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Japan's Daichi Kamada celebrates after scoring against Bolivia during a friendly at Tokyo's National Stadium in November.

SOCCER / World cup

Jun 12, 2026

Japan aiming to live up to heightened expectations with deep run at World Cup

Japan kicks off its 2026 World Cup on Sunday with a strong, confident squad and the kind of expectations the Samurai Blue have not carried into a tournament for years.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu speaks during a news conference to announce Japan's squad for the 2026 World Cup.

SOCCER / World cup

May 15, 2026

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu names squad for 2026 World Cup

Japan reached the Round of 16 at the last edition of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

Japan defender Shogo Taniguchi (left) heads the ball from a corner kick during Japan's match against Scotland in Glasgow on March 28.

SOCCER

Apr 20, 2026

Stars aligning for Japan as World Cup approaches

Japan is hoping to ride a wave of momentum into this summer’s World Cup.

Hajime Moriyasu, manager of the Japan national soccer team, at the Toyota Motor head office in Tokyo on March 13.

SOCCER / World cup

Mar 27, 2026

How Hajime Moriyasu has shaped Samurai Blue in his image

Moriyasu’s measured leadership has overseen a period of steady progress for Japan — and raised expectations ahead of this year’s World Cup.

J. League players are pictured at a news event for the 100 Year Vision League at National Stadium in Tokyo on Monday.

SOCCER / J. League

Feb 4, 2026

J. League kicks off ‘100 Year Vision League’ ahead of calendar shift

The 100 Year Vision League will act as a stopgap ahead of the league’s transition to a fall-winter schedule.

For Red Bull, producing alchemy between a global conglomerate and local soccer club already established in a very different culture requires plenty of tact and diplomacy.

SOCCER / J. League

Dec 28, 2025

Red Bull winning over diehard fans as energy drink giant injects life in Omiya Ardija

As Red Bull expands its soccer empire, the energy drink giant has faced some resistance from diehard fans. But not in Japan.

JEF United Chiba players celebrate after defeating Tokushima Vortis in the promotion playoff final on Saturday to secure a return to the J. League's top division.

SOCCER / J. League

Dec 16, 2025

Long-suffering JEF United Chiba celebrates return to J. League’s top division

JEF United Chiba beat Tokushima Vortis in the promotion playoff final on Saturday.

Leo Ceara (left) celebrates with teammate Yuma Suzuki after scoring a goal during Kashima Antlers' J1-clinching victory over Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

Dec 7, 2025

How Kashima Antlers got back to the top of Japanese soccer

Manager Toru Oniki had one goal in mind: To end the club’s near-decade title drought. After just one season, it’s mission accomplished.

Kashima's Yuma Suzuki (center) takes a shot during a game against Kashiwa in March.

SOCCER / J. League

Dec 4, 2025

Kashima or Kashiwa: J. League title chase goes down to the wire

Antlers are without domestic silverware since winning a record eighth league crown in 2016, but a win on Saturday could change all that.

Machida manager Go Kuroda lifts the trophy as the club celebrates its victory over Vissel Kobe in the Emperor’s Cup final at National Stadium on Saturday.

MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing

Nov 23, 2025

All systems Go for upstart Machida Zelvia after landmark Emperor’s Cup triumph

It is the latest success for manager Go Kuroda, the former high school coach who has brought his golden touch to the professional game.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima players hold up the championship cup at National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 2, 2025

Throwing prowess makes the difference as Sanfrecce Hiroshima wins Levain Cup final

Shuto Nakano’s throw-ins were key in his side’s 3-1 triumph over Kashiwa Reysol at Japan National Stadium on Saturday.

Kyoto's Rafael Elias, seen scoring the third goal of his hat trick against FC Tokyo on Aug. 24, will try to help his club stay in the J. League title race when it meets Kashima on Saturday.

SOCCER / J. League

Oct 23, 2025

Unlikely title contender Kyoto Sanga braces for biggest test of remarkable season

A win for Kyoto this weekend against current league-leader Kashima Antlers would take the title race right down to the wire.

Urawa's Samuel Gustafson (center) celebrates scoring the winning goal against Yokohama FC at Saitama Stadium 2002 on June 1.

SOCCER / J. League

Jun 16, 2025

Urawa Reds ready to take on the Club World Cup’s bigger stage

Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa has no doubt that this year’s Club World Cup will offer a much bigger stage.

Frontale players grimace during the final of the Asian Champions League on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Kawasaki lost 2-0 against heavily favored Al-Ahli.

SOCCER

May 4, 2025

Kawasaki can hold its head high after spirited Asian Champions League effort

For Frontale, a 2-0 defeat against a squad worth an estimated $200 million — playing in front of almost 60,000 of its own fans at its home stadium — is nothing to be ashamed of.

Steve Holland helped Marinos reach the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League Elite, but poor league results led to the end of his tenure with the club.

SOCCER / J. League

Apr 21, 2025

Steve Holland runs out of time at Marinos amid poor results and bad breaks

The 54-year-old was dismissed on April 18 with the club languishing in the lower reaches of the J1 table.

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu gives a speech after his team clinched a spot in the 2026 World Cup with a win over Bahrain on Thursday in Saitama.

SOCCER / World cup

Mar 23, 2025

Japan’s quiet World Cup celebrations show it is hungry for much more

Samurai Blue celebrated its qualification for the World Cup with victory speeches and a water shower for coach Hajime Moriyasu. But this squad has much bigger aims.

Vissel's Daiju Sasaki (right) and Sanfrecce's Sho Sasaki jump for a ball during their Super Cup match on Feb. 8.

SOCCER / J. League

Feb 13, 2025

Vissel hoping for J. League three-peat as rivals aim to spoil party

Sanfrecce Hiroshima has come back stronger and is one of the clubs that can spoil Vissel’s bid for a three-peat.

Vissel Kobe players celebrate after clinching the J1 league title for the second straight season, on Sunday at Noevir Stadium Kobe.

SOCCER / J. League

Dec 8, 2024

Vissel Kobe defends J1 championship after roller-coaster title race

The defending champions cruised past Shonan Bellmare 3-0 at home thanks to goals from Taisei Miyashiro, Yoshinori Muto and Takahiro Ogihara.

Vissel Kobe players celebrate with the trophy after the club knocked off Gamba Osaka on Saturday at National Stadium in Tokyo to secure the Emperor's Cup.

SOCCER

Nov 23, 2024

Paper tiger no more as Vissel Kobe collects another trophy

Over the years, Vissel made more headlines for signing aging European players, but now it’s starting to accumulate trophies rather than stars.

Nagoya Grampus players celebrate after the club won the Levain Cup at National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday

SOCCER / J. League

Nov 2, 2024

Keeper Mitch Langerak gets perfect send-off as Nagoya captures Levain Cup

Langerak converted one of Grampus’ five successful kicks during penalties in a roller coaster win over Albirex Niigata on Saturday.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.

What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival

By Alex K.T. Martin

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