Bokksu Snack Box
Kicking Forward: The Dynamic World of Soccer in Japan
You don’t have to worry about missing out on football culture during your stay in Japan. Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the country. Hence, there are more than enough people to play and watch football with you. This post explores everything you need to know about the beautiful game in Japan. We’ll provide details of the best football teams Japan has to offer, including information about their history, leagues, key players, and fan traditions.
Introduction to Soccer in Japan
It’s safe to say that football or soccer ranks among the top three sports in Japan. Its popularity in the country is only rivaled by that of baseball and sumo wrestling. Although people sometimes use the word futtobōru (football), sakkā (soccer) is the most popular term for the sport.
Football in Japan was once a niche sport associated with the national navy, but today it’s a nation-wide game enjoyed by people of all ages, genders, and religions. Under the jurisdiction of the Japan Football Association, the Japanese Professional League (J-League) has grown to become one of the most successful leagues in Asia.
The men’s national team is currently the continent’s highest-ranked team, according to FIFA on July 18, 2024. Japan’s women’s national team has also experienced success, becoming the first Asian team to win the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011.
History of Soccer in Japan
In the early 19th century, Japanese people had next to no knowledge of football. However, in 1871, English teachers began to play football matches with their students. It was around the same time that Western sailors played matches among themselves. Archibald Lucius Douglas, a Lieutenant-Commander of the British Royal Navy at the time, is responsible for popularizing the sport in Japan. He started teaching the game to members of the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1873. In the same year, he organized the first official exhibition match, which was between two teams from the Tokyo Naval Academy and marked the birth of Japanese football.
Japan continued to enjoy casual football for over a decade. Even after the first club to incorporate association football in the country, Yokohama Country & Athletic Club, was created in 1886, matches were non-competitive for at least two more years. However, things changed on February 18, 1888, with the first competitive match: Yokohama Country and Athletic Club versus Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club.
The Japan Football Association (JFA) was founded on September 10, 1921. Also called Nippon Sakkā Kyōkai in Japanese, this organization is the current governing body in charge of the sport, its official leagues, and variants such as futsal, e-football, and beach soccer. In 1936, they governed the team that represented Japan for the first time at the Olympics in Berlin. The JFA also established the first national league in 1965.
The national men’s team's first ever appearance at a World Cup came in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The country went on to co-host the tournament in 2002, which drove football’s popularity in Japan through the roof.
Major Japanese Soccer Leagues
The structure of Japanese soccer leagues is very similar to that of the leagues in English football. It uses a simple tier system in which teams get promoted and relegated at the end of every league season based on their performance. The highly competitive nature of this system has had a positive effect on football’s domestic popularity. The following is an overview of each level of Japanese soccer:
-
Level 1 (J1 League): This is the top flight of the Japanese Professional Football League (J-League), which consists of the J1, J2, and J3 league divisions. It’s made up of 20 clubs. The top three teams qualify for the AFC Champions League, Asia’s premier continental club competition. The bottom three teams get relegated to J2.
-
Level 2 (J2 League): There are 20 clubs in this division. The top two qualify for the J1 division, while 3rd to 6th enter a playoff round for the final promotion spot. The bottom three clubs are automatically relegated.
-
Level 3 (J3 League): It also consists of 20 clubs. There are three promotion spots, including a 3rd to 6th place playoff round. The bottom-placed club gets relegated automatically, while the 19th-placed team competes in a two-legged fixture with the runner-up of the JFL to remain in the J3 League.
-
Level 4 (JFL): The Japan Football League or JFL, is the highest-ranked amateur league in the country. Made up of 16 clubs, it’s not under the control of the JFA. The top two teams are eligible for promotion. The bottom team gets relegated automatically, while the 15th-placed team fights for survival in a two-legged event.
-
Level 5 (Japanese Regional Leagues): There are 9 parallel Japanese Regional Leagues of equal merit. Each league is associated with its own geopolitical region, such as Kyushu and Kansai. Winners qualify for the Japan Regional Football Champions League, which is used to determine which club gets promoted to the JFL.
-
Level 6 (Prefectural Leagues and Hokkaido Blocks): All 9 regions are made up of 47 prefectures, which have their own individual leagues. Since Hokkaido is both a region and a prefecture, it has a special competition known as Hokkaido Blocks. Promotion and relegation depend on the rules of the associated regional leagues.
