Pop Japan

Just a few decades ago, football in Japan was leagues behind to baseball. What changed? 

Football is one of the most popular sports in Japan today. It is now football’s fastest growing community in Asia.  Japan is home to Asia’s biggest, most popular and most successful national football team, the Samurai Blue. It wasn’t always that way. 

In 1989, Football didn’t get any media attention, a far cry to Baseball’s full bleachers. With a set of events, Japan’s enthusiasm for football was triggered. Tom Byer introduced a new concept that focused on improving technical skills, Japan bid to host the 2002 World Cup, and J-League started. 

With back-to-back losses and a goal that lead to winning Japan’s first World Cup, Football conquered Japan. 

Tags: football in japan, football, japan, asian, samurai blue, football team, tom byer, j league, world cup