Hajime Moriyasu, who was recently appointed coach of the men's national soccer team for the 2020 Tokyo Games, said Monday that fans can expect nothing less than his best efforts in his campaign to win Japan's first Olympic medal in 52 years.

"This is a heavy responsibility but I hope to devote myself body and soul to our preparations for the Olympics. I hope we'll be able to deliver results that will make everyone happy," Moriyasu said in a press conference.

"I'll do my best for us to win a medal," he said.

Japan Football Association President Kozo Tashima said, "It is a high pressure job but he (Moriyasu) is serious (about his work) and the most suitable person for the job. We will back him so he can deliver the best results at the Olympics."

JFA technical director Akira Nishino, who was the coach of the men's Olympic team that famously beat Brazil in a win dubbed as the "Miracle of Miami" at the 1996 Atlanta Games, said, "Coach Moriyasu has experience nurturing youngsters and has achieved results in the domestic league. We expect the team to win an Olympic medal."

The last time Japan won an Olympic medal in men's soccer was in 1968 in Mexico City, when the team managed by Ken Naganuma beat the hosts 2-0 for bronze.

Moriyasu, 49, won three J-League titles with Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2012, 2013 and 2015 but resigned in July this year as the club flirted with relegation.

The former Japan defender has a sterling reputation working with younger players, which is essential in coaching a side for the under-23 Olympic tournament.

At the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last year, Japan were eliminated in the first round under Makoto Teguramori, who is now an assistant to Vahid Halilhodzic on the senior national team and was also mentioned for the 2020 job before the JFA decided on Moriyasu.

Moriyasu's first duty at the helm will be an international tournament in Thailand in December. Japan will also compete in the Asian U-23 Championship in China in January next year.