J. League chairman urges Samurai Blue hopefuls to go to Europe
Mitsuru Murai sees 2018 World Cup champion France's squad, which plays club soccer mostly outside its home country, as a model for Japan's young stars.
Former Japan forward Hisato Sato, whose 161 top-flight goals are the second-most in J. League history, drew the curtain on his 21-year professional career Sunday, after playing the final minutes of JEF United Chiba's 2-1 win over Giravanz Kitakyushu in the second division. The 38-year-old ...
Japan failed to capitalize on a dominant first-half showing.
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu expects tough test against Mexico
Japan's friendly against Mexico on Tuesday should give the Samurai Blue a clear picture of where they stand in the world, manager Hajime Moriyasu said. The squad began making final preparations Monday on the eve of the meeting with world No. 11 Mexico at Graz's ...
Liverpool striker Takumi Minamino scored a penalty as Japan secured a 1-0 win against Panama in a friendly at the Merkur Arena in Austria on Friday. Minamino started the match up front alongside Villareal forward Takefusa Kubo and opened the scoring in the 61st minute, ...
JFA to seek coronavirus quarantine exemption for soccer players
Japan Football Association President Kozo Tashima said Wednesday he will ask the government to relax coronavirus quarantine measures for players returning to the country from overseas. The government currently requires Japanese citizens entering the country from abroad to undergo a 14-day quarantine period aimed at ...
Arminia Bielefeld midfielder Ritsu Doan has been removed from the national team roster ahead of Japan's upcoming friendlies in Austria, the Japan Football Association said Saturday. Doan was named to the 24-man side by manager Hajime Moriyasu on Thursday, but his German club refused to ...
Minamino and Kubo in Japan squad for upcoming friendlies in Austria
The Samurai Blue will face Panama on Nov. 13 and Mexico four days later.
Japanese soccer legend Kengo Nakamura to retire
After his miraculous comeback from an ACL injury sustained last year, the former J. League MVP will hang up his boots at 40.
Japan midfielder Junya Ito has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is currently undergoing quarantine measures, his Belgian first-division team Genk said Saturday. Ito was a member of Japan's squad that faced Cameroon and the Ivory Coast in a pair of friendlies held in ...
Japan to play friendlies against Panama, Mexico in Austria in November
Japan will play Panama in an international friendly on Nov. 13 in Graz, Austria, the Japan Football Association said Thursday. The Samurai Blue are also scheduled to take on Mexico on Nov. 17 in the same city as they face two qualifiers from the North, ...
Late substitute Naomichi Ueda struck an injury-time header to clinch a 1-0 friendly win for Japan over Ivory Coast on Tuesday. After being brought on in the 89th minute, the center back for Belgian side Cercle Brugge delivered the winner two minutes later, meeting Gaku ...
