Eager to continue their rise as a football powerhouse, the Japan National Football Team, also known as the Samurai Blue, gears up for the 2024 season. This article provides a comprehensive look at the squad, including a full list of players, coaching staff, captaincy, and details on their home stadium and upcoming fixtures.
The Japan national football team also known by the nickname Samurai Blue represents Japan in men’s international football. It is controlled by the Japan Football Association (JFA), the governing body for football in Japan.
Japan National Football Team Players, Current squad
This is Japan team for FIFA World Cup 2026, Japan National Football Team Players for other Tournament like Euro 2024. Japan Squad for International Friendlies and World Cup qualifying.
| No. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daiya Maekawa | 8 September 1994 (age 29) | 1 | 0 | Vissel Kobe | |
| 12 | Keisuke Osako | 28 July 1999 (age 24) | 7 | 0 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | |
| 23 | Zion Suzuki | 21 August 2002 (age 21) | 10 | 0 | Sint-Truiden | |
| Defenders | ||||||
| 2 | Yukinari Sugawara | 28 June 2000 (age 23) | 12 | 1 | AZ | |
| 3 | Shogo Taniguchi | 15 July 1991 (age 32) | 27 | 1 | Al-Rayyan | |
| 4 | Ko Itakura | 27 January 1997 (age 27) | 27 | 1 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | |
| 14 | Daiki Hashioka | 17 May 1999 (age 24) | 8 | 0 | Luton Town | |
| 15 | Koki Machida | 25 August 1997 (age 26) | 9 | 0 | Union SG | |
| 16 | Tsuyoshi Watanabe | 5 February 1997 (age 27) | 3 | 0 | Gent | |
| 21 | Hiroki Itō | 12 May 1999 (age 24) | 17 | 1 | VfB Stuttgart | |
| 22 | Yuto Nagatomo | 12 September 1986 (age 37) | 142 | 4 | FC Tokyo | |
| Seiya Maikuma | 16 October 1997 (age 26) | 8 | 0 | Cerezo Osaka | ||
| Midfeilders | ||||||
| 5 | Hidemasa Morita | 10 May 1995 (age 28) | 33 | 3 | Sporting CP | |
| 6 | Wataru Endō (captain) | 9 February 1993 (age 31) | 61 | 3 | Liverpool | |
| 7 | Takumu Kawamura | 28 August 1999 (age 24) | 1 | 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | |
| 8 | Takumi Minamino | 16 January 1995 (age 29) | 58 | 20 | Monaco | |
| 10 | Ritsu Dōan | 16 June 1998 (age 25) | 48 | 8 | SC Freiburg | |
| 13 | Keito Nakamura | 28 July 2000 (age 23) | 8 | 6 | Reims | |
| 17 | Ao Tanaka | 10 September 1998 (age 25) | 26 | 8 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | |
| 20 | Takefusa Kubo | 4 June 2001 (age 22) | 34 | 4 | Real Sociedad | |
| Yuki Soma | 25 February 1997 (age 27) | 12 | 4 | Casa Pia | ||
| Forwords | ||||||
| 9 | Ayase Ueda | 28 August 1998 (age 25) | 25 | 11 | Feyenoord | |
| 11 | Daizen Maeda | 20 October 1997 (age 26) | 17 | 3 | Celtic | |
| 18 | Takuma Asano | 10 November 1994 (age 29) | 52 | 9 | VfL Bochum | |
| 19 | Koki Ogawa | 8 August 1997 (age 26) | 2 | 3 | NEC Nijmegen | |
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the squad in the last 12 months.
| Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taishi Brandon Nozawa | 25 December 2002 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | FC Tokyo |
| Ryosuke Kojima | 30 January 1997 (age 27) | 0 | 0 | Albirex Niigata |
| Daniel Schmidt | 3 February 1992 (age 32) | 14 | 0 | Gent |
| Kosuke Nakamura | 27 February 1995 (age 29) | 8 | 0 | Portimonense |
| Takehiro Tomiyasu | 5 November 1998 (age 25) | 41 | 1 | Arsenal |
| Yūta Nakayama | 16 February 1997 (age 27) | 22 | 0 | Huddersfield Town |
| Ryoya Morishita | 11 April 1997 (age 27) | 2 | 0 | Legia Warsaw |
| Haruya Fujii | 26 December 2000 (age 23) | 1 | 0 | Kortrijk |
| Sota Miura | 7 September 2000 (age 23) | 1 | 0 | Kawasaki Frontale |
| Ayumu Seko | 7 June 2000 (age 23) | 3 | 0 | Grasshoppers |
| Kaishu Sano | 30 December 2000 (age 23) | 4 | 0 | Kashima Antlers |
| Junya Itō | 9 March 1993 (age 31) | 54 | 13 | Reims |
| Kaoru Mitoma | 20 May 1997 (age 26) | 20 | 7 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Reo Hatate | 21 November 1997 (age 26) | 8 | 0 | Celtic |
| Ryotaro Ito | 6 February 1998 (age 26) | 1 | 0 | Sint-Truiden |
| Kanji Okunuki | 11 August 1999 (age 24) | 1 | 0 | 1. FC Nürnberg |
| Daichi Kamada | 5 August 1996 (age 27) | 31 | 7 | Lazio |
| Hayao Kawabe | 8 September 1995 (age 28) | 6 | 1 | Standard Liège |
| Atsuki Ito | 11 August 1998 (age 25) | 3 | 1 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
| Sota Kawasaki | 30 July 2001 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | Kyoto Sanga |
| Mao Hosoya | 7 September 2001 (age 22) | 6 | 1 | Kashiwa Reysol |
| Kyogo Furuhashi | 20 January 1995 (age 29) | 21 | 5 | Celtic |
Support staff
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Hajime Moriyasu |
| Assistant coach | Ryoichi Maeda Hiroshi Nanami Toshihide Saito |
| Physical coach | Ryoichi Matsumoto |
| Goalkeeper coach | Takashi Shimoda |
Who is Captain of Japan National Football Team?
