset for Japan. Additionally, the program featured 19-year-old forward Homare Tokuda (Kashima Antlers), who shared his aspirations for the World Cup and Champions League, citing Ayase Ueda and Atsushi Yanagisawa as his primary inspirations.

### Risa Shimizu’s Journey Back to the Pitch A major segment was dedicated to Risa Shimizu, who returned to Nadeshiko Japan after a 15-month hiatus following an ACL tear during the Paris Olympics. Shimizu admitted to moments of doubt, questioning if she would ever play football again. She credited teammate Yui Hasegawa for keeping her connected to the sport during her recovery. Iwabuchi also shared anecdotes about their friendship, revealing they had lunch together recently to celebrate her successful return. The segment also touched upon the new coaching staff for Nadeshiko Japan, including former national player Atsuto Uchida.

### Next-Gen Star: 17-Year-Old Boat Racer Yui Tanaka The program's 'NEXT Star' feature spotlighted Yui Tanaka, a 17-year-old boat racer from a family of professionals. Despite the inherent risks of the sport, her parents supported her debut by gifting her a custom helmet featuring their signature motifs. Tanaka successfully completed her debut race without incident, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to carry on her family's legacy.

ABEMA will continue its sports coverage by providing free live streams of the Maurice Revello Tournament (U-19 Japan) starting June 1 and an exclusive broadcast of Nadeshiko Japan's training match against South Africa on June 9.