The Japanese Connection

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Japan is famous for its blend of ancient traditions and hyper-modern innovation, its ancient shrines, geisha arts, tea ceremonies, its cuisine (sushi, ramen and takoyaki), its natural beauty and cherry blossoms, its hot springs, pop culture, Anime and Manga, its high-tech automated systems and cutting-edge electronics.

Its famous characters include; daimyo Oda Nobunaga, Samurai Sakamoto Ryoma and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, industrialist Matsushita Konosuke, animator Hayao Miyazaki, filmaker Akira Kurosawa, author Haruki Murakami, actors Ken Watanabe and Hiroyuki Sanada, video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, musician and peace activist Yoko Ono and any more.

Its main sports are baseball (legendary Sadaharu Oh, Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Otani ), Sumo Wrestling (Hakuho and Taiho), Martial Arts such as Judo, Kendo and Karate, Motor Sports (Takazumi Katayama, Tetsuya Harada and Daijiro Kato), Rugby (Daisuke Ohata, Michael Leitch and Kenki Fukuoka), Volleyball, Winter Sports (ski jumpers Ryoyu Kobayashi, Sara Takanashi, Noriaki Kasai and alpine skier Akira Sasaki), Athletics (marathon runners  Suguru Osako, Naoko Takahashi and Mizuki Noguchi), Archery and Tennis (Kei Nishikori and Naomi Osaka) but in the last thirty years or so also football.

The top Japanese clubs since 1992 (J1 League) are; Kashima Antlers  (9 titles), Yokohama F.Marinos (5), Kawasaki Frontale (4), Júbilo Iwata (3), Sanfrecce Hiroshima (3). The current champions are Kashima Antlers.

Japan have taken part in seven World Cups. Their debut came in 1998. Their best results have been the last 16 which they reached four times (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022). They are becoming regulars on the big stage and in the Qatar World Cup beat both Spain and Germany. They also qualified for the 2026 edition where the were eliminated by Brazil in the Round of 32.

Japan have won the Asian Cup four times (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011).

Japan's highest FIFA ranking was 9th in 1998 while currently they are 18th.

Their top 10 players with most appearances are; Yasuhito Endo (152), Yuto Nagatomo (145), Maya Yoshida (127), Masami Ihara (122), Shinji Okasaki (119), Yoshikatsu Kawzguchi (117), Nakoto Hasebe (114), Yuji Nakazawa (110), Shunsuke Nakamura (101) and Keisuke Honda (98).

The top 5 goal scorers are; Kunishige Kamamoto (75), Kazuyoshi Miur (55), Shinji Okazaki (50), Hiromi Hara (37), Keisuke Honda (37).

Several Japanese players have played in Italy and one for Lazio.

Kazuyoshi Miura - forward- he arrived at Genoa in 1994. He stayed one season playing 23 games with 1 goal (Sampdoria). He had previously played in Brazil (including Santos and Palmeiras) and then spent the rest of his career in Japan plus brief spells in Croatia, Australia and Portugal. He is still playing today at 59!! He earned 89 caps with 55 goals. 

He became famous in Italy for being the first Japanese player in Serie A and more frivolously for his nickname "Kazu"..

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Hidetoshi Nakata - midfielder- he arrived at Perugia in 1998. He played in Umbria for one and a half seasons, 55 games and 14 goals). In January 2000 he signed for Roma, 40 games with 6 goals and winning a Scudetto in 2001. He then joined Parma in 2001 and stayed two and a half seasons, playing 92 games with 9 goals and winning a Coppa Italia in 2002. In January 2004 he moved to Bologna on loan  for six months, playing 17 games with 2 goals. His last club in Italy was Fiorentina in 2004-05, playing 24 games. He then spent one more season with Bolton on loan in the Premier League.

Nakata was a quality box to box midfielder and was successful in Italy. He contributed to Roma's Scudetto also helped by a controversial change in the rules half way through the season which enabled clubs to field more than three non-EU players at the same time. This allowed Roma (who had pushed for the change) to play Nakata with Assunção, Batistuta, Aldair and Cafu. In the first game the Japanese came on from the bench against Juventus and got a goal and an assist in a 2-2 comeback which would prove decisive for the league title. 

Nakata played 77 times for Japan with 11 goals.

Hiroshi Nanami -  midfielder - he arrived at Venezia on loan in 1999 from Júbilo Iwata. He played 24 league games with 1 goal (Udinese). The lagunari were relegated and he returned to Japan. He earned 67 caps for Japan with 9 goals.

A decent midfielder, he was unlucky with his timing in his European experience. He is now assistant manager for Japan.

Shunsuke Nakamura - midfielder- he arrived at Reggina in 2002. He stayed three seasons, all in Serie A, playing 87 games with 12 goals. He then spent four seasons at Celtic and six months at Espanyol before returning to Japan (Yokohama F. Marinos, Júbilo Iwata and Yokohama FC). He earned 101 caps with 25 goals.

A skillful midfielder who did well in Italy.

Atsushi Yanigisawa - forward- he arrived at Sampdoria in 2003 after seven years with Kashima Antlers (4 league titles). He stayed on season with the Blucerchiati playing 18 games. In 2004 he joined Messina and stayed a season and a half playing 33 games with 1 goal (Acireale in coppa Italia). He returned to Kashima Antlers (a league title) then Kyoto Sanga and Vegalta Sendai.

He played 58 times for Japan with 17 goals. He won an Asian Cup in 2000.

In Italy he played reasonably regularly but without scoring enough goals so went back to Japan.

Tagayuki Morimoto - forward- he arrived at Catania in 2006. He stayed five seasons, all in Serie A, with 90 games and 20 goals (including Roma x3, Juventus, Palermo and Napoli). He then spent a season at Novara, 18 games and 4 goals before returning to Catania for another six months with 8 more games. He then went to Al -Nasr, JEF United Chiba, Kawasaki Frontale and Avispa Fukuoka (all in (Japan), AEP Karagiannis (Greece), Sp. Luqueño (Paraguay) and Taichung Futuro (China).

He earned 10 caps for Japan with 3 goals.

He had his moments in Italy and despite suffering a serious injury in his first season he then returned and scored some important goals.

Masashi Oguro - forward- he arrived at Torino in 2006. He stayed two seasons but only played 10 games with 0 goals. He had previously played for Gamba Osaka and briefly Grenoble in France. From Turin he returned to Japan; Tokyo Verdy, Yokohama FC and FC Tokyo (both on loan), Yokohama F. Marinos, Hangzhou Lücheng (China), Kyoto Sanga, Montedio Yamagata on loan, Kyoto Sanga again and Tochigi SC.

He earned 22 caps for Japan with 5 goals.

He left no trace in Italy.

Mitsuo Ogasawara - midfielder- in 2006 he arrived at Messina on loan after eight seasons with Kashima Antlers (3 league titles). He only stayed one season, playing 6 games in Serie A with 1 goal (Empoli). The Sicilians were relegated and Ogasawara went back to Kashima Antlers for another eleven seasons (another 4 league titles and an AFC Champions League in 2018).

He earned 55 caps  and scored 7 goals. He won an Asian Cup in 2004.

He was a defensive midfield playmaker but did not leave a mark in Serie A.

Yuto Nagatomo - defender/ midfielder- he arrived at Cesena in 2010. He stayed six months, playing 16 games in Serie A. In January 2011 he joined Inter and stayed eight years. He played 210 games with 11 goals and won a Coppa Italia in 2011. He left for Galatasaray (2 league titles) then Olympique Marseilles and from 2021 FC Tokyo.

He earned 145 caps (2nd all time) with 4 goals. He won an Asian Cup in 2011.

A small but strong, versatile and extremely quick player. He became very popular at Inter for his jovial character and above all his professionalism.

Keisuke Honda - midfielder- he arrived at Milan in 2014 from CSKA Moscow (2 league titles) He stayed in Milan for three seasons, playing 92 games with 11 goals and won a Supercoppa in 2016. He then played for Pachuca (Mexico), Melbourne Victory, Vitesse (Holland), Botaogo (Brazil), Neftçi Baku, Sūduva (Lithuania), Paro (Bhutan), Jurong (Singapore). A globetrotter (he was later Cambogia head coach from 2018-23).

He earned 98 Japanese caps with 37 goals. He won an Asian Cup in 2011.

He was a talented attacking midfielder. A strong, versatile left-footer with a good shot who was one of the more successful Japanese players in Italy especially as he was with such a big club.

Takehiro Tomiyasu - defender- he arrived at Bologna in 2019 from Sint-Truiden (Belgium). He stayed with the Rossoblu for two seasons playing 64 games with 3 goals (Milan, Atalanta, Udinese). He left for Arsenal (4 seasons and 1 Community Shield) and from December 2025 is at Ajax.

He has 43 caps for Japan with 1 goal (Saudi Arabia).

He is a solid, strong and quick central defender. His positive performances at Bologna earned him a move to Arsenal.

Maya Yoshida - defender- he arrived at Sampdoria in January 2020 from Southampton. He stayed two and a half seasons, playing 74 games with 3 goals (Parma, Inter, Juventus). He left for Schalke 04 and then LA Galaxy.

He has 127 caps (3rd all time) with 12 goals. He won an Asian Cup in 2011.

A big, strong, clean centre-back who held his own in Italian football

Daichi Kamada - midfielder- he arrived at Lazio in 2023 from Eintracht Frankfurt (a Europa League and German Cup). At Lazio he only stayed one season, playing 38 games with 2 goals (Napoli, Inter). He then left for Crystal Palace (an FA Cup and Conference League).

He has 51 caps for Japan with 14 goals.

He is an attacking midfielder. He is dynamic, plays with both feet, a good assist man with a decent shot. He was however disappointing at Lazio. He arrived amid general excitement but he was timid and never really settled. In his defence it was a difficult year for Lazio with a change of manager during the season and a final 7th place finish.

Official SS Lazio photo

Zion Suzuk i- goalkeeper- he arrived at Parma in 2024 from Sint-Truiden in Belgium. He has just completed his second season with 59 games so far. He also holds an US passport as he was born in Newark. 

He has 24 caps for Japan.

He is doing well in Italy and imposing himself as one of the better young keepers (he is 23).

He was the only Japanese player present in Italy in 2025-26.