The Japan national football teams are the national teams organized by Japan Football Association. They are categorized by sex, age, and types of football. Men's teams include the Japan national football team、national team for the Universiade, national team for the Olympics composed of members under the age of 23, and even futsal and beach football teams. Women's teams are alike: Japan women's national football team、national team for the Universiade, other teams categorized by ages and women's futsal team but not the national beach football team. The official nickname for the Japan national football team is "SAMURAI BLUE" due to their uniform color and samurai. Women's national football team's nickname is "Nadeshiko Japan", named after "yamato nadeshiko", a word praising the neatness and beauty of Japanese women.

The Japan National Football Team-History

The first international game that the Japanese national team played was against the Republic of China for the 3rd Far Eastern Championships, held on May 5th, 1917. The score was 0-5 in favor of China. 4 years later, the Greater Japan Football Association, the former Japan Football Association, was founded and admitted to FIFA in 1929. The Japan national football team could not win a game for the next 6 years, but on the 8th Far Eastern Championship games, Japan defeated the Philippines for 2-1, marking Japan's first victory of an international match. It was in 1927, 10 years after their first game on international level. In 1930, on the 9th Far Eastern Championships, for the first time Japan organized its official national team and won its first title. Since then, the Japan national football team has fought for many championships. They won the bronze medal in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City, and was defeated by a narrow margin in the qualification matches of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. In 1993, an Iraqi goal against Japan during the additional time ended the match in a draw, depriving Japan of its first appearance in the World Cup finals. This is known among the Japanese people as the Agony of Doha. Other memorable events include: the Miracle of Miami in which Japan defeated Brazil during the Atlanta Olympics and the Joy of Johor Bahru in which Japan earned its first entry to the World Cup finals for making a golden goal in the play-off against Iran in 1998.