Japan National Football Team Led by captain Wataru Endō.
What is Japan’s nickname for their national football team?
The nickname of the Japan National Football Team is Samurai Blue (サムライ・ブルー, Samurai Burū). This nickname was officially adopted by the Japan Football Association (JFA) in 2009.
How many World Cups has Japan won?
Japan has not won the FIFA World Cup yet. They’ve had a strong showing in qualifying and have participated in seven tournaments, reaching the knockout rounds four times. That’s a very good record, but they haven’t clinched the championship.
Who is the head coach of the Japan national football team?
Hajime Moriyasu is the current head coach of the Japan national football team.
Japan National Football Team Home Ground
The Japan National Football Team doesn’t have one designated home stadium, but their most frequent home ground is the Japan National Stadiumlocated in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Japan National Football Team Next Fixtures 2024
The Japan National Football Team (Men’s) doesn’t appear to have any upcoming matches listed for the remainder of 2024.
Japan National Football Team History
Japan’s national football team, affectionately nicknamed the “Samurai Blue,” has undergone a remarkable transformation. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a dominant force in Asia, the team’s journey reflects dedication, strategic development, and a growing passion for the beautiful game.
Early Days and the Shadow of Baseball (1910s-1980s):
Football’s introduction to Japan in the early 1910s coincided with the rise of baseball as the national sport. Despite sporadic international appearances, including the 1936 Berlin Olympics, football remained on the periphery of Japanese sporting culture. The post-war era saw a resurgence in the 1950s, with Japan joining FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
However, early attempts at World Cup qualification were unsuccessful, often overshadowed by South Korea, their regional rivals. A glimmer of hope emerged under coach Dettmar Cramer in the 1960s. Cramer, a German tactician, instilled a more disciplined approach, leading Japan to the quarterfinals of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The team’s most noteworthy achievement during this period came at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where they secured a historic bronze medal.
Professionalization and the Golden Age (1990s-2000s):
A turning point arrived in 1991 with the establishment of the Japan Professional Football League (J.League). Professionalization fostered a more competitive environment, attracting talented players and improving the overall quality of the sport. The appointment of Dutchman Hans Ooft as the first foreign coach in 1992 marked another significant shift. Ooft’s emphasis on technical skills and tactical flexibility laid the groundwork for future success.
This strategic investment paid off in 1992 when Japan, led by iconic figures like Kazuyoshi Miura, achieved their first Asian Cup title. The elation was short-lived, however, as the infamous “Agony of Doha” in 1993 denied them a World Cup debut. Losing a seemingly guaranteed qualification spot to South Korea in the final seconds of the final match became a national heartbreak, but it also served as a potent motivator.
Japan’s perseverance finally bore fruit in 1998. They qualified for their first World Cup finals in France, marking the beginning of a golden age. The “Samurai Blue” captivated the nation by reaching the knockout stage, a feat they repeated as co-hosts of the 2002 World Cup alongside South Korea. Players like Hidetoshi Nakata, a technically gifted midfielder, emerged as global stars, inspiring a new generation of Japanese footballers.
Building on this momentum, Japan secured their second and third Asian Cup titles in 2000 and 2004, solidifying their dominance in Asia. The 2001 Confederations Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, saw them reach the final, once again showcasing their growing prowess on the international stage.
Recent Years and Looking Ahead (2010s-Present):
The latter part of the 2000s and early 2010s witnessed a period of transition. Though Japan continued to qualify for every World Cup, surpassing the group stage proved elusive. However, they reclaimed their Asian Cup crown in 2011 under the guidance of Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni. Players like Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda became the new faces of the team, known for their technical ability and tactical awareness.
In recent years, Japan has focused on developing a younger generation of talent. Managers like Hajime Moriyasu have implemented a possession-based style of play, emphasizing quick passing and attacking movement. This approach yielded success at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, where Japan reached the knockout stages once again.
Legacy and Impact:
Japan’s national football team has undoubtedly become a symbol of national pride. Their rise from obscurity to Asian powerhouse status is a testament to strategic planning, player development, and a growing love for the sport. The “Samurai Blue” have not only inspired a generation of Japanese footballers but have also challenged the traditional dominance of teams like South Korea and Saudi Arabia within Asia.
Looking ahead, Japan’s ambition lies not only in consistent World Cup qualification but also in reaching the latter stages of the tournament. With a strong youth development system and a dedicated fan base, the future of Japanese football appears bright. The “Samurai Blue” are poised to continue their ascent in the global football landscape, captivating audiences with their technical flair and unwavering pursuit of excellence.
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