During the late December to January period, the Japan adidas 2012/13 home, away, goalkeeper and women's kits were launched. Now the Japanese Football Association (JFA or 日本サッカー協会) and adidas have unveiled...

The Japan Football Association and adidas have launched the Japan adidas 2012/13 away kit. It will be used by the Blue Samurai in their quest for a fifth successive qualification...

The Japan Football Association and adidas have launched the Japan adidas 2012/13 away kit. It will be used by the Blue Samurai in their quest for a fifth successive qualification...

The Japan 2012/13 home, away and third goalkeeper uniforms were unveiled as part of Monday's launch of the Japan adidas 12/13 men's and women's national soccer teams' home kits. The new kits to be worn by Blue Samurai first choice goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and current backups Shusaku Nishikawa and Kaito Yamamoto all the same brand [.

The Japan 2012/13 home, away and third goalkeeper uniforms were unveiled as part of Monday's launch of the Japan adidas 12/13 men's and women's national soccer teams' home kits. The new kits to be worn by Blue Samurai first choice goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and current backups Shusaku Nishikawa and Kaito Yamamoto all the same brand [.

The Japan Football Association and adidas have launched the Japan adidas 2012/13 home kit. It will be used by the Blue Samurai in their quest for a fifth successive qualification for the FIFA World Cup. Currently ranked 19th in the world by FIFA, Japan is the defending Asian Cup champion and has moved on to [.

The Japan Football Association and adidas have launched the Japan adidas 2012/13 home kit. It will be used by the Blue Samurai in their quest for a fifth successive qualification for the FIFA World Cup. Currently ranked 19th in the world by FIFA, Japan is the defending Asian Cup champion and has moved on to [.

There are a lot of inane stories the football machine spits out over the course of a week. Alberto Zaccheroni and issues with North Korean customs might just take the wasabi paste for this one.

North Koreans ‘pinched Zaccheroni's mustard'

Over-zealous North Korean customs officers may have contributed to Japan's first defeat under Italian Alberto Zaccheroni earlier this week after confiscating his favourite tube of wasabi.

By FRANCO PANIZO

The NFL and NBA might not be the only leagues threatened to have play postponed this summer.

Fans of Leo Messi, Real Madrid and Spanish soccer in general may soon be disappointed after the Spanish soccer players' union has threatened to postpone the upcoming La Liga season if an agreement over wages cannot be made in time.

Editor's note: Just a reminder that if we are always on the lookout for quality fanposts. Great look at possible targets.

Why has the MLS not penetrated the Japanese market? This is one of the biggest questions that I have had about the league, mostly because we have all seen how Japanese baseball players have affected the MLB.

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This week's main report reviews the 2011 Asia Cup tournament that was played in Qatar from January 7th-29th. We congratulate Japan on winning their 4th title and look back at the good, bad and ugly moments of the competition.

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This week's main report reviews the 2011 Asia Cup tournament that was played in Qatar from January 7th-29th. We congratulate Japan on winning their 4th title and look back at the good, bad and ugly moments of the competition.

There could have been 100 goals in the 2011 Asian Cup tournament, if North Korea and the United Arab Emirates had been a bit less shi...ocking. And as there were nearly three goals-per-game and the best and most entertaining team won, this tournament can be filed in the success column – whatever Alex Ferguson may think of "this Asia Cup thing.

Japan defeated Australia 1-0 on Saturday to hoist its fourth AFC Asian Cup title. The Blue Samurai battled Australia through extra time, with substitute Tadanari Lee breaking the deadlock in the 99th minute. Check out his goal! Not a bad way to open your account for your country:
Japan becomes the third nation to qualify for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, after host Brazil and 2010 FIFA World Cup champion Spain.

By Gordon Fleetwood, writing from New York City

It was the 87th minute in Japan's Asian Cup semifinal against South Korea when Shinji Kagawa hobbled off the pitch. With the game balanced on a knife's edge, it was a huge blow to Japan. They were now without one of their most talented players.

Substitute forward Tadanari Lee's 109th minute volley gave Japan a 1-0 win over Australia in the final of the AFC Asian Cup 2011 on Saturday. The victory sees the Blue Samurai win their fourth Asian Cup title and first since 2004. Though outshot 11 to 8 by the Socceroos, Japan had the edge in possession throughout [.

Substitute forward Tadanari Lee's 109th minute volley gave Japan a 1-0 win over Australia in the final of the AFC Asian Cup 2011 on Saturday. The victory sees the Blue Samurai win their fourth Asian Cup title and first since 2004. Though outshot 11 to 8 by the Socceroos, Japan had the edge in possession throughout [.

DOHA, Qatar Japan are the Asian champions for a record breaking fourth time, taking the crown in a thrilling battle over a gallant Australia with a brilliant extra time strike from substitute Tadanari Lee who volleyed home a cross from Yuto Ngatomo in the 109th minute of a scintillating Asian Cup final.

119th minute, and I'm done banging on about the horribly controversial/terrible Japanese penalty which saw them through to the Asian Cup final against the winner of Australia and Uzbekistan.

Scrum in the box and suddenly we're going to penalties. As late as late could possibly be, and South Korea managed to stay alive for just a bit longer.

DOHA, Qatar — Three-time champions Japan have long expected to face South Korea at the Asian Cup and are ready for a tough semi-final with their old cross-strait rivals. South Korea edged Iran 1-0 on Saturday with a 105th-minute winner from substitute Yoon Bit-Garam to book a last-four clash with the Blue Samurai, who struggled [.

By MIKE NASTRI

Japan slipped by Qatar 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup behind a Masahiko Inoha game winner.

The Kashima Antlers midfielder jumped on a loose ball in front of net and slotted home the stoppage time winner. Shinji Kagawa added two goals in the effort for the Blue Samurai.

It's something of a shame that there wasn't some sort of elaborate Asian Cup bracket, because looking at the quarterfinal matches it reads across the board as though it could've been drawn up on paper. Japan, Australia and South Korea were arguably the three favorites heading in, with shouts from Iran and Qatar, all three have to be favorites to make the semifinals, along with the Uzbek upstart (Jordan's miracles may have run dry) and the insane training regime which has spawned a new Asian power.

Shinji Okazaki scored a hat trick and Ryoichi Maeda a bace as Japan stormed into the quarter finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2011 with 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Monday. The Blue Samurai will now play host Qatar on Friday after topping tournament Group B with seven points from two wins and a draw.

DOHA, Qatar — A 92nd minute goal by Maya Yoshida saved three-time champions Japan from a shock defeat at the hands of underdogs Jordan as the two sides drew 1-1 in their opening Asian Cup match Sunday. Hasan Abdel Fattah's shot on the stroke of half-time ricochetted off VVV Venlo defender Yoshida into the net [.

So it's nearly time for Japan's Asian Cup opener, which sees the Blue Samurai facing Jordan in Doha's Qatar Sports Club stadium. This is a fixture which has never produced a winner over 90 minutes, with two 1-1 draws between the teams, but Jordan will most likely be aching for revenge for the controversial penalty shoot-out defeat in 2004's Asian Cup quarterfinal.

DOHA, Qatar — Japan's World Cup hero Keisuke Honda is ready to orchestrate attacking football against largely defensive rivals at the Asian Cup, as the Blue Samurai aim for a record fourth continental title. "My personal goal and the team's goal are one and the same. We are targetting the title no matter who we [.