Summary of Key Points
It has taken Japan's football team forty years to transform from a "learner" that had to pay to play against stronger teams in order to gain experience, to a powerhouse that is now actively invited by world-class teams and even capable of defeating them. This journey has involved establishing a long-term talent development system with youth training programs and adapting tactics to their own strengths.
1. Playing Against Strong Teams for Warm-Up: From Paying to Being Paid
In the past, when Japanese football was weak, they had to pay to play against stronger teams. Before the Qatar World Cup, they spent 300 million yen just to host a match against Brazil, the world's number one team, and even asked Brazil to send their best players (like Neymar) while sharing the costs with South Korea. Although they lost 0-1, the players gained valuable experience in top-level competition. Now, things have changed: Japan is in a position where England pays to host a match against them, and in 2023, Germany invited Japan, covering all expenses including flights and accommodation, and Japan won 4-1, which led to the German coach being sacked. This shows that strength gives you the power to set terms and the opportunity to earn money.
2. Youth Training Programs: Accumulating Experience for the Future
Japan's approach goes beyond short-term victories; they are also planning for the long term. They have a "training partner program" where U19 teams accompany the national team to World Cups as practice partners. For example, Shinsuke Kagawa was not selected for the national team in 2010 but went to South Africa as a trainee and later became a key player for both Dortmund and the national team. Players like Kei-yei Kubo and Yohei Ito, who were part of that squad, are now regulars in the national team. This year, 20 U19 players accompanied the national team throughout the World Cup, with all expenses covered by the football federation. These young players will be the core of the Japanese U20 team in 2027, and getting early exposure to top-level competition will help them quickly take on bigger roles in the future. The same approach is being used for the women's team; Momo Takagawa, who trained with the national team in 2023, has now joined Bayern Munich's women's team and made it to the top ten of the world U21 squad.
3. Tactical Innovation: Using East Asian Wisdom to Compensate for Physical Weaknesses
East Asian players are generally not as physically strong as those from Europe and America, so traditional defensive strategies may not be effective. Coach Takeshi Shimamoto came up with a creative approach: instead of training defenders to attack, he had attackers play defensive roles (for example, having wingers move back to play as full-backs). During the Qatar World Cup, when Japan was behind Germany and Spain, they switched to a 3-center-back formation and used their aggressive play to wear down the opponents' defenders. This tactic proved successful in their comeback victory. This year's World Cup saw them adopting a more systematic 3-4-3 formation, with Jyoichi Nakamura, a forward from Ligue 1, playing as a left-wing back and using counters to score goals. Winger Ryo Sugiura was willing to play as a full-back, saying, "I'm willing to increase our win rate by even 1% if it helps the team win."
4. From Manga to Reality: Forty Years of Solid Progress
In 1981, the manga "Shonan Kousen" (The Young Footballer) depicted a struggling Japanese football scene where they were advised to learn from China. Over the past forty years, Japan has followed the advice in the manga: sending players to play in Brazil and Europe, establishing professional leagues, and focusing on youth training and matches against strong teams. Now, the Japanese team is unbeaten in their group stage, and every win fills Tokyo's Shibuya with celebrating young people. The 3-2 comeback against Brazil at this year's World Cup was like a scenario from the manga coming true. Japan has built their strength by facing tough challenges rather than relying on weak opponents. Watching them play gives us hope that by doing the right things consistently, progress is possible.
Conclusion
Japan's rise in football is not due to luck or a sudden surge of talent; it's the result of a systematic approach that includes paying to learn from experienced teams, investing in future talent, adapting tactics to their own strengths, and maintaining long-term commitment. This journey offers valuable lessons for any field: to become stronger, one must refuse to be complacent, be willing to invest for the future, find the right methods, and keep moving forward with determination.