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A team across generations. Build your eleven, then explore the careers.
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A team across generations
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The 330 on the pitch
The duels
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The 33 of Japan.
Editorial order, with a career scene and sources behind every name.
01
HN
Hidetoshi Nakata 77 caps (Japan) · 11 goals · Shonan Bellmare, A.C. Perugia Calcio
CM1997–2006
03
Keisuke Honda 98 caps (Japan) · 38 goals · Nagoya Grampus, PFC CSKA MoscowJapan needed only a draw against Denmark in Rustenburg on 24 June 2010, and Honda opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a knuckling free kick that dipped away from Thomas Sorensen.
RM2008–2018
Keisuke Honda 98 caps (Japan) · 38 goals · Nagoya Grampus, PFC CSKA MoscowJapan needed only a draw against Denmark in Rustenburg on 24 June 2010, and Honda opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a knuckling free kick that dipped away from Thomas Sorensen.
RM2008–2018
04
Makoto Hasebe Urawa Red Diamonds, VfL WolfsburgFrankfurt trusted him with the armband deep into his thirties, and on 6 June 2020 he went past Cha Bum-kun as the Asian player with the most Bundesliga appearances, finishing his career on 380.
CDM2006–
Makoto Hasebe Urawa Red Diamonds, VfL WolfsburgFrankfurt trusted him with the armband deep into his thirties, and on 6 June 2020 he went past Cha Bum-kun as the Asian player with the most Bundesliga appearances, finishing his career on 380.
CDM2006–
05
Shunsuke Nakamura 98 caps (Japan) · 24 goals · Yokohama F. Marinos, AS Reggina 1914Celtic Park, 21 November 2006: Nakamura bent a free kick from 30 yards past Edwin van der Sar late on, and the 1-0 win over Manchester United sent Celtic into the knockout rounds for the first time.
CAM2000–2010
Shunsuke Nakamura 98 caps (Japan) · 24 goals · Yokohama F. Marinos, AS Reggina 1914Celtic Park, 21 November 2006: Nakamura bent a free kick from 30 yards past Edwin van der Sar late on, and the 1-0 win over Manchester United sent Celtic into the knockout rounds for the first time.
CAM2000–2010
06
Kaoru Mitoma University of Tsukuba Football Club, Kawasaki FrontaleWith the ball apparently gone over the byline in Doha on 2 December 2022, Mitoma stretched and hooked it back a fraction inside, and Ao Tanaka turned in the goal that beat Spain 2-1.
LM
Kaoru Mitoma University of Tsukuba Football Club, Kawasaki FrontaleWith the ball apparently gone over the byline in Doha on 2 December 2022, Mitoma stretched and hooked it back a fraction inside, and Ao Tanaka turned in the goal that beat Spain 2-1.Career sources
Identity and career · Wikidata Q44395063
07
KM
Kazuyoshi Miura 89 caps (Japan) · 55 goals · Tokyo Verdy, Vissel KobeOn 26 July 2026, aged 59, Kazu scored in the 52nd minute of Fukushima United's 7-0 Emperor's Cup win over Iwaki Furukawa, his first competitive goal in almost four years.
ST1990–2000
09
TT
Takehiro Tomiyasu 46 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Japan) · Avispa Fukuoka, Bologna F.C. 1909
CB2018–
10
Yasuhito Endo 152 caps (Japan) · Kyoto Sanga, Gamba OsakaNo one has played more J.League football than Endo's 672 matches, and on 2 August 2019 he came off the bench for Gamba Osaka against Vissel Kobe to reach 1,000 official appearances.
CDM2002–2015
Yasuhito Endo 152 caps (Japan) · Kyoto Sanga, Gamba OsakaNo one has played more J.League football than Endo's 672 matches, and on 2 August 2019 he came off the bench for Gamba Osaka against Vissel Kobe to reach 1,000 official appearances.
CDM2002–2015
11
Yuto Nagatomo 145 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Japan) · FC Tokyo, Inter MilanAt 39 years and 286 days he came off the bench at the 2026 World Cup, Japan's oldest player at a finals and the first Asian to appear at five of them.
LB2008–
Yuto Nagatomo 145 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Japan) · FC Tokyo, Inter MilanAt 39 years and 286 days he came off the bench at the 2026 World Cup, Japan's oldest player at a finals and the first Asian to appear at five of them.
LB2008–
14
Shinji Okazaki 119 caps (Japan) · 50 goals · Shimizu S-Pulse, 1. FSV Mainz 05The bicycle kick that beat Newcastle on 14 March 2016 came from a Vardy header across goal, and it put Leicester five points clear with eight games left.
LM2008–2019
Shinji Okazaki 119 caps (Japan) · 50 goals · Shimizu S-Pulse, 1. FSV Mainz 05The bicycle kick that beat Newcastle on 14 March 2016 came from a Vardy header across goal, and it put Leicester five points clear with eight games left.
LM2008–2019
15
TK
Takefusa Kubo 48 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Japan) · 7 (as of 4 October 2026) goals · FC Tokyo, RCD MallorcaTwenty-four minutes into his Real Sociedad debut at Cádiz, Kubo ran onto a Mikel Merino pass and scored the only goal of the match, aged 21 years and 71 days on 14 August 2022.
