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July 04, 2025
 

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SAMURAI BLUE

Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 28, 2015
JFA right to pass up convenient opportunity to fire Aguirre
It remains to be seen how much longer Javier Aguirre will continue as national team manager, but at least the Japan Football Association did not use last week's early exit from the Asian Cup as an excuse to fire him.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 21, 2015
Japan gathering steam as Asian Cup gets down to business
There is certainly room for improvement as Japan takes the defense of its Asian Cup title into the quarterfinals on Friday, but the way the team has improved with each performance so far in Australia suggests the best is yet to come.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jan 12, 2015
Houllier challenges Japan to raise game
Former Liverpool and France manager Gerard Houllier has urged Japan to cast aside its inferiority complex and close the gap on the world's leading soccer nations.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jan 12, 2015
Houllier challenges Japan to take next step
Former Liverpool and France manager Gerard Houllier has urged Japan to cast aside its inferiority complex and close the gap on the world's leading soccer nations.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 7, 2015
Japan looking to put troubles on back burner at Asian Cup
Preparations could hardly have been more disrupted as Japan gets ready to defend its Asian Cup title, but that is all likely to be forgotten once the tournament kicks off on Friday.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Nov 12, 2014
Aguirre's experiments on back burner as Asian Cup looms
Japan manager Javier Aguirre is running out of time to build a team for January's Asian Cup, but the Mexican will hope that the return of several familiar faces for two friendlies over the coming week can provide instant solutions.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Sep 3, 2014
Aguirre ready to start work rebuilding Japan from scratch
Japan begins a new era on Friday night as manager Javier Aguirre leads the team out for the first time, and if first impressions of the Mexican are anything to go by, the next four years should be an interesting journey.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup / SPORTS SCOPE
Jul 8, 2014
Time for fans, media to get real about Samurai Blue
"The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it."
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 21, 2014
Drab draw leaves Japan hoping for miracles
"Believe in miracles," ran the headline of one sports newspaper after Japan's 0-0 draw with Greece left its World Cup hopes hanging by a thread, but simply salvaging pride from a bitterly disappointing campaign looks a more realistic ambition.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 18, 2014
Japan facing early exit if mistakes go unheeded against Greece
Japan must beat Greece on Thursday to stand any realistic chance of surviving at the World Cup, but a repeat of Saturday's performance in a frustrating defeat to Cote d'Ivoire will bring nothing but an early ticket home.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 15, 2014
From pets to Pikachu, Japan shows its Samurai Blue colors
[View the story "Samurai Blue fever surges for Japan's first 2014 World Cup game" on Storify]
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jun 11, 2014
Plot your team's progress on our World Cup 2014 wall chart
Over the past month, Mark Buckton has been collecting the views of Japan-based representatives of the 32 nations taking part in the FIFA World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 11, 2014
Japan ready to make experience count at fifth World Cup
Japanese soccer can be rightfully proud of the progress it has made as the national team prepares to begin its fifth straight World Cup campaign, but no one in the squad will be happy just to take part.
Japan Times
CULTURE
Jun 5, 2014
Cheer on the Samurai Blue at events across the country
It may be nicknamed the "beautiful game," but these days it can sometimes be hard to see soccer as anything but ugly.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jun 4, 2014
Comeback win lifts confidence as Japan prepares for Brazil
National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni was looking for improvement in his players' physical condition in Monday's friendly against Costa Rica, but the mental boost they received from their 3-1 win could turn out to be even more important.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 28, 2014
Zaccheroni insists Japan will hit stride at World Cup
National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni is confident his side can shape up in time for the World Cup but admits the Blue Samurai are currently running on empty.
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
Jun 11, 2013
Japan by the numbers (06.11.13)
Who would read every book in a series of 70? One in four Japanese people in their 20s, according to one poll. There's more where that came from.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 5, 2013
Japan vs. Australia ... storified in social media
In a penalty kick second, Samurai Blue became the first team to qualify for next year's World Cup. Here's a collection of fans' reactions on social media, curated by Mai Hasabe, Eric Ruble and co.
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
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. 
Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
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."
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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