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Japan national football team

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The Template:Nihongo, also known by the nickname Template:Nihongo,<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> represents Japan in men's international football. It is controlled by the Japan Football Association (JFA), the governing body for football in Japan.

Prior to the late 1980s, Japan's national football team was largely amateur, with the sport less popular domestically than baseball or sumo.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since the early 1990s, following the full professionalization of the sport, Japan has emerged as one of Asia's leading teams. The national team has qualified for every FIFA World Cup since 1998 (including an automatic berth as co-hosts of the 2002 tournament alongside South Korea), advancing to the knockout stage in 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022. Japan has also won a record four Asian Cup titles, in 1992, 2000, 2004, and 2011. In addition, the team finished as runners-up in both the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2019 Asian Cup. Japan is one of only three teams from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to have reached the final of a senior FIFA men's competition, alongside Australia and Saudi Arabia.

Japan's progression in a short period has served as an inspiration and example of how to develop football.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Their principal continental rivals are South Korea and, most recently, Australia; they also developed rivalries against Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Japan was the first team from outside the Americas to participate in the Copa América, having been invited in the 1999, 2011, 2015, and 2019 editions of the tournament, although they only played in the 1999 and 2019 events.<ref name="goal.com">Japan Invited To Copa America 2011 Along With Mexico Template:Webarchive Goal.com 2 June 2009</ref>

As of October 2024, Japan is the highest-ranked AFC team at 15th, and has been since December 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HistoryEdit

1910s–1930s: Pre-war eraEdit

File:Far Eastern Championship Games logo.png
Far Eastern Championship Games logo in 1917

Japan's earliest international matches were at the 1917 Far Eastern Championship Games in Tokyo, where it was represented by a team from the Tokyo Higher Normal School. Although Japan made strong showings in swimming, baseball, and track and field, its football team suffered resounding defeats to the Republic of China and the Philippines.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Nevertheless, the game was promoted in Japanese schools in the 1920s.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> The Japan Football Association was formed in 1921,<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Japan joined FIFA in May 1929.<ref name=":0" /> However, Japan refused to participate in the 1930 FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Japan's first "true" national team (as opposed to a university team chosen to represent the country) was fielded at the 1930 Far Eastern Championship Games, and drew with China for the championship title.<ref name=":0" /> Shigeyoshi Suzuki coached the national team to its first Olympic appearance at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.<ref name=":1" /> Japan was an entrant for 1938 World Cup qualifying, but withdrew before its scheduled qualifying match against the Dutch East Indies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After World War II began, Japan did not play in international competition, except for a handful of matches against Manchuria and other colonies.<ref name=":0" /> Its last prewar match for purposes of Elo ratings was a friendly against the Philippines in June 1940.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> While Korea was under Japanese rule, multiple Koreans played in international competition for Japan, including Kim Yong-sik (1936–40), Kim Sung-gan (1940) and Lee Yoo-hyung (1940).

1950s–1980s: Post-war eraEdit

File:Racingcba-PresidentCup1981.png
Japan playing Argentine club Racing de Córdoba at the 1981 President's Cup

Japan's postwar debut was in the 1951 Asian Games in India.<ref name=":2" /> Japan re-joined FIFA in 1950 and played in qualifiers for the 1954 World Cup, but lost the AFC qualifying berth to South Korea after two matches.<ref name=":1" /> Japan also joined the Asian Football Confederation in 1954.<ref name=":0" />

Dettmar Cramer joined the Japan national team as coach in 1960, and helped lead the team to the round of eight at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Japan's first major achievement in international football came in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, where the team won the bronze medal. Although this result earned the sport increased recognition in Japan, the absence of a professional domestic league hindered its growth and Japan would not qualify for the World Cup until 30 years later.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nonetheless, Japan were close to qualifying for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, but lost to South Korea in the deciding matches.

Japan made its first appearance in the Asian Cup in 1988, where they were eliminated in the group stage following a draw with Iran and losses to South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The late 1980s saw concrete moves to professionalize the sport in Japan. JFA introduced a Special Licensed Player system in 1986, allowing a limited number of professional players to compete in the domestic semi-professional league. Action committees were held in 1988 and 1989 to discuss the introduction of a full professional league in Japan.<ref name=":3" />

1990s: RiseEdit

File:98France 14juin.JPG
The 1998 World Cup match vs. Argentina in Toulouse, France

In the 1990s, the Japan Football Association began the professionalization of its national football team. In 1991, the owners of the semi-professional Japan Soccer League agreed to disband the league and re-form as the professional J.League, partly to raise the sport's profile and to strengthen the national team program. The following year, Japan hosted the 1992 Asian Cup and won their first title by defeating Saudi Arabia 1–0 in the final.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The J.League was officially launched in 1993.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

However, in its first attempt to qualify with professional players, Japan narrowly missed a ticket to the 1994 World Cup after drawing with Iraq in the final match of the qualification round, remembered by fans as the "Agony of Doha".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Japan's next tournament was a defence of their continental title at the 1996 Asian Cup. The team won all their games in the group stage but were eliminated in the quarter-finals after a 2–0 loss to Kuwait.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The nation's first ever World Cup appearance was in 1998, where Japan lost all their games. The first two fixtures went 1–0 in favour of Argentina and Croatia, and the campaign ended with a 2–1 defeat to Jamaica. Japan impressed, however, as all three defeats were only by a one goal margin.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2000s: Two Asian Cup titles, World Cup co-hostsEdit

In the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, Japan managed to reclaim their title after defeating Saudi Arabia in the final, becoming Asian champions for the second time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Saitama 2002 0604.jpg
The 2002 World Cup match vs. Belgium at Saitama Stadium 2002 on 4 June

Two years later, Japan co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea. After a 2–2 draw with Belgium in their opening match, the Japanese team advanced to the second round with a 1–0 win over Russia and a 2–0 victory against Tunisia. However, they subsequently exited the tournament during the round of 16, after losing 1–0 to eventual third-place finishers Turkey in extra time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

With the 2004 Asian Cup hosted by China, the Japanese managed to retain the title by winning their group after two victories over Thailand and Oman, before achieving victories against Jordan and Bahrain. They defeated the hosts in the final 3–1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:WM2006 BRA-JPN2.JPG
Japan against Brazil at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany in the 2006 World Cup

On 8 June 2005, Japan qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, its third consecutive World Cup, by beating North Korea 2–0 on neutral ground. However, Japan failed to advance to the round of 16, losing to future AFC rival Australia 3–1, drawing Croatia 0–0 and falling to Brazil 4–1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup saw Japan fail to defend its title. Although easily winning the group over Vietnam, Qatar and the UAE, the Japanese were totally exhausted in their game against Australia, where Japan won only by a penalty shootout. Japan lost to Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before failing in the third-place match against South Korea.

