Former Japan National Soccer Team Player Koji Morisaki to Serve as Head Judge for "Japan National Soccer Team Mental No. 1 Championship" Talk Live Event

Idea Human Support Service Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, President: Mariko Ukiyo, hereinafter referred to as Idea Human Support Service), which operates the Idea Mental Training Individual School, will co-host the second "Japan National Soccer Team Mental No. 1 Championship" talk live event with the Japan Mental Trainer Association (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Kumiko Imura, hereinafter referred to as Japan Mental Trainer Association). The event will be held on July 24, 2026 (Fri), with former Japan National Soccer Team player Koji Morisaki serving as the head judge.

Background and Objectives

The Idea Mental Training Individual School, in collaboration with the Japan Mental Trainer Association, is holding the "Japan National Soccer Team Mental No. 1 Championship," where participants vote on X (formerly Twitter) for the player they believe has the strongest mentality.

https://x.com/MTAssociationJP

Based on the voting results, the head judge, a former Japan National Soccer Team player, will make the final determination of the "Mental No. 1" player over two sessions. The first session is scheduled for July 19, with Akihiro Endo as the judge.

The second session will be held on July 24, with Koji Morisaki, a former Japan National Soccer Team player who has announced his intention to obtain a mental trainer qualification and be involved in supporting athletes, serving as the head judge. During his playing career, Morisaki overcame depression multiple times and achieved three J.League championship titles. In today's society, often called a "stressful society," the ability to overcome difficulties and maintain an unbreakable mentality are highly valued. This second talk live event provides an opportunity to directly convey these important aspects to a wider audience through the lens of the Japan National Soccer Team's mentality, from Morisaki's unique perspective.

On July 24, an experience session of "IDEAR Neuro Training (Idea NT)," a program that combines a neuroscience-based approach to improve cognitive abilities with mental training, will be offered exclusively to attendees at the Shibuya venue. This program focuses on spatial awareness, an ability that Morisaki also emphasizes. Attendees will have the opportunity to directly challenge Morisaki in spatial awareness and experience mental training.

"Japan National Soccer Team Mental No. 1 Championship" Talk Live Event Overview

This event will be held in two parts, with two former Japan national team players serving as head judges, each announcing the player they believe has the strongest mentality. The talk live sessions with the head judges will further delve into the topic of mental strength.

Event Name:

Japan National Soccer Team Mental No. 1 Championship

First Session:

July 19, 2026 (Sun) 19:30-21:00 Head Judge: Akihiro Endo (Former Japan National Soccer Team Player)

Second Session:

July 24, 2026 (Fri) 19:30-21:00 Head Judge: Koji Morisaki (Former Japan National Soccer Team Player)

Format:

[Shibuya Venue] Kokorogoto Cafe, 1F, SANWA Aoyama Building, 2-9-9 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

[Online] Simultaneous streaming via Zoom

Participation Fee:

Regular Price: 11,000 yen → Special Price for Survey Respondents: 3,500 yen

Capacity:

Shibuya Venue: 30 people on a first-come, first-served basis

Organizers:

Japan Mental Trainer Association

Idea Mental Training Individual School

Application and Details:

https://www.idear.co.jp/mental-kobetsu/sports-2026-mental-championship-l/

Head Judge Profile

Koji Morisaki, Former Japan National Soccer Team Player

<Koji Morisaki>

Born May 9, 1981, in Aki Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Former professional soccer player (Position: Midfielder).

Graduated from Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth. Debuted in the J.League in 2000. Participated in the Athens Olympics with the U-23 Japan National Team in 2004. Played his entire career for Sanfrecce Hiroshima, contributing to three J1 League championships. Total J.League appearances: 335, Goals: 65. Retired from active play in October 2016.

During his playing career, he experienced depression multiple times but continued to return to the pitch. After retirement, he co-authored "Utsubyaku ~Sonna Jibun mo Suki ni Naru~" (TAC Publishing, 2019) with his twin brother Kazuyuki, which garnered attention.

He served as the first ambassador for Sanfrecce Hiroshima for approximately 10 years starting in 2017. Upon his retirement at the end of June 2026, he announced his intention to pursue a mental trainer qualification and support athletes, and is currently embarking on new endeavors.

About the Japan Mental Trainer Association

Japan Mental Trainer Association

The Japan Mental Trainer Association, founded in 2012 with the slogan "Mentality Evolves Through Training," primarily supports athletes. We aim to provide results-oriented support by helping more people utilize mental training in their daily lives to improve performance and achieve goals.

We utilize programs that have delivered results for many individuals, including top athletes such as Olympic and professional players, as well as businessmen and children. In the corporate sector, we offer programs to improve productivity and motivation. In education, we provide mental training for exams, club activities, and fostering resilience. In the arts, we enhance acting skills and prepare for auditions. Many companies, organizations, and individuals have adopted mental training.

Organization Name: General Incorporated Association Japan Mental Trainer Association

Representative Director: Kumiko Imura (Beijing Olympics Women's Long Jump Representative)

Location: 7F, SANWA Aoyama Building, 2-9-9 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

URL: https://mentaltrainer.or.jp/

About the Idea Mental Training Individual School

Idea Mental Training Individual School

Many children give up easily without being able to visualize success in their studies or sports. To cultivate the foundation for success, or "the will to live," in children with infinite potential through mental training, we opened the "Idea Mental Training Individual School." Based on the expertise in mental training that Idea Human Support Service has provided to many top athletes, including professional and Olympic athletes, we offer personalized programs.

We also have programs for adults, such as training for achieving business results and preparation for qualification exams.

We refer to the period when one cannot attend school as the "Step Phase®," a time for self-reflection and preparation for stepping into a new stage, spent positively.

Idea Mental Training Individual School, Aoyama Shibuya Main School

Location: 8F, SANWA Aoyama Building, 2-9-9 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Phone: 03-6450-6075

URL: https://www.idear.co.jp/mental-kobetsu/

About Idea Human Support Service Co., Ltd.

Idea Human Support Service

Idea Human Support Service Co., Ltd., with the philosophy of "Solving Social Issues Through Counseling and Mental Training," supports career changes for working adults as specialists in mental care. We have a broad network with doctors, therapists, psychological counselors, and mental trainers in the United States and introduce the latest overseas programs.

In the field of mental training, we have worked with a wide range of athletes, including those in soccer, golf, baseball, gymnastics, tennis, swimming, track and field, figure skating, and table tennis. These programs have been applied to prevent employee turnover and mental health issues in organizations, and many companies have adopted them since 2000. We also provide mental support to company executives and artists, and offer psychological care after disasters, incidents, and accidents, including post-Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and post-Great East Japan Earthquake care, and psychological care for Ukrainian refugees. In SNS consultations, in cooperation with the National Federation of Psychological Services (Zen-shin-ren), we have produced many SNS supervisors and SNS counselors for initiatives such as the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's Suicide Prevention Project, educational consultations, child abuse prevention consultations for children and parents, consultations for women, and disaster mental care.

Company Name: Idea Human Support Service Co., Ltd.

Representative: Mariko Ukiyo, President

Location: 9F, SANWA Aoyama Building, 2-9-9 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0002

URL: https://www.idear.co.jp/