RM2019–
17
Takumi Minamino 73 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Japan) · 26 (as of 4 October 2026) goals · Cerezo Osaka, FC Red Bull SalzburgAt Anfield on 2 October 2019 he scored in Salzburg's 4-3 defeat and gave Liverpool's defence a torrid night; three months later they bought him.
SS2015–
Takumi Minamino 73 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Japan) · 26 (as of 4 October 2026) goals · Cerezo Osaka, FC Red Bull SalzburgAt Anfield on 2 October 2019 he scored in Salzburg's 4-3 defeat and gave Liverpool's defence a torrid night; three months later they bought him.
SS2015–
18
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi 116 caps (Japan) · Yokohama F. Marinos, Júbilo IwataChongqing, 31 July 2004: Japan's first two takers had missed against Jordan when the shootout was switched to the other goal, and Kawaguchi then saved two Jordanian penalties to win it 4-3.
GK1997–2008
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi 116 caps (Japan) · Yokohama F. Marinos, Júbilo IwataChongqing, 31 July 2004: Japan's first two takers had missed against Jordan when the shootout was switched to the other goal, and Kawaguchi then saved two Jordanian penalties to win it 4-3.
GK1997–2008
19
Yuji Nakazawa 110 caps (Japan) · América Futebol Clube, Tokyo VerdyBahrain led 3-2 in the Jinan semi-final on 3 August 2004 when Nakazawa, the centre-back Japan called Bomber, flung himself at a loose ball and headed the equaliser in the 90th minute.
CB1999–2010
Yuji Nakazawa 110 caps (Japan) · América Futebol Clube, Tokyo VerdyBahrain led 3-2 in the Jinan semi-final on 3 August 2004 when Nakazawa, the centre-back Japan called Bomber, flung himself at a loose ball and headed the equaliser in the 90th minute.
CB1999–2010
21
MT
Marcus Tulio Tanaka 43 caps (Japan) · Mito HollyHock, Urawa Red DiamondsJapan played four matches at the 2010 World Cup and he was on the pitch for all 390 minutes, part of a back line that conceded twice before Paraguay knocked them out on penalties.
CB2006–2010
24
Takashi Inui 36 caps (Japan) · 6 goals · Eintracht Frankfurt, SD EibarAt Camp Nou on 21 May 2017 he put Eibar ahead in the seventh minute and volleyed a second just past the hour, the first Japanese player to score against Barcelona in La Liga.
LM2009–2019
Takashi Inui 36 caps (Japan) · 6 goals · Eintracht Frankfurt, SD EibarAt Camp Nou on 21 May 2017 he put Eibar ahead in the seventh minute and volleyed a second just past the hour, the first Japanese player to score against Barcelona in La Liga.
LM2009–2019
28
AY
Atsushi Yanagisawa 58 caps (Japan) · 17 goals · Kashima Antlers, Kyoto SangaHe was the centre-forward in the Kashima side that took the J.League, Emperor's Cup and League Cup in 2000, the first treble any Japanese club managed, and the country voted him its footballer of the year in 2001.
ST1998–2006
29
Gaku Shibasaki 45 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Japan) · 3 (as of 4 October 2026) goals · Kashima Antlers, Getafe CF
CM2014–
Gaku Shibasaki 45 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Japan) · 3 (as of 4 October 2026) goals · Kashima Antlers, Getafe CF
CM2014–
30
TM
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto 71 caps (Japan) · Gamba Osaka, FC Red Bull SalzburgA nasal fracture put him in a black protective mask through the 2002 World Cup, and he captained the hosts out of Group H into the last sixteen for the first time in Japan's history.
CB2000–2006
33
Shuichi Gonda 3 caps (Japan) · FC Tokyo, Sagan TosuAgainst Germany on 23 November 2022 he turned away Jonas Hofmann and then Serge Gnabry, and Japan were still one down when they scored twice late to win.
GK2010–2015
Shuichi Gonda 3 caps (Japan) · FC Tokyo, Sagan TosuAgainst Germany on 23 November 2022 he turned away Jonas Hofmann and then Serge Gnabry, and Japan were still one down when they scored twice late to win.
GK2010–2015
About this XI
Japan's pool is led by Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda. The 33 covers 3 goalkeepers, 9 defenders, 15 midfielders and 6 forwards, with sourced senior international careers spanning the 1960s to the 2020s. Pick a formation, drag your eleven onto the pitch, then explore the careers and settle the duels below. Your votes reorder the people's ranking of these 33 in real time.
Left out, and why
A 33 is a set of decisions, and these are the players who lost their place in the last revision of Japan's list. Every one of them has a case.
- Akira KajiThe place went to Kaoru Mitoma.
Disagree? That is the point. Settle it in the duels above.
Who is the greatest Japan footballer of all time?
The editorial collection starts with Hidetoshi Nakata. Its first five careers: Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Kagawa, Keisuke Honda, Makoto Hasebe, Shunsuke Nakamura. The people's ranking on this page moves with every duel vote and can disagree.
How were these 33 Japan players chosen?
The collection covers every position across Japan's football history. Honours, international records and career achievements inform the editorial order. Each entry opens a career note and its sources. Fan votes in the duels build a separate ranking.
Where can I read about the careers?
Open a player page from the collection to read the career scene, club record and recorded honours. The source links show where the available records come from.
Can I build and share my own Japan all-time XI?
Yes. Pick one of 8 formations, place any of the 33 players onto the pitch, and export your lineup as a PNG. There is no account and no sign-up.