Japan is one of the most successful teams in Asia, having qualified for the last six consecutive FIFA World Cups and having won the AFC Asian Cup a record four times (1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011). The team has also finished second in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Japan is the only team from outside the Americas to participate in the Copa América, having been invited in 1999 and 2011. 

Although the team does not have an official nickname, it is often known by the name of the manager. For example, under Takeshi Okada, the team was known as Okada Japan. Recently, the team has been known or nick-named as the “Samurai Blues”.

 

First game: Japan vs Colombia (19/06)

Star: Maya Yoshida

The rock of Japan’s defence made his international debut in 2010 and has now passed the 80-cap mark. He used to be criticised for a tendency to make mistakes but has matured hugely during six years in the Premier League (playing for Southampton FC). It’s now impossible to imagine a Japan national team without him. He released a book before the tournament, “Unbeatable Mind”, written during Southampton’s successful fight against relegation. A flabour of it: “Resilience can give you strength to keep moving forwards when you are caught in the rain or a storm, and keep you continuing on your journey through life. And it is a strength which resides in everyone.”

Coach: Akira Nishino

Akira Nishino is a former japanese football player who played for the japanese national team. He is now the manager of the japanese team.

The extent of Nishino’s FIFA World Cup experience extends to playing in four World Cup qualifiers for Japan in 1977. However, the veteran coach does have experience of managing at FIFA tournaments, taking charge of his country at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Atlanta 1996 and guiding Gamba Osaka to the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals in 2008

Group: Poland, Senegal, Colombia.