Before the 1990s, the mention of Japan as Asia’s footballing powerhouse would earn you lots of awkward stares and disbelief. However, the past twenty years have seen it rise from football obscurity to one of Asia’s leading footballing nations. Its local leagues continue to produce and attract some of the world’s top talents.
Japanese football is still on an upward trajectory. Below is a brief overview of the history, top achievements, and the future of the sport. As the second most popular sport in Japan, it is now possible for you to make bets on games through live casinos.
Japanese football – A journey through the years.
You can trace the beginnings of Japanese football as far back as the late 1800s. British Royal navy officers first introduced the sport in 1873. The sport only gained official status in 1921 after the formation on the Japan Football Association. Its foray in the global scene dates back to 1929 when it became an affiliate member of FIFA. Subsequently, its affiliation with the Asian Football Confederation started in 1954, following FIFA’s decision to reorganize into continental confederations.
The upward trajectory dates back to 1993, after the formation of the present-day J-League. Local teams now compete in a three-tier league format, that sees teams gain promotion depending on their performance. The respective leagues are as follows:
- J1 – which is the top tier of Japanese football and comprises of eighteen clubs.
- J2 – comprising of twenty-two clubs.
- J3 – which is the bottom division and consists of eighteen clubs.
Competitive football in Japan.
Both men and women participate in footballing competitions at both domestic and international levels. You can watch seasonal tournaments across football, futsal and beach soccer. Internationally, the women’s team goes by Nadeshiko Japan and the men’s as Samurai Blue.
The sport has also seen a lot of sponsorship from different entities over the years. Among the leading sponsors are Nissan, Adidas and Fujifilm, who collectively have affiliations with the Japanese Football Association. Furthermore, most of the clubs that participate in the three tiers of Japanese football mainly belong to private entities. For example, the Kashima Antlers belong to Mercari, a large e-commerce firm in Tokyo.
Participation and achievements in key tournaments.
Besides the national league, there are many competitions where you can catch the best of Japanese football. These occur nationally, regionally and internationally. Below are some of them:
FIFA World Cup.
Japan has been a constant feature in this 4-year tournament since 1998. Their highest achievement to date is placing 9th at the Round of 16 during the South African edition. Currently, the men’s team is ranks 27th worldwide.
The women’s team boast a more impressive history. Nadeshiko Japan has won the tournament in 2011 and finished second in the 2015 edition. As a result, they currently rank as the tenth best team in women’s football.
Olympics.
Japan continues to feature both men’s and women’s team in the Olympics with moderate success. Here are the most notable achievements to date:
- The Samurai Blue has a bronze medal from the 1968 edition in Mexico, after beating them 2-0 in the match
- Nadeshiko Japan has a better record, attaining a silver medal from the 2012 edition, following a 2-1 loss to the United States.
AFC Competitions.
Both the men’s and women teams also play in Asian Football Confederation tournaments. Japan is the leading nation overall, with fifty titles to its name. Below are the most notable achievements.
- The men’s team has 4 Asian Cup wins, with their most recent title coming in 2011. The women have two titles to their name. Their latest win is from 2014 when they beat Australia 2-1.
- In club competitions, Japan has seven titles in the men’s edition and one for the women.
The Emperor’s and Empress’s Cup.
The Emperor’s cup is a nationwide men’s football competition that features all the teams affiliated with the Japan Football Association. It is a knockout competition that consists of 80 teams across all tiers. Matches start in April and run through to the final on January 1st of every season. Winners of the Cup automatically qualify for the Asian Football Confederation champions league.
The Empress’s cup is the female version of the competition that follows a similar format. It comprises of 36 teams across the nation and dates back to 1979.
Conclusion.
Football in Japan continues to grow and make advancements. The country now ranks among the top footballing nations in Asia. Increases in sponsorship and further international collaborations, paint a bright future for Japanese football.