2010sEdit

File:Keisuke Honda 2018 (cropped) (cropped).jpg
Keisuke Honda was one of Japan's most successful national team players of the 2010s, playing in three World Cups and winning the MVP at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

During the 2010 World Cup qualification, in the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers, Japan became the first team other than the host South Africa to qualify after defeating Uzbekistan 1–0 away. Japan was drawn in Group E along with the Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Japan started with a 1–0 win against Cameroon,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> before subsequently losing to the Netherlands 1–0.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Then, Japan resoundingly beat Denmark 3–1 to advance to the next round against Paraguay.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the round of 16, Japan were eliminated from the competition following penalties after a 0–0 draw against Paraguay.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After the World Cup, head coach Takeshi Okada resigned. He was replaced by former Juventus and Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni. In his first few matches, Japan recorded victories over Guatemala (2–1) and Paraguay (1–0), as well as a 1–0 victory over Argentina.

Japan participated in the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar. On 29 January, they beat Australia 1–0 in the final after extra time, their fourth Asian Cup triumph and allowing them to qualify for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The country then started their road to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Throughout, they suffered only two losses to Uzbekistan and Jordan, and drew against Australia. After a 1–1 draw with Australia, they qualified for the 2014 World Cup, becoming the first nation aside from the hosts to qualify.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Japan started their 2013 Confederations Cup campaign with a 3–0 loss to Brazil.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They were then eliminated from the competition after losing to Italy 4–3.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They lost their final match 1–2 against Mexico and finished in fourth place in Group A.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> One month later, in the EAFF East Asian Cup, they started out with a 3–3 draw to China. They then beat Australia 3–2 and beat South Korea 2–1 in the third and final match in the tournament to claim the title.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Japan was placed into Group C at the 2014 World Cup alongside the Ivory Coast, Greece and Colombia. They fell in their first match to Ivory Coast 2–1 after initially taking the lead, allowing two goals in a two-minute span. They drew their second game to Greece 0–0. To qualify for the second round, they needed a victory against Colombia and Greece to win against Ivory Coast. Greece beat Ivory Coast 2–1, but Colombia won 4–1, eliminating Japan from the World Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alberto Zaccheroni resigned as head coach.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In July 2014, former Mexico and Espanyol manager Javier Aguirre took over,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Japan lost 0–2 to Uruguay in the first game he managed.

Japan won its opening match at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Group D against Asian Cup debutantes Palestine 4–0, with goals from Yasuhito Endō, Shinji Okazaki, Keisuke Honda and Maya Yoshida. Okazaki was named man of the match. They then faced Iraq and Jordan in their next group matches, which they won 1–0 and 2–0 respectively. They qualified to the knockout stage as Group D winners with nine points, seven goals scored and no goals conceded. In the quarter-finals, Japan lost to the UAE in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw, as Honda and Shinji Kagawa missed their penalty kicks. Japan's elimination marked their worst performance in the tournament in 19 years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After the Asian Cup, Aguirre was sacked following allegations of corruption during a prior tenure.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was replaced by Vahid Halilhodžić in March 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Japan started on a rough note during qualification, losing to the UAE 1–2 at home.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They then picked up the pace in their other qualifier games against Iraq, Australia, and Thailand, picking up five wins and two draws. On 31 August 2017, Japan defeated Australia 2–0 at home, thus qualifying them for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, making it their sixth successive World Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the Japan Football Association decided to sack Halilhodžić on 9 April 2018, only ten weeks before the World Cup, citing reasons of a breakdown in relationship between the coach and players, and poor recent friendly results, and appoint the Technical Director, Japanese coach Akira Nishino as the new manager.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:IRN-JPN 20190128 03.jpg
Japan before their match against Iran at the 2019 Asian Cup

Japan made history in the 2018 World Cup by defeating Colombia 2–1, their first ever victory by any AFC team against a CONMEBOL team in an official tournament,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> as well as Japan's first ever victory at the World Cup finals in UEFA nations. Their second match against Senegal ended in a draw with goals from Takashi Inui and Keisuke Honda.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Japan were defeated in their last group game in the Group H against Poland 1–0,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> leaving Japan and Senegal tied for second with an identical record; however, as Japan had received two fewer yellow cards, Japan advanced to the knockout stage on the Fair Play Points tiebreaker, the first team to do so.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The match with Poland caused controversy, as Japan were made aware of their advantage over Senegal with ten minutes left and decided to play an extremely conservative game with no attempts to take a shot on goal, despite losing 1–0, with some fans booing the players.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The match received comparison to the 1982 World Cup Disgrace of Gijón, in which a similar game was played.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Japan were the only AFC team to have qualified to the knockout stage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the round of 16 against Belgium, Japan took a 2–0 lead with a goal in the 48th minute by Genki Haraguchi and another in the 52nd by Takashi Inui, but yielded three goals afterwards, including the winner by Nacer Chadli on the counterattack in the 94th minute. The defeat to Belgium was the first time a nation had lost a knockout match at the World Cup after taking a two-goal advantage since England lost to West Germany 3–2 in extra-time in the quarter-final of the 1970 edition.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite losing a 2–0 lead, Japan's impressive performance was praised by fans, pundits and the media.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Japan participated in the 2019 Asian Cup, finishing on top of group F after defeating Turkmenistan 3–2,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Oman 1–0<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Uzbekistan 2–1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Japan defeated Saudi Arabia in the round of sixteen and dark horse Vietnam in the quarter-finals by a 1–0 margin.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After defeating Iran 3–0 to reach the final,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Japan's hope to win their fifth Asian Cup was lost with the team suffering a 3–1 defeat to Qatar, who won the Asian Cup for the first time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Japan were invited to the 2019 Copa America, their second appearance at the tournament, and brought a young squad to the competition. They were placed in Group C with Uruguay, Chile and Ecuador. The nation lost their opening match 4–0 to Chile,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before bouncing back and drawing against Uruguay 2–2.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Japan needed a win against Ecuador to qualify for the knockouts, however they drew 1–1 and missed out due to inferior goal difference to Paraguay.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Aftermath saw Japan played a friendly game against the Paraguayans, and won 2–0 at home.

