Japan’s coach at the 2018 FIFA World Cup was Akira Nishino.

Quick answer

  • The manager who led Japan at the 2018 World Cup in Russia was Akira Nishino, who took over shortly before the tournament and guided the team to the round of 16.

Extra context

  • Nishino was appointed just about two months before the World Cup, replacing Vahid Halilhodžić after qualifying had already been secured.
  • Under Nishino, Japan advanced from a group with Colombia, Senegal, and Poland, and then played a famous 3–2 loss to Belgium after leading 2–0 in the round of 16.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.