NEWSWORTHY
Japan must step up after shaky group stage
No more friendlies. No more minnows. No more excuses. Warmups are over for the Samurai Blue. The four-time Asian champions will begin the final march toward a fifth continental title on Monday when they face Saudi Arabia in the 2019 Asian Cup's Round of 16. Should ...
Former Japan forward Seiichiro Maki has retired after a 16-year pro career, his J. League third-division club Roasso Kumamoto announced Tuesday. Maki, a Kumamoto native, began his professional career with J2 side JEF United Chiba in 2003. He had stints overseas in Russia and China ...
Japan booked a ticket to the knockout stage of the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Group F opponent Oman, but the four-time champion was once again less than convincing. Relying on a first-half penalty from Genki ...
Defensively woeful Japan unconvincing in tight win over Turkmenistan
From the moment Japan and Turkmenistan stepped onto the Al Nahyan Stadium pitch wearing their respective first uniforms of blue and green, fans watching on TV and online complained of a color clash making for difficult viewing. That turned out to be far from the ...
Yuya Osako scores twice as Japan rallies past Turkmenistan in Asian Cup opener
Yuya Osako scored a second-half brace before Ritsu Doan added a third as Japan battled from behind for a 3-2 win over Turkmenistan in Group F in its opening match of the AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. Coming into the ...
Captain Maya Yoshida urges Japan to fight Asian Cup pressure
Japan captain Maya Yoshida has called on his side to cope with pressure to perform at the Asian Cup as it looks to make up for its flop four years ago. The Southampton defender admitted on Tuesday that several of the Japan team were still ...
Seigo Narazaki, longtime Grampus and Japan national team goalkeeper, retires at 42
Nagoya Grampus said Tuesday that former Japan international goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki has announced his retirement following a record 631 games in the J. League first division. The 42-year-old was a member of four World Cup squads and played all four of the Samurai Blue's games ...
Following a turbulent year that brought joy and heartbreak, the Japan men's national team will head to the Asian Cup full of optimism, with a new core of emerging players. The Samurai Blue will kick off the Jan. 5 to Feb. 1 tournament in the ...
Dynamic trio of Takumi Minamino, Ritsu Doan and Shoya Nakajima named to Japan's Asian Cup squad
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu on Wednesday named his 23-man squad for the Asian Cup, sticking with the core of players who have helped him stay unbeaten since taking the reins of the senior national side in late July. Having blossomed under Moriyasu's stewardship, the ...
Japan will send a full-strength senior squad to next June's Copa America in Brazil, the Japan Football Association said Tuesday. The JFA initially considered sending an under-23 squad in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Games, but Samurai Blue head coach Hajime Moriyasu, who also manages ...
Legendary Samurai Blue goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi plays final game
Former Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi brought down the curtain on his professional career Sunday in the final game of the season for third-division SC Sagamihara. Kawaguchi, whose 116 Japan caps are the most for a goalie, played the full 90 minutes in Sagamihara's 1-0 win ...
Japan trounces Kyrgyzstan in final friendly before Asian Cup
Japan proved a cut above in its last friendly before next year's Asian Cup, beating Kyrgyzstan 4-0 on Tuesday. A second-minute strike by national team debutant Ryosuke Yamanaka set the tone, with Genki Haraguchi adding another midway through the first half and substitutes Yuya Osako ...