2020sEdit

After China was removed as host of the 2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship, it was announced that Japan was the new host. After topping the table with two wins and one draw, Japan won the competition for the second time in their history.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Japan qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and were drawn into Group E with Germany, Costa Rica and Spain. On 23 November, Japan produced an upset, beating Germany 2–1, with two goals in an eight-minute span during the second half.<ref name=":45">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After losing to Costa Rica 1–0,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> going into the final matchday, every team in Group E could qualify or be eliminated, with no team assured of any placement. In the end, Japan managed to qualify for the round of 16 by defeating Spain 2–1 in their final group stage match, while also contributing to Germany's elimination from the tournament.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By topping their group, Japan went on to face Croatia<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in the round of 16 where they would lose 3–1 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was the third team in 52 years to have come from behind twice in one tournament, following Brazil and (West) Germany.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They beat Spain with the lowest possession (18%) of the ball ever for a winning side since the 1966 World Cup.<ref name="OptaJoe">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It also was the first time that an Asian team topped their World Cup group held outside their home country, and also the first Asian team to reach the knockouts twice in a row.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Japan were considered the favourites for the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but disappointed; Hajime Moriyasu's men began the tournament with an unconvincing victory over a Vietnamese side deprived of a number of key players (4–2),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before going on to play a nightmarish game against Iraq (a 2–1 loss). This defeat, Japan's first in the group stage since their first appearance in 1988, condemned them to finish second in the group due to their unfavourable head-to-head record. The Japanese sealed three points after overcoming Indonesia 3–1<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and then eliminated Bahrain by the same scoreline in the round of 16.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Japan met Iran in the quarter-finals for a rematch of the previous edition's semi-final, and got the game off to a perfect start with Hidemasa Morita's 28th-minute opener, before falling completely flat in the second half, succumbing to Iran's fiery attacks, 2–1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The country suffered two defeats at the Asian Cup for the first time since their debut in 1988, while conceding at least one goal in every match.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The squad also had to contend with an extra controversy, with the sudden departure of Junya Itō shortly before the match against Iran, due to the Stade de Reims player having been accused of sexual assault.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 20 March 2025, a 2–0 win against Bahrain saw Japan become the first non-host nation to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Team imageEdit

NicknamesEdit

Japan's national football team is nicknamed the Template:Nihongo by the JFA.<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":5"/> The team also is often known by the last name of the manager. For example, under Takeshi Okada, the team was known as Template:Nihongo,Template:Efn or during the 2022 World Cup, the team is referred by the current manager's (Hajime Moriyasu) name, as Template:Nihongo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

KitsEdit

Template:Sister project

File:JAL JA8979 Boeing 777-289 Samurai Blue Jet 2018 No.1 (Starboard) at Haneda.jpg
Boeing 777-289 Samurai Blue Jet

The national team kit design has gone through several alterations in the past.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the early 1980s, the kit was white with blue trim. The kits worn for the 1992 Asian Cup consisted of white stripes (stylized to form a wing) with red diamonds. During the 1996 Asian Cup and the 1998 World Cup, the national team kits were blue jerseys with red and white flame designs on the sleeves, and were designed by JFA (with the sponsor alternating each year between Asics, Puma, and Adidas). The 1996 design was reproduced in a special kit used against Syria on 7 June 2017.

Japan uses blue and white rather than red and white due to a superstition. Japan first used blue shirts in the 1930 Far Eastern Championship Games, where a team of the Tokyo Imperial University (whose color is light blue) represented Japan wearing light blue shirts,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and then in a match against Sweden in the 1936 Summer Olympics.<ref name="The Wichita Eagle">Template:Cite journal</ref> Between 1988 and 1992, the kits were red and white, matching the colours of Japan's national flag. After failing to qualify for the 1990 World Cup and 1992 Summer Olympics, the red shirt was scrapped.

In the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2015 Asian Cup, Japan temporarily switched the colour of the numbers from white to gold.

Japan's kit is provided by German company Adidas, the team's exclusive kit supplier since April 1999.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Before that, Asics and Puma had been the team's official apparel sponsor.

On 3 June 2021, Japan released the special 100th anniversary kit for a friendly match against Jamaica, but the match was cancelled and replaced with a match against the U-24 team. The kit was also used by the U-24 team against U-24 Ghana on 5 June 2021.

Kit suppliersEdit

Kit provider Period
None 1936–1978
Template:Flagicon Asics 1979
Template:Flagicon Puma 1980–1985
Template:Flagicon Adidas 1986
Template:Flagicon Asics 1987–1988
Template:Flagicon Adidas 1989–1992
Template:Flagicon Asics 1993–1998
Template:Flagicon Adidas 1999–present

CrestEdit

File:Yatagarasu A.jpg
Yatagarasu

The crest or emblem of the national team was adopted in late 2017 as part of a larger rebranding by the Japan Football Association.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The crest features the Yatagarasu, a three-legged crow from Japanese mythology that is a symbol for the sun, holding a solid red ball that is like the sun from national flag. The text "JFA" (for the Japan Football Association) is inscribed at the bottom of the crow. A red stripe is also present at the center of the shield behind the crow. The shield has a metallic gold trim and has a thicker black outline. The name of the country represented by the national team "Japan" is also inscribed within the black border.<ref name=soccer365>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The previous crest used from 1996 had a shield with a more complex shape. The ball held by the Yatagarasu had white details. The text "Japan" is absent and "JFA" is written in a different typeface.<ref name=soccer365/>

Before 1988, Japan used the national flag outlined in red (and with JFA written in black on the lower left corner of the flag) on the shirts.

The Yatagarasu was first seen on the Japan shirts in 1988, where it was on a yellow circle with a blue outline with "JAPAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION" written around it. In 1991, the emblem changed to a white shield with a red vertical stripe on the center with the crow on it and "JFA" written in a green Gothic typeface. This crest was used until 1996.

Home stadiumEdit

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File:Saitama stadium.png
Saitama Stadium 2002, where Japan usually plays in FIFA World Cup qualification

Japan plays its home matches among various stadiums, in rotation, around the country, especially the Saitama Stadium 2002.

RivalriesEdit

South KoreaEdit

Template:Cite section {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Japan maintains a strong football rivalry with South Korea. Japan have met South Korea 80 times, trailing the statistic at 16 wins, 23 draws, and 42 losses, while scoring 73 goals and conceding 124. Since November 1991, when the Japan Professional Football League was launched, the record is almost even with 9 wins, 12 draws and 10 losses.<ref name="KFA alltimerecord">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Both countries have made themselves unrivalled in both Asian Cup and World Cup records, being two of the most successful Asian football teams, and they hosted the 2002 World Cup in a joint bid.

