Kotaro Honda

International career

Between 2021 and 2023, Honda was called up to Japan's under-15, under-16 and under-17 sides. He was called up to the under-17 team for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup alongside Bellmare teammate Keita Kosugi. In Japan's opening 1–0 win against Poland, Honda was critical of his own performance, despite Japan keeping a clean sheet, stating that the team had been tense and that he "definitely want[ed] to improve." He expressed his disappointment at Japan not being able to progress past the round of 16, saying that Japan had been "shown the difference" by Spain forward Marc Guiu, whose goal in Spain's 2–1 win knocked Japan out of the competition.