The Japan national football team is the national team of Japan and is controlled by the Japan Football Association. After being overshadowed for years by the popularity of sumo wrestling and baseball, it has gained strength fairly recently. Japan's first World Cup appearance was in 1998, four years before they hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea. Losers of all three group games in 1998, they were knocked out of the tournament in Round 2 in 2002.
| Shirt badge/Association crest | |||
| Nickname(s) | Blues | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Japan Football Association | ||
| Head coach | Zico, (2002-) | ||
| Most caps | Masami Ihara (123) | ||
| Top scorer | Kunishige Kamamoto (73) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
| Japan 0 - 5 China (Tokyo, Japan; May 9, 1917) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| Japan 15 - 0 Philippines (Tokyo, Japan; September 27, 1967) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| Japan 2 - 15 Philippines (Tokyo, Japan; September 10, 1917) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 3 (first in 1998) | ||
| Best result | Round 2, 2002 | ||
| AFC Asian Cup | |||
| Appearances | 5 (first in 1988) | ||
| Best result | Winners, 1992, 2000, 2004 | ||
The side have had considerably more success in the Asian Cup, taking home the winner's trophy in three of the last four finals. Their principal continental rivals are China, Iran and South Korea.
World Cup record
Asian Cup record
Top goalscorers
- Kunishige Kamamoto - 73 (1964-1977)
- Kazuyoshi Miura - 56 (1990-2000)
- Takuya Takagi - 28 (1992-1997)
- Hiromi Hara - 24 (1978-1988)
- Masashi Nakayama - 21 (1990-2003)