Japan's World Cup soccer team paid a visit to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Thursday after being bounced from the tournament in Qatar.

The team missed out on a berth in the quarterfinals, losing to Croatia on penalties. It was the fourth time that the Samurai Blue had advanced to the round of 16.

But they enjoyed stunning wins over Germany and Spain in the group stage and their strong performance excited fans at home.

The squad presented a ball and a uniform to Kishida, who said he thought the performance of Japan's national team surprised the world. He also said it definitely showed courage and energized many fans in Japan.

Japan Coach Moriyasu Hajime and Kishida also exchanged notebooks. They share the same custom of keeping detailed notes.

Moriyasu shared the memo he'd written before the team's final match. It says, "Nothing is impossible for Japan."

Moriyasu said he really thought everyone on the team showed potential. He said he would be grateful if that inspires young people and the people of Japan to play an active role in the world.