North KoreaEdit

Japan maintains a rivalry with North Korea, although the rivalry is infrequent due to political circumstances.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Japan have met North Korea 22 times, with a record of 10 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ChinaEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Previously, when Japan had not established professional football, Japan had only 4 wins, 3 draws and 13 losses against China. However, Japan's establishment of professional football helped turn the tide, and the Japanese have been able to exert domination with 15 wins, 6 draws and just 2 losses. China has not beaten Japan since March 1998, and lost to them 3–1 in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup final.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

AustraliaEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Japan began to develop a fierce rivalry with fellow Asian powerhouse Australia, shortly after the latter joined the Asian Football Confederation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The rivalry is regarded as one of Asia's biggest football rivalries.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The rivalry is a relatively recent one, born from a number of highly competitive matches between the two teams since Australia joined the AFC in 2006.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The rivalry began at the 2006 World Cup where the two countries were grouped together, and continued with the two countries meeting regularly in various AFC competitions, such as the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, the 2011 AFC Asian Cup Final and the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup.Template:CN

Japan have met Australia 27 times, with a record of 11 wins, 10 draws and 6 losses.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Saudi ArabiaEdit

Japan and Saudi Arabia are two of the most historically successful national teams in Asia and have frequently met each other in many major tournaments, including in the Asian Cup and World Cup qualification.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The frequency is also rivalled by high-level performances of Japan and Saudi Arabia in the Asian and global football stage, as they are two of the three AFC members (alongside Australia) to reach the final of any senior FIFA competition. Both countries also gained headlines for producing "unexpected" wins in the 2022 World Cup, with Japan earning wins against Germany and Spain and Saudi Arabia against eventual champions Argentina in the group stage. These wins over World Cup-winning oppositions have allowed comparisons of developments between Japan and Saudi Arabia to emerge.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the head-to-head record, Japan have an advantage over the Saudis with 12 wins, 2 draws and 6 losses.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

IranEdit

Template:Cite section Japan and Iran have a combined seven Asian Cup titles, with a rivalry developing in the 1990s due to the famous Template:Nihongo that gave Japan a ticket to their first World Cup defeating the Persians by 3–2 in a neutral Asian play-off hosted in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

More recently, the two countries met in the 2019 and 2023 Asian Cups. The Samurai Blue defeated Team Melli 3–0 in the semifinals of the 2019 edition. The Iranians got revenge four years later eliminating Japan 2–1 in the quarter-finals.

Japan have met Iran 19 times, with a record of 6 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

SupportersEdit

File:Japan national football team fans with rising sun flag.JPG
Fans waving national flags in support of the Japanese national team

Japanese national team supporters are known for chanting "Nippon Ole" (Nippon is the Japanese word for Japan) at home matches.<ref>Chant of Japan National Team "Nippon Ole" Template:Webarchive YT</ref>

SponsorshipEdit

Japan has one of the highest sponsorship incomes for a national squad. In 2006 their sponsorship income amounted to over 16.5 million pounds.Template:Cn

Primary sponsors include Adidas, ANA, Kirin, Saison Card International, FamilyMart, JAL, MS&AD Insurance Group, Asahi Shinbun, Mizuho Financial, Daito Trust Construction and KDDI.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

MascotEdit

The mascots are "Karappe" ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) and "Karara" ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), two Yatagarasu wearing the Japan national football team kit. The mascots were designed by Japanese manga artist Susumu Matsushita. Each year when a new kit is launched, the mascots' uniforms are updated in order to match the kit being used by the team.

For the 2014 World Cup, the Pokémon character Pikachu served as the mascot.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Results and fixturesEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2

2024Edit

Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible

2025Edit

Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Footballbox collapsible Template:Footballbox collapsible Template:Footballbox collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible Template:Football box collapsible


