The event was held on the occasion of the visit to Vietnam by Mimasaka Mayor Hagiwara Seiji and aimed to boost football exchanges between Japan and Vietnam.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Kunio said the event was one of more than 100 activities held in 2018 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The Japanese government wants to intensify bilateral cooperation in football, he said, hoping that all players in the national team will achieve a target of winning the ticket to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Le Thi Hoang Yen, deputy head of the Vietnam Sports Administration under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said Japan has supported Vietnam in the field of sports through the programme “Sports for Tomorrow” to look towards the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The team’s coach Mai Duc Chung thanked the Japanese government and Mimasaka’s authorities for creating favourable conditions for the team to train in the city to prepare for ASIAD 2018 in Indonesia.

The ASIAD 2018 is expected to draw 15,000 athletes and coaches from 45 sport delegations competing in 40 sports, 67 disciplines and 463 events.

To be held in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2, the Games will feature 32 Olympic sports in a bid to help athletes prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics