# Japan national football team records and statistics

The following is a list of the Japan national football team's competitive records and statistics.

## Player records

    As of 5 December 2022
    Players in bold are still active with Japan.

### Most capped players

| Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Position | Career |
| 1 | Yasuhito Endō | 152 | 15 | MF | 2002–2015 |
| 2 | Yuto Nagatomo | 142 | 4 | DF | 2008–present |
| 3 | Maya Yoshida | 125 | 12 | DF | 2010–2022 |
| 4 | Masami Ihara | 122 | 5 | DF | 1988–1999 |
| 5 | Shinji Okazaki | 119 | 50 | FW | 2008–2019 |
| 6 | Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi | 116 | 0 | GK | 1997–2010 |
| 7 | Makoto Hasebe | 114 | 2 | MF | 2006–2018 |
| 8 | Yuji Nakazawa | 110 | 17 | DF | 1999–2010 |
| 9 | Shunsuke Nakamura | 98 | 24 | MF | 2000–2010 |
| 9 | Keisuke Honda | 98 | 37 | MF | 2008–2018 |

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
| 1 | Kunishige Kamamoto | 75 | 76 | 0.99 | 1964–1977 |
| 2 | Kazuyoshi Miura | 55 | 89 | 0.62 | 1990–2000 |
| 3 | Shinji Okazaki | 50 | 119 | 0.42 | 2008–2019 |
| 4 | Hiromi Hara | 37 | 75 | 0.49 | 1978–1988 |
| 4 | Keisuke Honda | 37 | 98 | 0.38 | 2008–2018 |
| 6 | Shinji Kagawa | 31 | 97 | 0.32 | 2008–2019 |
| 7 | Takuya Takagi | 27 | 44 | 0.61 | 1992–1997 |
| 8 | Kazushi Kimura | 26 | 54 | 0.48 | 1979–1986 |
| 9 | Yuya Osako | 25 | 57 | 0.44 | 2013–2022 |
| 10 | Shunsuke Nakamura | 24 | 98 | 0.24 | 2000–2010 |

### Other records

Updated 29 March 2022
* Youngest player
    Daisuke Ichikawa, 17 years and 322 days old, 1 April 1998 against South Korea
* Youngest goalscorer
    Shinji Kagawa, 19 years and 206 days old, 9 October 2008 against United Arab Emirates
* Youngest captain
    Gen Shoji, 24 years and 363 days old, 9 December 2017 EAFF E-1 Championship
* Oldest player
    Eiji Kawashima, 39 years and 9 days old, 29 March 2022 against Vietnam
* Oldest goalscorer
    Masashi Nakayama, 33 years and 326 days old, 15 August 2001 against Australia
* Oldest captain
    Shigeo Yaegashi, 35 years and 203 days old, 13 October 1968 Summer Olympics
* Most hat-trick
    8, Kunishige Kamamoto
* Most goal in one match
    6, Kunishige Kamamoto, 27 September 1967 against Philippines
    6, Kazuyoshi Miura, 22 June 1997 against Macau
* Most goal in calendar year
    18, Kazuyoshi Miura, 1997

## Manager records
### Most appearances

| Rank | Manager | Apps | Wins | Tenure |
| 1 | Zico | 71 | 37 | 2002–2006 |
| 2 | Alberto Zaccheroni | 55 | 30 | 2010–2014 |
| 3 | Philippe Troussier | 50 | 23 | 1998–2002 |
| 3 | Takeshi Okada | 50 | 26 | 2007–2010 |
| 5 | Hajime Moriyasu | 50 | 36 | 2018– |
| 6 | Shu Kamo | 46 | 23 | 1994–1997 |
| 7 | Takaji Mori | 43 | 23 | 1981–1985 |
| 8 | Ken Naganuma (2nd) | 42 | 16 | 1972–1976 |
| 9 | Vahid Halilhodžić | 38 | 21 | 2015–2018 |
| 10 | Ken Naganuma (1st) | 31 | 18 | 1963–1969 |

### Manager achievements

| Manager | Tournament |
| Zico | AFC Asian Cup Winners (2004) EAFF Championship Runners-up (2003, 2005) |
| Philippe Troussier | FIFA Confederations Cup Runners-up (2001) AFC Asian Cup Winners (2000) |
| Alberto Zaccheroni | AFC Asian Cup Winners (2011) EAFF Championship Winners (2013) |
| Ken Naganuma | Summer Olympics Third place (1968) Asian Games Third place (1966) |
| Hajime Moriyasu | AFC Asian Cup Runners-up (2019) EAFF Championship Runners-up (2019), Winners (2022) |
| Hans Ooft | AFC Asian Cup Winners (1992) |
| Hirokazu Ninomiya | Asian Games Third place (1951) |
| Takeshi Okada | EAFF Championship Runners-up (2008), Third place (2010) |
| Vahid Halilhodžić | EAFF Championship Runners-up (2017) |

