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July 06, 2025
 

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JAPAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

FIFA President Gianni Infantino unveils Brazil as the winner of the bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok on May 17, 2024.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Mar 6, 2025
Japan shut out of bid process for hosting 2031 World Cup
Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said in an interview last year that Japan wanted to host the 2031 event to "raise the value of women's football here."
New Nadeshiko Japan coach Nils Nielsen (center) poses for photos with JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (left) and Norio Sasaki, the JFA’s women’s soccer chair, during a news conference on Dec. 18.
SOCCER
Dec 26, 2024
JFA hopes Nils Nielsen's international focus leads Nadeshiko Japan back to glory
Nils Nielsen was officially unveiled as the new Nadeshiko boss at a packed news conference in Tokyo on Dec. 18. 
Japan defender Hikaru Kitagawa (13) competes in the SheBelieves Cup in Columbus, Ohio, in April. Kitagawa is among the eight from JFA Academy Fukushima who will represent Japan at the Paris Olympics.
OLYMPICS
Jul 21, 2024
Soccer players from Fukushima academy vow to give back in Paris
Eight players who trained at JFA Academy Fukushima have been selected for the men's and women's squads representing Japan in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Saturday.
SOCCER
Mar 24, 2024
Ex-Japan captain Miyamoto becomes youngest head of soccer association
Miyamoto, 47, is the youngest JFA president since the end of World War II, and the first JFA head to have played in the World Cup.
Urawa's notoriously fervent supporters are known for packing stands, as well as for repeated off-the-pitch incidents that have impacted the club's reputation.
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
Sep 20, 2023
Urawa pays price for hooliganism after years of looking the other way
The J. League club has been banned from playing in Japan's top club tournament after more than a hundred supporters took part in an August pitch invasion.
Nadeshiko Japan reached the knockout stage at a fourth consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup before being eliminated in the quarterfinals on Friday by Sweden.
SOCCER / Women's World cup / From the Spot
Aug 15, 2023
Bold steps needed from JFA, WE League to maintain momentum after WWC
After Nadeshiko Japan's inspiring quarterfinal run in New Zealand, the country's soccer bodies must avoid the missteps of the post-2011 boom and bust.
Nadeshiko Japan players celebrate Risa Shimizu's goal in their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup round-of-16 game against Norway in Wellington on Saturday.
SOCCER / Women's World cup / From the Spot
Aug 6, 2023
Nadeshiko Japan is back, but is Japan paying attention?
The team’s lack of media exposure and name recognition is a symptom of the Japan Football Association’s failure to capitalize on its 2011 world title.
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
Apr 26, 2023
J. League takes new open approach to fall-spring debate
The league could decide by the end of this year to adopt a calendar in line with those of Europe and South America's biggest leagues and competitions.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 4, 2022
How Japanese soccer evolved to produce world-beating warriors
The Samurai Blue's upset wins over Germany and Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup are a result of decades of effort to expand the sport's footprint across the country.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 23, 2022
In the land of baseball, sumo and soccer share a close relationship
Japan's national sport and the 'beautiful game' have formed many ties over the years, with even top-ranked wrestlers attending matches and taking part in promotional events.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup / From the Spot
Nov 21, 2022
Samurai Blue have chance to win over hearts of Japanese fans again at World Cup
Japan's rise on the global stage has come as more fans feel disconnected from a squad of stars who mostly play abroad.
Japan Times
SOCCER
May 18, 2022
Japan 'sounded out' about hosting 2023 Asian Cup
Japan has the stadium infrastructure in place to stage the event in June and July of 2023, having recently hosted rugby's global showpiece in 2019 and last year's Olympic soccer tournament.
SOCCER / World cup / From the Spot
Apr 3, 2022
Ultimate test awaits Samurai Blue after 'Group of Death' draw
While Japan will face a daunting challenge in a group featuring former World Cup champions Germany and Spain, the high-profile games may be exactly what the team needs.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
Jan 28, 2022
J. League's Hiromi Hara leverages new media to educate fans
Through his regular YouTube appearances and astute use of social media, the league's vice chairman has helped keep supporters connected throughout the pandemic.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jun 22, 2021
Hajime Moriyasu looks to Europe-based players for Olympic soccer success
Half of Japan's 18-man squad for the Tokyo Games are based overseas, adding experience to a team hoping to win its first-ever gold medal when the postponed event kicks off next month.
SOCCER
Jun 1, 2021
Japan-Jamaica friendly called off after issues emerge with pre-flight COVID-19 tests
The Samurai Blue will face Japan's under-24 men's team instead of the Reggae Boyz in Sapporo on Thursday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 17, 2021
Yoshimi Yamashita makes history as J. League's first female referee
The 35-year-old, who will officiate at this summer's Olympic soccer tournament, broke new ground in Sunday's third-division contest between YSCC Yokohama and Tegevajaro Miyazaki.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Mar 18, 2021
Samurai Blue squad announced as JFA prepares for protective 'bubble'
Japan will host archrival South Korea in a March 25 friendly at Yokohama's Nissan Stadium before facing Mongolia in a World Cup qualifier on March 30.
SOCCER / Women's World Cup / From the Spot
Jun 23, 2020
Japan must build foundation for women's game after withdrawing bid
The Japan Football Association has lost its easy route to building momentum for the sport after dropping out of contention for the 2023 World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER / Women's World Cup
Jun 22, 2020
Japan ends bid to host 2023 Women's World Cup, citing Olympic delay
The 37-member FIFA Council will now choose between Colombia and a joint Australia-New Zealand bid on Thursday.
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
U.S. military apologizes over Okinawa sexual assault case
Col. Neil Owens (right), chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Division, bows in apology at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office in Naha on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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