How Strong Is Japanese Football Today?

In recent years, Japanese footballers have been making a name for themselves across the footballing world. While only a small number of Japanese players managed to establish themselves in European leagues in the past, Japanese footballers are now becoming increasingly common in almost every major league.

At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, only four members of Japan’s national team were playing their football overseas. By comparison, at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, just six of Japan’s 26-man squad were playing in their domestic league, while the remaining 20 were based abroad.

Those 20 players were competing in leagues across countries including France, Scotland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, the United States, England, Portugal, Belgium, and Germany.

There is no denying that Japanese football has continued to improve over the years. One of the clearest examples came at the 2022 World Cup, when Japan defeated European powerhouses Germany and Spain, demonstrating just how far the national team had progressed.

Japan’s domestic competition, the J.League, has also become an important destination for scouting talent in Asia. European clubs are increasingly paying attention to Japanese players, and several developments have helped them find pathways into European football.

One club that has played a role in connecting Japanese players with European football is Belgian side Sint-Truidense V.V., commonly known as STVV. In 2017, Japanese billionaire Keishi Kameyama reportedly acquired the Belgian club, helping create opportunities for Japanese footballers to experience European football and become more familiar with the European game.

The J.League has also attracted the attention of clubs from abroad. Among the English Premier League clubs that have been associated with scouting Japanese talent are Southampton and Manchester United.

As a result, more Japanese players have gradually earned places in the line-ups of prominent European clubs. Take Takehiro Tomiyasu, Wataru Endo, and Kaoru Mitoma, for example. These players have become important figures for their respective teams and have helped raise the profile of Japanese football across Europe.

Many Japanese players have also moved to leagues such as those in Belgium and Poland, using them as stepping stones toward opportunities at a higher level in European football.

However, Japan’s progress has not come from overseas transfers alone. The country has worked to improve its footballing standards from the grassroots level upward, focusing on developing players with the technical ability and overall quality required to compete in Europe.

Various initiatives have helped support this development, including school football competitions, television programmes, and football academies designed to improve young players’ skills. These opportunities allow children to develop an interest in football and begin building their abilities from an early age.

Rather than focusing only on the national team or professional clubs, Japan has made changes throughout its football development system, laying the foundations for long-term progress.

Today, the results of those efforts are becoming increasingly visible. Japanese footballers are making their mark on the European stage, while Japan’s national team continues to improve and compete against some of the strongest sides in international football.

Japan’s rise is a reminder that sustained investment in youth development, better opportunities for players, and a clear long-term vision can help a nation steadily raise its footballing standards.

That brings us to the end of our look at how far Japanese football has progressed. Thank you very much to everyone who took the time to read this article all the way to the end. Your support is greatly appreciated.