Prominent Japanese Soccer Clubs
Let’s explore some of the most famous Japanese soccer clubs. The following are teams that stand out because of their historic influence, achievements, and fan base:
-
FC Tokyo: This club has one of the largest international fanbases in Japan and represents Tokyo’s football community. Founded in 1935, it has been a major participant in the J-League since 1999.
-
Urawa Red Diamonds: After winning the AFC Champions League in 2022, the Reds became the Japanese team with the highest number of continental championships. They were also the first team from Japan to win the competition when they clinched the trophy in 1999. Their popularity skyrocketed in 2007 when they made the top three at the FIFA Club World Cup.
-
Gamba Osaka: The blue and black colors are some of the most recognizable in Asia. The team got relegated to the J2 League in 2012. The following season, they won the J2 title. But the club’s biggest feat came in 2014, when they won the J1 League title on their return to top-flight football.
-
Kashima Antlers: When it comes to trophies, the Kashima Antlers are the most successful Japanese football team. They have won 19 domestic league titles, with eight of them in the J1 League. They have also won six J-League Cups, one AFC Champions League, and five Emperor's Cup titles.
-
Kawasaki Frontale: This club has been the most successful in the last decade, winning the domestic league four times.
Key Players in Japanese Soccer History
The following are the legendary figures who have left significant marks on the sport both domestically and internationally:
-
Kunishige Kamamoto: He is Japan’s all-time leading goalscorer with 80 goals in 84 caps. He helped Japan win bronze (third place) at the 1968 Olympics and was once vice president of the JFA.
-
Kazuyoshi Miura: He is currently the oldest active footballer on earth. The 57-year-old spent a large chunk of his career playing in the J-League. He is second on the all-time scorers list with 55 goals scored for Japan.
-
Hidetoshi Nakata: During his spell in the Italian Serie A, Nakata was one of the best players in the league. He won the Asian Player of the Year award twice.
-
Keisuke Honda: Even as a midfielder, he is the only Asian player to score and assist at three separate World Cups.
Youth Development and Soccer Academies
The J-League plays an important role in developing talent in Japan. Part of the eligibility criteria for teams in the league is ownership of a youth development program. This program involves creating teams for several age groups, ranging from U-10 to U-18 footballers.
Japan also has school clubs for almost every popular sport, including soccer. City clubs are another viable youth development option, especially for players aged 13 to 15 years. A few clubs in Europe, such as Paris Saint-Germain, have established professional youth academies in the country.
The brightest young talents from the above programs often join professional teams in Japan and other parts of the world. If they prove to be exceptional, they get called up for the senior or youth national teams.
The Role of the National Team in Japanese Soccer
The Japan national football team, also called the Samurai Blue, has been representing the country in international competitions since 1917. Their success at major tournaments often helps boost the popularity of the sport in the country. The men’s team has won the AFC Asian Cup four times (1992, 2000, 2004, and 2011). They have never won the World Cup, unfortunately. However, they have managed to reach the Round of 16 stage on three occasions (2002, 2010, and 2022).
Soccer Culture Among Fans in Japan
Japanese football fans are just as passionate as fans in England and other countries with strong football cultures. A common match-day tradition is to sing throughout the game with little to no change in pitch, even after conceding a goal. Fans would rather chant to encourage their own players than to unsettle the opposition.
Football teams in Japan also have supporters' clubs, like European teams. Urawa Red Diamonds, FC Tokyo, and Yokohama F. Marinos have the largest fan bases in the country.
Challenges and Opportunities in Japanese Soccer
Although football is popular in Japan, it has not reached the level of baseball. Perhaps greater success on the global stage could solve that problem. Also, there have been a lot of concerns raised about the lack of opportunities and transfers in youth development systems, especially school clubs. Ensuring fluid transfers between school clubs and academies would greatly improve growth and development.
Conclusion:
Soccer is helping to improve the sports culture in Japan. The country offers a unique perspective on the sport that you should explore and support when you visit.
While preparing for your trip, don’t forget to visit Bokksu Boutique to share your love for Japanese culture through gifts.
Author Bio
More from the blog
View all