2026Edit

Template:Football box collapsible

Head-to-head recordEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

The following table shows Japan's all-time international record, correct as of 25 March 2025.<ref name="ELO">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Opponent From To Pld W D L GF GA GD
Template:Fb 1951 2015 3 3 0 0 13 0 +13
Template:Fb 2005 2005 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
Template:Fb 1964 2010 8 1 0 7 4 16 −12
Template:Fb 1956 2024 28 11 10 6 40 31 +9
Template:Fb 2007 2007 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Template:Fb 2012 2012 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
Template:Fb 1978 2025 14 11 1 2 28 11 +17
Template:Fb 1975 1993 5 5 0 0 22 1 +21
Template:Fb 2013 2013 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
Template:Fb 1999 2018 6 2 2 2 11 8 +3
Template:Fb 1999 2019 4 2 1 1 5 2 +3
Template:Fb 2006 2016 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2
Template:Fb 1968 2022 13 0 2 11 5 35 −30
Template:Fb 1980 2000 4 4 0 0 29 1 +28
Template:Fb 1976 2016 6 1 1 4 10 13 −3
Template:Fb 1964 2015 4 4 0 0 10 0 +10
Template:Fb 2001 2020 6 3 3 0 5 0 +5
Template:Fb 2001 2023 4 3 0 1 10 4 +6
Template:Fb 2008 2019 3 1 1 1 4 4 0
Template:Fb 1917 2024 36 18 8 10 56 42 +14
Template:Fb 1963 1983 7 6 0 1 24 7 +17
Template:Fb 2003 2023 6 1 1 4 4 9 −5
Template:Fb 1995 2022 5 3 1 1 10 3 +7
Template:Fb 1997 2022 4 1 2 1 5 5 0
Template:Fb 2014 2014 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
Template:Fb 1998 2011 3 1 2 0 1 0 +1
Template:Fb 1971 2010 2 1 0 1 5 4 +1
Template:Fb 1995 2022 4 2 2 0 5 1 +4
Template:Fb 1998 2007 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4
Template:Fb 2019 2023 2 2 0 0 8 0 +8
Template:Fb 1995 2010 3 0 1 2 3 5 −2
Template:Fb 2006 2009 2 2 0 0 7 1 +6
Template:Fb 1968 2012 6 1 1 4 5 14 −9
Template:Fb 2004 2023 4 2 1 1 8 7 +1
Template:Fb 1994 2022 7 5 0 2 16 9 +5
Template:Fb 2005 2014 2 1 1 0 1 0 +1
Template:Fb 2010 2013 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4
Template:Fb 2017 2017 1 0 1 0 3 3 0
Template:Fb 2002 2014 3 2 1 0 14 7 +7
Template:Fb 1958 2022 27 16 6 5 59 17 +42
Template:Fb 1993 2004 2 0 0 2 2 4 −2
Template:Fb 1971 2012 4 3 0 1 9 4 +5
Template:Fb 1954 2006 12 11 1 6 41 19 +22
Template:Fb 1954 2024 17 10 2 5 40 24 +16
Template:Fb 1951 2024 19 6 6 7 22 21 +1
Template:Fb 1978 2024 13 7 3 3 19 10 +9
Template:Fb 1973 1977 5 0 0 5 1 10 −9
Template:Fb 2001 2013 2 0 1 1 4 5 −1
Template:Fb 1993 2020 5 3 0 2 4 4 0
Template:Fb 1998 2014 4 2 1 1 7 3 +4
Template:Fb 1988 2015 6 3 2 1 12 4 +8
Template:Fb 1997 2005 3 2 1 0 10 2 +8
Template:Fb 1978 1998 5 1 0 4 2 8 −6
Template:Fb 2018 2021 3 3 0 0 11 1 +10
Template:Fb 2005 2013 2 1 1 0 5 2 +3
Template:Fb 1980 2000 5 5 0 0 45 0 +45
Template:Fb 1958 2004 35 13 11 11 56 55 +1
Template:Fb 2018 2018 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
Template:Fb 2006 2006 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
Template:Fb 1996 2020 5 1 0 4 5 9 −4
Template:Fb 1942 2021 5 5 0 0 71 0 +71
Template:Fb 2007 2007 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
Template:Fb 1994 2024 5 5 0 0 27 0 +27
Template:Fb 1986 1998 4 4 0 0 19 0 +19
Template:Fb 2009 2013 3 0 1 2 2 6 −4
Template:Fb 1981 2017 4 3 0 1 9 4 +5
Template:Fb 1995 2003 2 1 0 1 3 3 0
Template:Fb 1975 2024 22 10 4 8 23 16 +7
Template:Fb 2002 2002 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3
Template:Fb 1988 2021 14 10 3 1 21 5 +16
Template:Fb 1960 1988 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1
Template:Fb 2015 2015 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4
Template:Fb 2018 2020 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4
Template:Fb 1995 2022 12 5 4 2 15 10 +5
Template:Fb 1999 2023 6 2 2 2 8 5 +3
Template:Fb 1917 1974 13 8 0 5 33 33 0
Template:Fb 1996 2018 3 2 0 1 7 1 +6
Template:Fb 1982 2019 10 3 4 3 12 13 −1
Template:Fb 1974 2003 6 1 2 3 6 13 −7
Template:Fb 1995 2002 2 2 0 0 4 2 +2
Template:Fb 1982 2025 19 12 2 6 29 17 +12
Template:Fb 1995 2009 3 1 2 0 2 0 +2
Template:Fb 1987 2018 4 0 2 2 4 7 −3
Template:Fb 2010 2021 3 1 0 2 1 5 −4
Template:Fb 1959 2015 28 23 2 3 67 21 +46
Template:Fb 2000 2004 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3
Template:Fb 2001 2022 2 1 0 1 2 2 0
Template:Fb 2009 2009 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Template:Fb 1954 2022 81 16 23 42 76 124 −48
Template:Fb 1972 1993 3 3 0 0 16 0 +16
Template:Fb 1936 2002 5 1 3 1 7 7 0
Template:Fb 1993 2018 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1
Template:Fb 1978 2024 13 11 2 0 37 9 +28
Template:Fb 2011 2021 4 4 0 0 19 1 +18
Template:Fb 1960 2024 28 19 6 3 70 23 +47
Template:Fb 2009 2009 1 1 0 0 5 0 +5
Template:Fb 2006 2019 2 1 1 0 2 0 +2
Template:Fb 1996 2023 6 5 0 1 8 3 +5
Template:Fb 1997 2023 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2
Template:Fb 2019 2019 1 1 0 0 3 2 +1
Template:Fb 2002 2018 3 1 0 2 2 3 −1
Template:Fb 1981 2017 20 6 9 5 22 18 +4
Template:Fb 1993 2022 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3
Template:Fb 1985 2023 9 2 3 4 18 24 −6
Template:Fb 1996 2019 11 7 3 1 30 10 +20
Template:Fb 2010 2019 5 1 3 1 6 6 0
Template:Fb 2007 2024 6 5 1 0 12 4 +8
Template:Fb 1992 1992 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
Template:Fb 2006 2010 4 4 0 0 8 3 +5
Template:Fb 2014 2014 1 1 0 0 4 3 +1
Total (110 Countries) 1917 2025 813 388 166 249 1,438 952 +486

Coaching staffEdit

Current staffEdit

Template:See also Template:Updated

File:Vietnam vs. Japan AFC Asian Cup 2019 26.jpg
Hajime Moriyasu, current head coach of Japan
Role Name
Head coach Template:Flagicon Hajime Moriyasu
Assistant coaches Template:Flagicon Makoto Hasebe
Template:Flagicon Ryoichi Maeda
Template:Flagicon Hiroshi Nanami
Template:Flagicon Toshihide Saito
Goalkeeping coach Template:Flagicon Takashi Shimoda
Fitness coach Template:Flagicon Ryoichi Matsumoto

Manager historyEdit

Template:Updated after the match against Template:Fb.

Manager Period Record
Matches Won Draw Lost Win %
Template:Flagicon Masujiro Nishida 1923 2 0 0 2 0%
Template:Flagicon Goro Yamada 1925 2 0 0 2 0%
Vacant 1925 2 1 0 1 50%
Template:Flagicon Shigeyoshi Suzuki (1st) 1930 2 1 1 0 50%
Template:Flagicon Shigemaru Takenokoshi (1st) 1934 3 1 0 2 33.33%
Template:Flagicon Shigeyoshi Suzuki (2nd) 1936 2 1 1 0 50%
Template:Flagicon Shigemaru Takenokoshi (2nd) 1940 1 1 0 0 100%
Template:Flagicon Hirokazu Ninomiya 1951 3 1 1 1 33.33%
Template:Flagicon Shigemaru Takenokoshi (3rd) 1954–56 12 2 4 6 16.66%
Template:Flagicon Taizo Kawamoto 1958 2 0 0 2 0%
Template:Flagicon Shigemaru Takenokoshi (4th) 1958–59 12 4 2 6 33.33%
Vacant 1960 1 0 0 1 0%
Template:Flagicon Hidetoki Takahashi 1961–1962 14 3 2 9 21.43%
Template:Flagicon Ken Naganuma (1st) 1963–1969 31 18 7 6 58.06%
Template:Flagicon Shunichiro Okano 1970–1971 19 11 2 6 57.90%
Template:Flagicon Ken Naganuma (2nd) 1972–1976 42 16 6 20 38.09%
Template:Flagicon Hiroshi Ninomiya 1976–1978 27 6 6 15 22.22%
Template:Flagicon Yukio Shimomura 1979–1980 14 8 4 2 57.14%
Template:Flagicon Masashi Watanabe 1980 3 2 0 1 66.67%
Template:Flagicon Saburō Kawabuchi 1980–1981 10 3 2 5 30%
Template:Flagicon Takaji Mori 1981–1985 43 22 5 16 51.16%
Template:Flagicon Yoshinobu Ishii 1986–1987 17 11 2 4 64.70%
Template:Flagicon Kenzo Yokoyama 1988–1991 24 5 7 12 20.83%
Template:Flagicon Hans Ooft 1992–1993 27 16 7 4 59.25%
Template:Flagicon Paulo Roberto Falcão 1994 9 3 4 2 33.33%
Template:Flagicon Shu Kamo 1994–1997 46 23 10 13 50%
Template:Flagicon Takeshi Okada (1st) 1997–1998 15 5 4 6 33.33%
Template:Flagicon Philippe Troussier 1998–2002 50 23 16 11 46%
Template:Flagicon Zico 2002–2006 71 37 16 18 52.11%
Template:Flagicon Ivica Osim 2006–2007 20 13 2 5 65%
Template:Flagicon Takeshi Okada (2nd) 2007–2010 50 26 13 11 52%
Template:Flagicon Hiromi Hara (caretaker) 2010 2 2 0 0 100%
Template:Flagicon Alberto Zaccheroni 2010–2014 55 30 12 13 54.54%
Template:Flagicon Javier Aguirre 2014–2015 10 7 1 2 70%
Template:Flagicon Vahid Halilhodžić 2015–2018 38 21 9 8 55.26%
Template:Flagicon Akira Nishino 2018 7 2 1 4 28.57%
Template:Flagicon Hajime Moriyasu<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref name="JFA news 01 en" /><ref name="JFA news 01 ja" /><ref name="JFA news 02 ja" />||2018–present||91||64||12||15||70.32%

