Japan was already aware of Daichi Tani's (Korean name Kim Do-yun) potential.

Daichi Tani was substituted into the final group stage match of Group B against Australia in the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, held at the Taif Okaz Sports Club in Saudi Arabia, in the 33rd minute of the second half on the 11th (Korean time), and scored the first goal of the tournament with a left-footed shot in the 41st minute of the second half, eight minutes later.

The match ended in a 2-3 loss for Japan, but Japan advanced to the quarterfinals as the first place in Group B due to a better goal difference, securing a ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals.

Daichi was born to a Korean father (Kim Jung-min) and a Japanese mother, holding dual citizenship in Korea and Japan, and previously played in the youth team of FC Seoul in K League 1 (Osan Middle School), where he grew as a promising young player in Korean football under the name 'Kim Do-yun.'

He later went abroad to study at the youth team of Sagan Tosu in Japan and is currently active in the J League with Sagan Tosu U-18.

His move to Japan and selection for the Japanese national team have sparked much controversy and regret. Just a few years ago, he was a notable prospect in South Korea, and to see him scoring on the international stage while wearing the Japanese national team uniform came as a shock.

A regretful point is that the Japanese football community recognized Daichi Tani's potential back in October of last year.

On October 27 of last year, the Japanese football media outlet Soccer Digest described Daichi's performance, stating, "The aura he exudes, standing boldly in front of the goal and saying, 'Just give me the ball!' is that of a typical striker."

At that time, Soccer Digest noted, "Daichi, who shakes the net in various ways, is currently showing remarkable performance in the Japan U-16 national team," adding, "In the match against Nepal on the 23rd, he scored four goals and led the team to victory, and in the match against Mongolia on the 25th, he scored just three minutes after being substituted in. Daichi was born to a Korean father and a Japanese mother and played for the youth team of FC Seoul in Korea, and after going to study in Japan, he has been active in Sagan Tosu U-18."

According to reports at that time, Coach Hiroyama expressed expectations for Daichi, saying, "He is a special talent with different charms from other players." In fact, Daichi is evaluated not to lag behind international players at all, with his solid physique of 184 cm combined with consistent physical training. He has said he admires Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona and expressed his ambition to succeed on even bigger stages in the future.

Expectations surrounding Daichi have recently exploded. On the 11th, Soccer Digest covered Daichi's performance again, saying, "His father is Kim Jung-min, a singer who gained great popularity in Korea in the 1990s, and his mother is Japanese singer Rumikoda Tani. Daichi is a prospect with a unique background that carries the blood of both countries, and Korean media has also paid attention to his performance."

On the same day, another Japanese media outlet, Nikkan Sports, reported Daichi's interview, where he stated, "It was mentally tough for me to rest during the first two games, but I prepared with all my strength thinking it could be my last match." According to reports, he left a deep impression on the coach by successfully completing almost perfect header shots during the training the day before the match.

Regarding the goal scene, Daichi said, "The space was tight and the situation was tough, but I really stretched my leg with all my strength," while smiling.

Nikkan Sports noted, "Through this match, Daichi strongly acknowledged that he is still a necessary resource for the national team, and he declared his determination to focus solely on scoring goals in any situation going forward. This match will hold special meaning for Daichi Tani, who grew up in Korea yet wore the Japanese uniform."

Meanwhile, South Korea is currently facing a decreasing pool of football prospects due to low birth rates. In this context, cases like Daichi, who traverses the field with the Japanese flag instead of the Taegeukgi, serve as a painful warning to us. If he were to score a decisive goal against players wearing the Taegeuk mark in the future, it would leave a scar greater than just a single match. There is no guarantee that such incidents will not happen again.

Before it's too late, the youth football environment must be fundamentally improved. The current reality of relying excessively on high school competition results to determine progression is narrowing the options for talented players. If a structure is not created where players can achieve success growing domestically instead of overseas, departures like Daichi's will continue to happen. The current gap between Japan and South Korea is not merely an issue of skill; it is a result stemming from differences in systems and direction that need to be acknowledged.

[OSEN]