The original documentary “Yuto Nagatomo | Because I Decided to Go, “ planned and produced jointly by Kenichi Gokatsude, Representative Director of Seikadai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter “Seikadai”) and Kohei Shiraishi, has become exclusively available on the sports channel “DAZN” from June 1st, 2026 (Monday).
■ Synopsis: The FIFA World Cup in Qatar captivated all of Japan. Nagatomo, who led his team and poured his heart and soul into the sport both on and off the pitch, had decided to retire after the tournament’s elimination, feeling a deep sense of loss. But why did this man rise again and decide to return to the pitch where a brutal battle for survival awaits him?
This film is a soulful documentary in which an indomitable man, who is challenging himself to make history by becoming the first Japanese footballer to participate in five consecutive FIFA World Cups, lays everything bare for DAZN’s cameras.
The program will premiere never-before-seen footage secretly filmed by those involved. It will reveal the unknown struggles, the battle against limits, and the “real Yuto Nagatomo” that has never been shown before.
Furthermore, the issue includes an exclusive long interview in which he speaks about his extraordinary feelings about this tournament. What does it mean to him as a professional soccer player, and to “carry the Japanese flag”? The interview delves deep into the thoughts of Nagatomo, who has decided to continue fighting.
■ Comment from Kenichi Gokatsude , Representative Director of Seikadai: “In order for SAMURAI BLUE (Japan national team) to win the FIFA World Cup by 2050, I believe it is necessary to document the life of Yuto Nagatomo, who is preparing for his fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, and share it widely.”
It was about five years ago, in the summer of 2021, before Seikadai was founded, that Kohei Shiraishi, the initiator of this project, reached out to me. I was leaving a startup and exploring my career options at the time, and I am still deeply grateful for this opportunity to take on such a challenge.
The documentary project started with nothing but the passion of Nagatomo and the project team as its spark, with no conclusion to the story, no budget, and no distribution platform decided. At the time, Nagatomo was a free agent after leaving Marseille and was in the midst of preparing for the final Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
As has already been reported, this project started with the possibility that Nagatomo might retire after the Qatar World Cup, but common sense and scripts were completely useless with Yuto Nagatomo. Filming for “Yuto Nagatomo | Because I Decided to Go” has gone beyond 2022 and reached a staggering 45 sessions in the five years leading up to today.
Over the past five years, thanks to the cooperation of so many people and after overcoming numerous challenges, I am truly delighted to be able to release this in the best possible form with DAZN. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who was involved in its production.
Having overcome countless adversities and repeatedly defied conventional wisdom, Nagatomo has consistently embodied the spirit of putting his words into action. What kind of spectacle will he show the world on his fifth “dream stage”? There is no doubt that he will once again leave a huge impact on the world in a way that far exceeds our imagination.
Through this project, I was touched by Nagatomo’s spirit, and my life has taken a dramatic turn. I hope that this work, “Yuto Nagatomo | Because I Decided to Go,” will give not only soccer fans but also everyone who continues to challenge themselves the strength to believe in themselves and move forward. And through this work, I hope that dreams and hopes will be ignited in the children and young generations who will bear the future of Japanese soccer.
■ Comment from Yuto Nagatomo: “I feel that everything I’ve experienced and all the obstacles I’ve overcome throughout my career have led me to this World Cup. How you perceive events changes your future. That’s why I’ve always kept moving forward. In this film, I’m showing you without reservation what I do every day and what kind of determination I have when I face soccer. The current Japanese national team is truly full of amazing players. We want to stand on the World Cup stage once again and aim for victory. I hope you can feel the spirit of Yuto Nagatomo through this film. Please watch it.”
■ “Yuto Nagatomo | Because I Decided to Go.” Streaming Overview /Title: “Yuto Nagatomo | Because I Decided to Go.”
• Release date: Scheduled to begin streaming on Monday, June 1, 2026 • Streaming platform: DAZN (exclusive streaming)
■ Staff List
■ Finally, “Let’s light up society with ‘Seika’ (a term referring to a stellar or ‘successful’ attitude).”
Seikadai will continue its challenge to become a standard-bearer that illuminates the world, centered on sports, from Japan.
Please feel free to contact us using the information below for project consultations, media inquiries, or any other questions.