Manager Period Record
Matches Won Draw Lost Win %

PlayersEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See also

Current squadEdit

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Australia and Indonesia on 5 and 10 June 2025, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Caps and goals as of 25 March 2025, after the match against Template:Fb.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Nat fs g start Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player

Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player

Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player

Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs end

Recent call-upsEdit

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the last twelve months.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Nat fs r start Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary squad / standby
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue. Template:Nat fs end

RecordsEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Template:Updated<ref name="RSSSF">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Players in bold are still active with Japan.

Most appearancesEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

File:Yasuhito Endō against Bahrain June 22 2008.png
Yasuhito Endō is Japan's most capped player with 152 appearances.
Rank Player Caps Goals Pos Career Ref.
1 Yasuhito Endō 152 15 MF 2002–2015 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2 Yūto Nagatomo 142 4 DF 2008–present citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

3 Maya Yoshida 126 12 DF 2010–2022 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

4 Masami Ihara 122 5 DF 1988–1999
5 Shinji Okazaki 119 50 FW 2008–2019 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

6 Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi 116 0 GK 1997–2010
7 Makoto Hasebe 114 2 MF 2006–2018 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

8 Yuji Nakazawa 110 17 DF 1999–2010
9 Keisuke Honda 98 37 MF 2008–2018 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Shunsuke Nakamura 98 24 MF 2000–2010

Top goalscorersEdit

Template:See also Template:See also

File:Kunishige Kamamoto IMG 3322 20140110.JPG
Kunishige Kamamoto is Japan's top scorer with 75 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career Ref.
1 Kunishige Kamamoto (list) 75 76 {{#expr: 75/76 round 2}} 1964–1977
2 Kazuyoshi Miura 55 89 {{#expr: 55/89 round 2}} 1990–2000
3 Shinji Okazaki 50 119 {{#expr: 50/119 round 2}} 2008–2019 <ref name="SHINJI OKAZAKI" />
4 Hiromi Hara 37 75 {{#expr: 37/75 round 2}} 1978–1988
Keisuke Honda 98 {{#expr: 37/98 round 2}} 2008–2018 <ref name="KEISUKE HONDA" />
6 Shinji Kagawa 31 97 {{#expr: 31/97 round 2}} 2008–2019 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

7 Takuya Takagi 27 44 {{#expr: 27/44 round 2}} 1992–1997
8 Kazushi Kimura 26 54 {{#expr: 26/54 round 2}} 1979–1986
9 Yuya Osako 25 57 {{#expr: 25/57 round 2}} 2013–2022 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

10 Takumi Minamino 24 66 {{#expr: 24/66 round 2}} 2015–present citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

CaptainsEdit

Name Pos Period Note
Shigeo Yaegashi MF 1968 Template:Small
Aritatsu Ogi MF 1969–1974
Kunishige Kamamoto FW 1975–1977
Nobuo Fujishima MF 1978
Hiroshi Ochiai MF DF 1978–1979
Hideki Maeda MF 1980–1981
Mitsuhisa Taguchi GK 1982–1984
Kazushi Kimura MF 1986
Hisashi Kato DF 1985–1987
Hiromi Hara FW 1988
Shigetatsu Matsunaga GK 1989
Shinichi Morishita 1990
Tetsuji Hashiratani MF 1991–1995 Template:Small
Masami Ihara DF 1996–1999
Masashi Nakayama FW 2001 Template:Small
Ryuzo Morioka CB 2000–2002 Template:Small
Hidetoshi Nakata CM 2002–2004
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto CB 2003–2006 Template:Small
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi GK 2006–2008 Template:Small
Yuji Nakazawa CB 2008–2010 Template:Small
Makoto Hasebe DM 2010–2018 Template:Small
Yuichi Komano DF 2013 Template:Small
Gen Shoji CB 2017 Template:Small
Maya Yoshida CB 2018–2022 Template:Small
Sho Sasaki LB 2019 Template:Small
Shōgo Taniguchi CB 2022 Template:Small
Wataru Endō DM 2023–present

Competitive recordEdit

Template:Color box Champions  Template:Color box Runners-up  Template:Color box Third place  Template:Color box Fourth place  

*Denotes draws includes knockout matches decided on penalty shootouts. Red border indicates that the tournament was hosted on home soil. Gold, silver, bronze backgrounds indicate 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishes respectively. Bold text indicates best finish in tournament.

