What’s in Hajime Moriyasu’s notebook? According to football fans on social media, it might just be a Death Note.
Japan’s dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup 2026 sparked one of the tournament’s most unusual online trends, with supporters reviving the long-running Death Note meme associated with the Japan coach. As Daichi Kamada’s late equaliser completed a spirited comeback, social media platforms quickly filled with posts joking that Moriyasu had once again used his mysterious notebook to alter the course of a football match.
The joke emerged after Japan recovered from behind twice to snatch a point against one of the favourites in Group F. Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville had both put the Netherlands ahead, but Japan refused to give up, eventually finding an equaliser through Kamada in the closing minutes.
The comeback itself was impressive. The online reaction that followed was equally fascinating.
Fans shared images of Moriyasu carrying notebooks on the touchline and jokingly claimed he had already written the names of Dutch players inside them. Others suggested the manager had once again unleashed the power of the Death Note after a series of substitutions transformed the game in Japan’s favour.
For many readers, however, the obvious question remains: what exactly is the Death Note?
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WHAT IS DEATH NOTE?
Death Note is one of Japan’s most famous manga and anime franchises. Created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata, the story follows a brilliant student named Light Yagami who discovers a supernatural notebook dropped into the human world by a death god known as a Shinigami.
The notebook possesses extraordinary powers. Anyone whose name is written inside it will die, provided the writer knows their face. As Light begins using the notebook to punish criminals and reshape society, he becomes locked in a psychological battle with authorities attempting to uncover his identity.
The series became a global phenomenon and remains one of the most recognisable anime properties in the world.
Football fans have since adapted the concept into a joke involving Moriyasu.
WHY FANS LINK IT TO MORIYASU
The meme centres on the Japan coach’s reputation for making game-changing decisions during major tournaments.
Moriyasu has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to alter tactics, trust substitutes and make bold calls when matches appear to be slipping away. Over time, supporters began joking that his tactical notebook contains secret instructions capable of changing football matches.
The meme gained traction during previous World Cups and returned once again after Sunday’s dramatic comeback.
Against the Netherlands, Moriyasu refused to settle for defeat despite trailing twice. Instead, he introduced attacking players and encouraged his side to keep pressing forward.
The tactical gamble paid off.
Japan gradually seized momentum as the Dutch retreated deeper into their own half. The pressure eventually produced an equaliser in the 88th minute, triggering celebrations on the pitch and a fresh wave of Death Note references online.
SOCIAL MEDIA LOVES IT
While the joke is rooted in anime culture, it reflects genuine admiration for Moriyasu’s coaching ability.
Supporters view the Death Note meme as a humorous way of recognising a manager who consistently seems to find solutions in difficult situations. Whenever Japan produce a comeback or upset a stronger opponent, the notebook inevitably returns to the conversation.
Following the Netherlands draw, social media once again credited Moriyasu’s touchline decisions for changing the outcome of the match.
Of course, there is no supernatural notebook. There is only a coach with a reputation for making the right call at the right moment.
But after another dramatic Japan comeback on the World Cup stage, many fans were not interested in practical explanations.
They were far more interested in what might be written inside that notebook.
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