## Team records

Updated 19 January 2024

### Biggest victory

    15–0 vs Philippines, 27 September 1967

### Heaviest defeat

    15–2 vs Philippines, 10 May 1917

### Most consecutive victories

    11, 15 June 2023 vs. El Salvador – 14 January 2024 vs. Vietnam

### Most consecutive matches without defeat

    20, 24 June 2010 vs. Denmark – 11 November 2011 vs. Tajikistan

### Most consecutive defeats

    6, 10 June 1956 vs. South Korea – 28 December 1958 vs. Malaya

### Most consecutive matches without victory

    11, 13 August 1976 vs. Burma – 15 June 1976 vs. South Korea

### Most consecutive draws

    4, 13 August 1976 vs. Burma – 20 August 1976 vs. Malaysia

### Most consecutive matches scoring

    17, 1 December 2022 vs. Spain – 24 January 2024 vs. Indonesia

### Most consecutive matches without scoring

    6, 18 June 1989 vs. Hong Kong – 31 July 1990 vs. North Korea

### Most consecutive matches conceding a goal

    28, 6 November 1960 vs. South Korea – 11 December 1966 vs. Iran

### Most consecutive matches without conceding a goal

    7, 19 November 2003 vs. Cameroon – 18 February 2004 vs. Oman

## Competitive record

Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
    *Denotes draws includes knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out. Red border indicates that the tournament was hosted on home soil. Gold, silver, bronze backgrounds indicate 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishes respectively. Bold text indicates best finish in tournament.

### FIFA World Cup

| FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record |
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1930 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | No qualification | No qualification | No qualification | No qualification | No qualification | No qualification |
| 1934 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1938 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1950 | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA | Suspended from FIFA |
| 1954 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 1958 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1962 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 1966 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1970 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| 1974 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 1978 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 1982 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 1986 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 5 |
| 1990 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| 1994 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 35 | 6 |
| 1998 | Group stage | 31st | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 51 | 12 |
| 2002 | Round of 16 | 9th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts |
| 2006 | Group stage | 28th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 5 |
| 2010 | Round of 16 | 9th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 9 |
| 2014 | Group stage | 29th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 8 |
| 2018 | Round of 16 | 15th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 44 | 7 |
| 2022 | Round of 16 | 9th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 58 | 6 |
| 2026 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | In progress | In progress | In progress | In progress | In progress | In progress |
| Total | Round of 16 | 7/22 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 25 | 33 | 138 | 83 | 27 | 28 | 305 | 91 |

### AFC Asian Cup

| AFC Asian Cup record | AFC Asian Cup record | AFC Asian Cup record | AFC Asian Cup record | AFC Asian Cup record | AFC Asian Cup record | AFC Asian Cup record | AFC Asian Cup record | AFC Asian Cup record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record |
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1956 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1960 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1964 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1968 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 |
| 1972 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1976 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 1980 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1984 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1988 | Group stage | 10th | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| 1992 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts |
| 1996 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions |
| 2000 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 2004 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 6 | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions |
| 2007 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 2 |
| 2011 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 4 |
| 2015 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions | Qualified as champions |
| 2019 | Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 2023 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
| 2027 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Total | 4 Titles | 11/19 | 53 | 33 | 12 | 8 | 104 | 52 | 50 | 41 | 4 | 5 | 162 | 19 |

### Copa América

Japan is the first team from outside the Americas to participate in the Copa América, having been invited to the 1999 Copa América. Japan was also invited to the 2011 tournament and initially accepted the invitation. However, following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the JFA later withdrew on 16 May 2011, citing the difficulty of releasing some Japanese players from European teams to play as replacements. On the next day, CONMEBOL invited Costa Rica to replace Japan in the competition.
On 16 August 2013, CONMEBOL president Eugenio Figueredo announced that Japan was invited to the 2015 Copa América. However, Japan later declined the invitation due to scheduling problems.
On 14 May 2018, CONMEBOL announced that Japan, alongside Qatar, would be the two invited teams for the 2019 Copa América.
Copa América record :
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1999 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 2011 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 2015 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 2019 | Group stage | 9th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Total | Group stage | 2/47 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
CONMEBOL Copa América history :
| Year | Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Stadium |
| 1999 | Group stage | 29 June | Peru | L 2–3 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción |
| 1999 | Group stage | 2 July | Paraguay | L 0–4 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción |
| 1999 | Group stage | 5 July | Bolivia | D 1–1 | Monumental Rio Parapiti, Pedro Juan Caballero |
| 2019 | Group stage | 17 June | Chile | L 0–4 | Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo |
| 2019 | Group stage | 20 June | Uruguay | D 2–2 | Arena do Grêmio, Porto Alegre |
| 2019 | Group stage | 24 June | Ecuador | D 1–1 | Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte |

### FIFA Confederations Cup

FIFA Confederations Cup record :
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad |
| 1992 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1995 | Group stage | 6th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | Squad |
| 1997 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1999 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2001 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | Squad |
| 2003 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | Squad |
| 2005 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Squad |
| 2009 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | Squad |
| 2017 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| Total | Runners-up | 5/10 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 19 | 25 | – |

### Olympic Games

Since 1992, the Olympic team has been drawn from a squad with a maximum of three players over 23 years age, and the achievements of this team are not generally regarded as part of the national team's records, nor are the statistics credited to the players' international records.
| Summer Olympics record | Summer Olympics record | Summer Olympics record | Summer Olympics record | Summer Olympics record | Summer Olympics record | Summer Olympics record | Summer Olympics record | Summer Olympics record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record |
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1908 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1912 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1920 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1924 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1928 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1936 | Quarter-finals | 8th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1948 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | First round | 10th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | Quarter-finals | 8th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts |
| 1968 | Bronze medalists | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992–present | See Japan national under-23 team | See Japan national under-23 team | See Japan national under-23 team | See Japan national under-23 team | See Japan national under-23 team | See Japan national under-23 team | See Japan national under-23 team | See Japan national under-23 team | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Bronze medalists | 4/17 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Summer Olympics history :
| Year | Round | Score | Result |
| 1936 | First round | Japan 3–2 Sweden | Win |
| 1936 | Quarter-finals | Japan 0–8 Italy | Loss |
| 1956 | First round | Japan 0–2 Australia | Loss |
| 1964 | Group stage | Japan 3–2 Argentina | Win |
| 1964 | Group stage | Japan 2–3 Ghana | Loss |
| 1964 | Quarter-finals | Japan 0–4 Czechoslovakia | Loss |
| 1968 | Group stage | Japan 3–1 Nigeria | Win |
| 1968 | Group stage | Japan 1–1 Brazil | Draw |
| 1968 | Group stage | Japan 0–0 Spain | Draw |
| 1968 | Quarter-finals | Japan 3–1 France | Win |
| 1968 | Semi-finals | Japan 0–5 Hungary | Loss |
| 1968 | Bronze medal match | Japan 2–0 Mexico | Win |

### Asian Games

    Football at the Asian Games has been an under-23 tournament since 2002.
Asian Games record :
| Year | Result | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1951 | Third place | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| 1954 | 10th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 1958 | 12th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 1962 | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1966 | Third place | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 5 |
| 1970 | Fourth place | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 |
| 1974 | 9th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| 1978 | 9th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| 1982 | 5th | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| 1986 | 9th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
| 1990 | 8th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| 1994 | 7th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
| 1998 | 9th | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| 2002–present | See Japan national under-23 football team | See Japan national under-23 football team | See Japan national under-23 football team | See Japan national under-23 football team | See Japan national under-23 football team | See Japan national under-23 football team | See Japan national under-23 football team |
| Total | 13/13 | 50 | 25 | 4 | 21 | 83 | 56 |

## Head-to-head record

The list shown below shows the Japan national football team head-to-head record. As of 15 October 2024.

### Summary

    As of 15 October 2024
| Confederation | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| AFC | 530 | 284 | 110 | 136 | 1,070 | 552 | +518 |
| CAF | 38 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 63 | 39 | +24 |
| CONCACAF | 35 | 21 | 5 | 9 | 76 | 36 | +40 |
| CONMEBOL | 70 | 16 | 22 | 32 | 74 | 114 | –40 |
| OFC | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 9 | +5 |
| UEFA | 118 | 38 | 24 | 56 | 151 | 197 | –46 |
| Total | 799 | 387 | 168 | 244 | 1,437 | 948 | +489 |

