There is much to be gained by Japan participating at this summer's Copa America, but given the concessions required to send a team to Argentina there could be even more to lose.
The Japan Football Association last week confirmed that it will accept its invitation to take part in the July 1-24 South American championship, just over a week after president Junji Ogura had declined only to agree to reconsider at the organizers' request a day later.
The JFA, in consultation with the J. League, has stipulated that the majority of Japan's squad will be comprised of European-based players, in order to cause minimum disruption to J. League clubs now facing a full slate of summer games due to fixture rescheduling in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.