Football in Japan
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Ska_naru_soccer_uniform.jpg
Japanese girl dressed as Naru from Love Hina, in a soccer uniform.
Soccer, or football in Japan, is organized professionally by the J. League and the Japan Football Association.
Football is the second most popular sport after baseball among the younger generation.
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History
For a long time, football had been uniquely unpopular in Japan. It had a core of fans but it lagged behind popularity in baseball and even rugby.
Football was introduced in Meiji period along with other sports. In 1920s, associations were organized and tournaments began in universities and high school. In 1930, the Japan national football team had a 3-3 tie with China for the first title at the Far Eastern Games. In 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, Japan had a first victory in a olympic game with a 3-2 victory over Sweden.
In 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, the Japan national team had its first big success winning third place and a bronze medal. In 1993 Japan Professional Football League started with a hundred year goal, making football a sports everyone can enjoy. In 1998 Japan participated in FIFA World Cup France 98 for the first time in history. In 2002, Japan co-hosted FIFA World Cup 2002 with Republic of Korea. The Japan national team reached Round of 16.
Leagues and Tournaments
- J. League (Japan Professional Football League) is the top national league in Japan with a J1 division, a J2 division.
- Japan Football League (JFL) is the national amateur league.
- Emperor's Cup (Since 1921)
- 3rd Asian Games TOKYO 1958
- Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964
- 2nd FIFA World Youth Championship 1979
- 10th Asian Cup 1992 HIROSHIMA
- 5th FIFA U-17 World Championship 1993
- 12th Asian Games HIROSHIMA 1994
- FIFA Confederations Cup Korea/Japan 2001
- 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan
- Toyota European/South American Cup (1981 - 2004)
Players
- Alex
- Junichi Inamoto
- Kunishige Kamamoto
- Kazuyoshi Miura
- Hidetoshi Nakata
- Yasuhiko Okudera
- Shinji Ono
Records
- Mexico Olympic Games in 1968 - Bronze Medal
- 2nd Dynasty Cup 1992 - Champion
- 10th Asian Cup 1992 Hiroshima - Champion
- 5th Afro-Asian Nations Cup 1993 - Champion
- 3rd Dynasty Cup 1995 - Champion
- 4th Dynasty Cup 1998 - Champion
- 10th FIFA World Youth Championship 1999 - Silver Medal
- 12th Asian Cup 2000 Lebanon - Champion
- FIFA Confederation Cup Korea/Japan 2001 - Silver Medal
- 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan - Round of 16
- 13th Asian Cup 2004 China - Champion
Football in Fiction
The first football-oriented manga series, Captain Tsubasa, was started in 1981. Captain Tsubasa became popular. People who grew up reading Captain Tsubasa are now in their 20s and 30s; they became fans and players of football.
See also
External Link
- Japan Football Association (http://www.jfa.or.jp/)(English version (http://www.jfa.or.jp/e/index.html))