### AFC

As of 15 October 2024
| Opponent | First meeting | Last meeting | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Afghanistan | 1951 | 2015 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | +13 |
| Australia | 1956 | 2024 | 26 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 36 | 32 | +4 |
| Bahrain | 1978 | 2024 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 11 | +15 |
| Bangladesh | 1975 | 1993 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | +21 |
| Brunei | 1980 | 2000 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | +16 |
| Cambodia | 1970 | 2015 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | +9 |
| China | 1917 | 2024 | 37 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 52 | 52 | 0 |
| Chinese Taipei | 1963 | 1983 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 8 | +9 |
| Hong Kong | 1958 | 2022 | 24 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 48 | 21 | +29 |
| India | 1954 | 2006 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 36 | 11 | +25 |
| Indonesia | 1934 | 2024 | 19 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 42 | 26 | +16 |
| Iran | 1951 | 2019 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 19 | +2 |
| Iraq | 1978 | 2024 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 12 | +8 |
| Jordan | 1988 | 2024 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 6 | +12 |
| Kuwait | 1978 | 1996 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | −6 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2018 | 2019 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 |
| Lebanon | 1967 | 1967 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 |
| Macau | 1980 | 2000 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | +26 |
| Malaysia | 1958 | 2004 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 40 | 43 | −3 |
| Mongolia | 2019 | 2021 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | +20 |
| Myanmar | 1955 | 2024 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 39 | 12 | +27 |
| Nepal | 1986 | 1997 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | +28 |
| North Korea | 1975 | 2024 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 14 | +6 |
| Oman | 1988 | 2021 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 5 | +15 |
| Pakistan | 1962 | 1988 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
| Palestine | 2015 | 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 |
| Philippines | 1915 | 1983 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 88 | 35 | +53 |
| Qatar | 1983 | 2019 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 15 | −3 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1990 | 2024 | 17 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 13 | +14 |
| Singapore | 1959 | 2015 | 26 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 58 | 18 | +40 |
| South Korea | 1954 | 2022 | 78 | 15 | 23 | 40 | 74 | 119 | −45 |
| South Vietnam | 1961 | 1973 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 5 | +9 |
| South Yemen | 1982 | 1982 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 |
| Sri Lanka | 1972 | 1993 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | +16 |
| Syria | 1978 | 2024 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 9 | +28 |
| Tajikistan | 2011 | 2021 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | +18 |
| Thailand | 1962 | 2024 | 23 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 57 | 16 | +41 |
| Turkmenistan | 2019 | 2019 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| United Arab Emirates | 1981 | 2017 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 22 | 17 | +5 |
| Uzbekistan | 1996 | 2019 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 10 | +20 |
| Vietnam | 2007 | 2024 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | +8 |
| Yemen | 2006 | 2010 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 |
| Total | 1917 | 2024 | 527 | 282 | 109 | 137 | 1,062 | 556 | +506 |

### CAF

As of 17 October 2023
| Opponent | From | To | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Angola | 2005 | 2005 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Cameroon | 2001 | 2020 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 |
| Egypt | 1998 | 2007 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 |
| Ghana | 1964 | 2022 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 14 | +4 |
| Ivory Coast | 1993 | 2020 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Mali | 2018 | 2018 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Nigeria | 1968 | 2003 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 |
| Senegal | 1987 | 2018 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 |
| South Africa | 2009 | 2009 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Togo | 2009 | 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 |
| Tunisia | 1996 | 2023 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 |
| Zambia | 2014 | 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 |
| Total | 1964 | 2021 | 37 | 22 | 7 | 8 | 59 | 35 | +24 |

### CONCACAF

As of 13 October 2023
| Opponent | From | To | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Canada | 2001 | 2023 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | +6 |
| Costa Rica | 1995 | 2022 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | +7 |
| El Salvador | 2019 | 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 |
| Guatemala | 2010 | 2013 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 |
| Haiti | 2017 | 2017 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Honduras | 2002 | 2014 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 7 | +7 |
| Jamaica | 1998 | 2014 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 |
| Mexico | 1996 | 2013 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 11 | −5 |
| Panama | 2018 | 2020 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 2006 | 2019 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| United States | 1993 | 2006 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 |
| Total | 1993 | 2023 | 32 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 74 | 34 | +40 |

### CONMEBOL

As of 20 June 2023
| Opponent | From | To | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Argentina | 1992 | 2010 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 15 | −11 |
| Bolivia | 1999 | 2019 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
| Brazil | 1989 | 2022 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 36 | −30 |
| Chile | 2008 | 2019 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Colombia | 2003 | 2023 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | −5 |
| Ecuador | 1995 | 2022 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 |
| Paraguay | 1995 | 2022 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 10 | +5 |
| Peru | 1967 | 2023 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | +2 |
| Uruguay | 1985 | 2023 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 26 | −6 |
| Venezuela | 2010 | 2019 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 8 | −3 |
| Total | 1967 | 2019 | 66 | 17 | 19 | 30 | 69 | 109 | −40 |

