Japan has churned out some seriously talented soccer players!
Japan might not dominate world football, but their passion for the game is undeniable. When you talk about the best Japanese players in football history, there are quite a few names that instantly come to mind for football fans. Ever wondered who the top Japanese players are? Let's check out the top 5 Japanese football players in the world!
Kunishige Kamamoto is Japan's all-time leading goal scorer and an absolute legend. After finishing at Waseda University, he kicked off his career with Yanmar Diesel (now Cerezo Osaka) in 1967. Imagine scoring 202 goals in just 251 games and bagging the Japanese Footballer of the Year award seven times! Kamamoto's crowning achievement? Helping Japan snag a bronze medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, where he was the top scorer with seven goals. He retired at 40 after a stellar career, even serving as player-manager for Yanmar Diesel. After hanging up his boots, he managed Gamba Osaka, got elected to the House of Councillors, and served as vice-president of the Japan Football Association. What a journey!
On May 15, 1993, "King Kazu" debuted in the first J-League game. Now at 57, he's still playing and scoring! Kazu began at Brazil's Santos FC, returned to Japan with Verdy Kawasaki, and won four championships. He made history as Serie A's first Japanese player with Genoa in 1995, scoring in the Sampdoria derby. Kazu also played in Australia and Croatia, scoring 55 times for Japan but never making a World Cup appearance.
Hidetoshi Nakata emerged as Japan's new star after Kazuyoshi Miura's surprising exclusion from the 1998 World Cup squad. Representing Shonan Bellmare, Nakata shone despite Japan's losses. His move to Italy saw him excel at Perugia, scoring 10 goals in his debut Serie A season. Joining Roma in 2000 brought challenges, including competing with Francesco Totti. Nakata's highlight was a pivotal goal against Juventus, helping Roma secure a crucial draw en route to the Scudetto. He later moved to Parma, clinching the Coppa Italia, and played for Fiorentina, Bologna, and Bolton Wanderers before retiring after the 2006 World Cup.
Shunsuke Nakamura, renowned for his magical left foot, retired after an illustrious 26-year career. Beginning with Yokohama F. Marinos in 1997, he quickly rose as a star in Japan, earning the J-League MVP in 2000. Despite missing out on the 2002 World Cup squad, he thrived at Reggina in Serie A, crucially helping them avoid relegation. Nakamura's legendary status was cemented during his spell at Celtic, marked by memorable goals like his title-clinching free-kick against Kilmarnock and stunning strikes against Dundee United and Man United. With stints at Espanyol and a return to Japan, he capped off his international career with 98 caps and two Asian Cup triumphs.
Makoto Hasebe, known as the "Kaiser" in Frankfurt, preferred tackles over goals, a rarity in the Bundesliga. In his 15-year career, he scored just seven times—enough for a few smiles, but not quite Beckenbauer-esque. From Wolfsburg to Eintracht Frankfurt, he left his mark, even stepping in as a goalie once! With Daichi Kamada, he helped clinch titles like the DFB-Pokal and Europa League, showing he was the backbone Japan needed in World Cups.
Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa, and Yasuhito Endo are also widely regarded as some of the greatest players from Japan.