FIFA World CupEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See also

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Template:Flagicon 1930 Withdrew Qualified as invitees
Template:Flagicon 1934 Did not enter Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1938 Withdrew Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1950 Suspended from FIFA Suspended from FIFA
Template:Flagicon 1954 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 3 7
Template:Flagicon 1958 Did not enter Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1962 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 1 4
Template:Flagicon 1966 Did not enter Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1970 Did not qualify 4 0 2 2 4 8
Template:Flagicon 1974 4 1 0 3 5 4
Template:Flagicon 1978 4 0 1 3 0 5
Template:Flagicon 1982 4 2 0 2 4 2
Template:Flagicon 1986 8 5 1 2 15 5
Template:Flagicon 1990 6 2 3 1 7 3
Template:Flagicon 1994 13 9 3 1 35 6
Template:Flagicon 1998 Group stage 31st 3 0 0 3 1 4 Squad 15 9 5 1 51 12
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2002 Round of 16 9th 4 2 1 1 5 3 Squad Qualified as co-hosts
Template:Flagicon 2006 Group stage 28th 3 0 1 2 2 7 Squad 12 11 0 1 25 5
Template:Flagicon 2010 Round of 16 9th 4 2 1 1 4 2 Squad 14 8 4 2 23 9
Template:Flagicon 2014 Group stage 29th 3 0 1 2 2 6 Squad 14 8 3 3 30 8
Template:Flagicon 2018 Round of 16 15th 4 1 1 2 6 7 Squad 18 13 3 2 44 7
Template:Flagicon 2022 9th 4 2 1 1 5 4 Squad 18 15 1 2 58 6
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2026 Qualified 14 12 2 0 48 2
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2030 To be determined To be determined
Template:Flagicon 2034
Total Round of 16 Template:Tooltip 25 7 6 12 25 33 — 152 95 29 28 353 93

Match historyEdit

FIFA World Cup history
Year Round Opponent Score Result
1998 Group stage Template:Fb 0–1 Loss
Template:Fb 0–1 Loss
Template:Fb 1–2 Loss
2002 Group stage Template:Fb 2–2 Draw
Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Template:Fb 2–0 Win
Round of 16 Template:Fb 0–1 Loss
2006 Group stage Template:Fb 1–3 Loss
Template:Fb 0–0 Draw
Template:Fb 1–4 Loss
2010 Group stage Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Template:Fb 0–1 Loss
Template:Fb 3–1 Win
Round of 16 Template:Fb 0–0 Template:Small Draw Template:Small
2014 Group stage Template:Fb 1–2 Loss
Template:Fb 0–0 Draw
Template:Fb 1–4 Loss
2018 Group stage Template:Fb 2–1 Win
Template:Fb 2–2 Draw
Template:Fb 0–1 Loss
Round of 16 Template:Fb 2–3 Loss
2022 Group stage Template:Fb 2–1 Win
Template:Fb 0–1 Loss
Template:Fb 2–1 Win
Round of 16 Template:Fb 1–1 Template:Small Draw Template:Small

AFC Asian CupEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See also

[[AFC Asian Cup|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">AFC Asian Cup]] record [[AFC Asian Cup qualifiers|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Qualification]] record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Template:Flagicon 1956 Withdrew Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1960
Template:Flagicon 1964
Template:Flagicon 1968 Did not qualify 4 3 1 0 8 4
Template:Flagicon 1972 Withdrew Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1976 Did not qualify 5 2 1 2 4 4
Template:Flagicon 1980 Withdrew Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1984
Template:Flagicon 1988 Group stage 10th 4 0 1 3 0 6 Squad 4 2 1 1 6 3
Template:Flagicon 1992 Champions 1st 5 3 2 0 6 3 Squad Qualified as hosts
Template:Flagicon 1996 Quarter-finals 5th 4 3 0 1 7 3 Squad Qualified as defending champions
Template:Flagicon 2000 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0 21 6 Squad 3 3 0 0 15 0
Template:Flagicon 2004 Champions 1st 6 4 2 0 13 6 Squad Qualified as defending champions
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2007 Fourth place 4th 6 2 3 1 11 7 Squad 6 5 0 1 15 2
Template:Flagicon 2011 Champions 1st 6 4 2 0 14 6 Squad 6 5 0 1 17 4
Template:Flagicon 2015 Quarter-finals 5th 4 3 1 0 8 1 Squad Qualified as defending champions
Template:Flagicon 2019 Runners-up 2nd 7 6 0 1 12 6 Squad 8 7 1 0 27 0
Template:Flagicon 2023 Quarter-finals 7th 5 3 0 2 12 8 Squad 8 8 0 0 46 2
Template:Flagicon 2027 Qualified 6 6 0 0 24 0
Total 4 Titles 11/19 53 33 12 8 104 52 — 50 41 4 5 162 19

Match historyEdit

AFC Asian Cup history
Year Round Opponent Score Result
1988 Group stage Template:Fb 0–0 Draw
Template:Fb 0–2 Loss
Template:Fb 0–1 Loss
Template:Fb 0–3 Loss
1992 Group stage Template:Fb 0–0 Draw
Template:Fb 1–1 Draw
Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Semi-finals Template:Fb 3–2 Win
Final Template:Fb 1–0 Win
1996 Group stage Template:Fb 2–1 Win
Template:Fb 4–0 Win
Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Quarter-finals Template:Fb 0–2 Loss
2000 Group stage Template:Fb 4–1 Win
Template:Fb 8–1 Win
Template:Fb 1–1 Draw
Quarter-finals Template:Fb 4–1 Win
Semi-finals Template:Fb 3–2 Win
Final Template:Fb 1–0 Win
2004 Group stage Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Template:Fb 4–1 Win
Template:Fb 0–0 Draw
Quarter-finals Template:Fb 1–1 Template:Small Draw Template:Small
Semi-finals Template:Fb 4–3 Win
Final Template:Fb 3–1 Win
2007 Group stage Template:Fb 1–1 Draw
Template:Fb 3–1 Win
Template:Fb 4–1 Win
Quarter-finals Template:Fb 1–1 Template:Small Draw Template:Small
Semi-finals Template:Fb 2–3 Loss
Third place play-off Template:Fb 0–0 Template:Small Draw Template:Small
2011 Group stage Template:Fb 1–1 Draw
Template:Fb 2–1 Win
Template:Fb 5–0 Win
Quarter-finals Template:Fb 3–2 Win
Semi-finals Template:Fb 2–2 Template:Small Draw Template:Small
Final Template:Fb 1–0 Win
2015 Group stage Template:Fb 4–0 Win
Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Template:Fb 2–0 Win
Quarter-finals Template:Fb 1–1 Template:Small Draw Template:Small
2019 Group stage Template:Fb 3–2 Win
Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Template:Fb 2–1 Win
Round of 16 Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Quarter-finals Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Semi-finals Template:Fb 3–0 Win
Final Template:Fb 1–3 Loss
2023 Group stage Template:Fb 4–2 Win
Template:Fb 1–2 Loss
Template:Fb 3–1 Win
Round of 16 Template:Fb 3–1 Win
Quarter-finals Template:Fb 1–2 Loss

Copa AméricaEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Japan was the first team from outside the Americas to participate in the Copa América, having been invited to the 1999 tournament.<ref name="goal.com"/> Japan was also invited in 2011 and initially accepted the invitation. However, following the Tōhoku earthquake, the JFA later withdrew on 16 May 2011, citing the difficulty of releasing some Japanese players from European teams to play as replacements.<ref name="ESPNFC.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On the next day, CONMEBOL invited Costa Rica to replace Japan in the competition.