### OFC

As of 12 October 2021
| Opponent | From | To | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| New Zealand | 1981 | 2017 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 8 | +2 |
| Australia | 2021 | 2021 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| Total | 1981 | 2021 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 9 | +3 |

### UEFA

As of 12 September 2023
| Opponent | From | To | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Austria | 2007 | 2007 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Azerbaijan | 2012 | 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| Belarus | 2013 | 2013 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 |
| Belgium | 1999 | 2018 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 8 | +3 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2006 | 2016 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 |
| Bulgaria | 1976 | 2016 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 13 | −3 |
| Croatia | 1997 | 2022 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Cyprus | 2014 | 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Czech Republic | 1998 | 2011 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Denmark | 1971 | 2010 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 |
| England | 1995 | 2010 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 |
| Finland | 2006 | 2009 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 |
| France | 1994 | 2012 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 14 | −9 |
| Germany | 2004 | 2023 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 |
| Greece | 2005 | 2014 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Hungary | 1993 | 2004 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 |
| Iceland | 1971 | 2012 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 |
| Israel | 1973 | 1977 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 17 | −15 |
| Italy | 1936 | 2013 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 13 | −9 |
| Kazakhstan | 1997 | 2005 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 |
| Latvia | 2005 | 2013 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
| Malta | 2006 | 2006 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Montenegro | 2007 | 2007 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| Netherlands | 2009 | 2013 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 |
| Norway | 2002 | 2002 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 |
| Poland | 1981 | 2018 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 14 | −4 |
| Romania | 1974 | 2003 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 | −9 |
| Russia | 1978 | 2002 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | −8 |
| Scotland | 1995 | 2009 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| Serbia | 1961 | 2013 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 20 | −14 |
| Slovakia | 2000 | 2004 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
| Spain | 2001 | 2022 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Sweden | 1936 | 2002 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 12 | −4 |
| Switzerland | 2007 | 2018 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 |
| Turkey | 1997 | 2023 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| Ukraine | 2002 | 2018 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 |
| Wales | 1992 | 1992 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 |
| Total | 1936 | 2018 | 115 | 36 | 23 | 56 | 146 | 194 | −48 |

## FIFA World Ranking

    As of 20 February 2022, after the match against Saudi Arabia.
Best Ranking Best Mover Worst Ranking Worst Mover
Japan's FIFA World Ranking History :
| Rank | Year | Games Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Best | Best | Worst | Worst |
| Rank | Year | Games Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Rank | Move | Rank | Move |
| 16 2 (19 September 2024) | 2022 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 (February) | 3 | 26 | |
| 26 | 2021 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 26 (November) | 2 | 28 | 1 |
| 27 | 2020 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 28 | 0 |
| 28 | 2019 | 23 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 29 | 33 | 7 |
| 50 | 2018 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 41 | 7 | 61 | 5 |
| 57 | 2017 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 40 | 7 | 57 | 11 |
| 45 | 2016 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 45 | 8 | 58 | 7 |
| 53 | 2015 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 50 | 5 | 58 | 8 |
| 54 | 2014 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 54 | 2 | 44 | 4 |
| 47 | 2013 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 2 | 48 | 7 |
| 22 | 2012 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 7 | 33 | 11 |
| 19 | 2011 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 29 | 2 |
| 29 | 2010 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 29 | 13 | 46 | 6 |
| 43 | 2009 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 4 | 43 | 9 |
| 35 | 2008 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 4 | 38 | 6 |
| 34 | 2007 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 7 | 46 | 5 |
| 47 | 2006 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 1 | 49 | 13 |
| 15 | 2005 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 5 | 19 | 4 |
| 17 | 2004 | 22 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 4 | 29 | 1 |
| 29 | 2003 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 22 | 2 | 29 | 3 |
| 22 | 2002 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 8 | 38 | 4 |
| 34 | 2001 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 11 | 44 | 9 |
| 38 | 2000 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 34 | 15 | 62 | 6 |
| 57 | 1999 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 33 | 0 | 57 | 13 |
| 20 | 1998 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 30 | 10 |
| 14 | 1997 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 20 | 2 |
| 21 | 1996 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 6 | 30 | 2 |
| 31 | 1995 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 31 | 7 | 41 | 8 |
| 36 | 1994 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 14 | 54 | 12 |
| 43 | 1993 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 43 | 23 | 44 | 1 |
| 66 | 1992 | | | | | | | | |