On 16 August 2013, CONMEBOL president Eugenio Figueredo announced that Japan was invited to the 2015 Copa América.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, Japan later declined the invitation due to scheduling problems.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 14 May 2018, CONMEBOL announced that Japan, alongside Qatar, would be the two invited teams for the 2019 Copa América.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2

Copa América record
Year Result Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad
Template:Flagicon 1999 Group stage 10th 3 0 1 2 3 8 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2011 Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 2015
Template:Flagicon 2019 Group stage 9th 3 0 2 1 3 7 Squad
Total Group stage 2/4 6 0 3 3 6 15 —

Match historyEdit

Template:Col-end

FIFA Confederations CupEdit

Template:See also

FIFA Confederations Cup record
year Result Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad
Template:Flagicon 1992 Did not qualify
Template:Flagicon 1995 Group stage 6th 2 0 0 2 1 8 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1997 Did not qualify
Template:Flagicon 1999
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2001 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 1 1 6 1 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2003 Group stage 6th 3 1 0 2 4 3 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2005 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 4 4 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2009 Did not qualify
Template:Flagicon 2013 Group stage 7th 3 0 0 3 4 9 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2017 Did not qualify
Total Runners-up 5/10 16 5 2 9 19 25 —

Match historyEdit

Olympic GamesEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See also

Summer Olympics record Qualification record
Year Result Position M W D L GF GA Squad M W D L GF GA
Template:Flagicon 1908 Did not enter Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1912
Template:Flagicon 1920
Template:Flagicon 1924
Template:Flagicon 1928
Template:Flagicon 1936 Quarter-finals 8th 2 1 0 1 3 10 Squad No qualification
Template:Flagicon 1948 Did not enter Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1952
Template:Flagicon 1956 First round 10th 1 0 0 1 0 2 Squad No qualification
Template:Flagicon 1960 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 1 2
Template:Flagicon 1964 Quarter-finals 8th 3 1 0 3 6 15 Squad Qualified as hosts
Template:Flagicon 1968 Bronze medalists 3rd 6 3 2 1 9 8 Squad 5 4 1 0 26 4
Template:Flagicon 1972 Did not qualify 4 2 0 2 14 7
Template:Flagicon 1976 6 2 1 3 9 11
Template:Flagicon 1980 5 3 1 1 16 5
Template:Flagicon 1984 10 3 1 6 26 17
Template:Flagicon 1988 8 6 1 1 19 3
1992–present See Japan national under-23 team See Japan national under-23 team
Total Bronze medalists 4/17 12 5 2 6 18 35 — 40 21 5 14 111 49

Match historyEdit

Asian GamesEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See also Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2

Asian Games record
Year Result Position M W D L GF GA Squad
Template:Flagicon 1951 Third place 3rd 3 1 1 1 4 3 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1954 Group stage 10th 2 0 0 2 5 8 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1958 12th 2 0 0 2 0 3 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1962 6th 3 1 0 2 3 4 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1966 Third place 3rd 7 6 0 1 18 5 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1970 Fourth place 4th 7 5 0 2 8 5 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1974 Group stage 9th 3 1 1 1 5 4 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1978 9th 3 1 0 2 5 5 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1982 Quarter-finals 5th 4 3 0 1 6 3 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1986 Group stage 9th 4 2 0 2 9 4 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1990 Quarter-finals 8th 3 1 0 2 3 3 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1994 7th 4 1 2 1 9 5 Squad
Template:Flagicon 1998 Group stage 9th 5 3 0 2 8 4 Squad
2002–present See Japan national under-23 football team
Total Third place 13/13 50 25 4 21 83 56 —

Match historyEdit

Template:Col-end

EAFF E-1 ChampionshipEdit

EAFF E-1 Championship record
Year Result Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad
Template:Flagicon 2003 Runners-up 2nd 3 2 1 0 3 0 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2005 3 1 1 1 3 3 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2008 3 1 2 0 3 2 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2010 Third Place 3rd 3 1 1 1 4 3 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2013 Champions 1st 3 2 1 0 8 6 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2015 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 2 1 3 4 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2017 Runners-up 2nd 3 2 0 1 4 5 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2019 3 2 0 1 7 2 Squad
Template:Flagicon 2022 Champions 1st 3 2 1 0 9 0 Squad
Total Champions 9/9 27 13 9 5 44 25 —

Match historyEdit

EAFF E-1 Championship history
Year Round Opponent Score Result
2003 First match Template:Fb 2–0 Win
Second match Template:Fb 1–0
Third match Template:Fb 0–0 Draw
2005 First match Template:Fb 0–1 Loss
Second match Template:Fb 2–2 Draw
Third match Template:Fb 1–0 Win
2008 First match Template:Fb 1–1 Draw
Second match Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Third match Template:Fb 1–1 Draw
2010 First match Template:Fb 0–0 Draw
Second match Template:Fb 3–0 Win
Third match Template:Fb 1–3 Loss
2013 First match Template:Fb 3–3 Draw
Second match Template:Fb 3–2 Win
Third match Template:Fb 2–1 Win
2015 First match Template:Fb 1–2 Loss
Second match Template:Fb 1–1 Draw
Third match Template:Fb 1–1 Draw
2017 First match Template:Fb 1–0 Win
Second match Template:Fb 2–1
Third match Template:Fb 1–4 Loss
2019 First match Template:Fb 2–1 Win
Second match Template:Fb 5–0
Third match Template:Fb 0–1 Loss
2022 First match Template:Fb 6–0 Win
Second match Template:Fb 0–0 Draw
Third match Template:Fb 3–0 Win

HonoursEdit

Major competitionsEdit

Worldwide

Intercontinental

Continental

RegionalEdit

FriendlyEdit

AwardsEdit

SummaryEdit

Only official senior honours are included, according to FIFA statutes (competitions organized/recognized by FIFA or an affiliated confederation).

Senior Competition Template:Gold1 Template:Silver2 Template:Bronze3 Total
FIFA Confederations Cup 0 1 0 1
Olympic Games 0 0 1 1
AFC Asian Cup 4 1 0 5
Afro-Asian Cup of Nations 2 0 0 2
AFC–OFC Challenge Cup 1 0 0 1
Total 7 2 1 10
Notes
  1. Competition organized by the OCA, officially not recognized by FIFA.

See alsoEdit

National teams
Men's
Women's

NotesEdit

Template:Scrollable-top Template:Notelist Template:Scrollable-bottom

ReferencesEdit

Template:Scrollable-top Template:Reflist Template:Scrollable-bottom

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project

Template:Japan national football team Template:Navboxes Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control

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