Best ever Japanese footballers

We highlight the most distinguished Japanese footballers of all time.

• Yuto Nagatomo

The second most-capped Japan international of all time, Yuto Nagatomo enjoyed a distinguished career at the highest level of European football.

A versatile full-back who could play on either side, Nagagomo made over 200 appearances for Inter between 2011 and 2018 and won the Coppa Italia in 2011.

Nagatomo also enjoyed a successful time at Galatasaray between 2018 and 2020, winning four trophies - the league title twice, the Turkish Cup and the Turkish Super Cup.

A diminutive player with terrific energy and drive, Nagatomo represented Japan at two World Cups in 2010 and 2014.

• Shinji Okazaki

A member of Leicester City's famous Premier League title-winning side of 2015/16, Shinji Okazaki received 119 international caps for Japan and scored 50 goals.

A hard-working forward who provided a perfect foil for Jamie Vardy up front at Leicester, Okazaki enjoyed a successful spell in the Bundesliga at Stuttgart and Mainz before moving to the Premier League.

Okazaki represented Japan at two World Cups in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014.

• Makoto Hasebe

Number seven in Japan's all-time appearances standings, Makoto Hasebe received 114 international caps between 2006 and 2018.

A versatile player capable of playing at centre-back or in holding midfield, Hasebe was part of the Japan squad at three separate World Cups in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

Hasebe won the DFB-Pokal in 2018 and the UEFA Europa League in 2022 during a decade-long association with Eintracht Frankfurt between 2014 and 2024.

• Keisuke Honda

Arguably one of the most memorable Japanese footballers of recent times, Keisuke Honda enjoyed a fantastic international career for his country.

Capped 98 times, Honda became the first Japanese player ever to score at two World Cups having found the net in 2010 and 2014.

An attacking midfielder with a proverbial wand of a left foot, Honda played for clubs including VVV-Venlo, CSKA Moscow and Milan during his professional career.

• Shinji Kagawa

An attacking midfielder with outstanding dynamism and vision, Shinji Kagawa made his name in Europe under the management of Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund.

Kagawa's standout performances for Dortmund prompted Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United to part with £17m to sign the Japan international in 2012.

A Premier League winner with the Red Devils in his debut season, Kagawa received 97 international caps for Japan during his professional career.

• Shunsuke Nakamura

Widely regarded as one of the best free-kick takers of all time, Shunsuke Nakamura is perhaps best remembered for his decorated spell at Scottish giants Celtic between 2005 and 2009.

An attacking midfielder with immense technical quality and impressive stamina, Nakamura won six major trophies with Celtic including three league titles.

Nakamura turned out for Japan on a total of 98 occasions, including appearances at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

• Yasuhito Endo

The most-capped Japan male international ever, Yasuhito Endo represented his country on 152 occasions between 2002 and 2015.

A creative midfielder with great leadership ability, Endo spent the entirety of his club career in his homeland and made over 600 appearances for Gambo Osaka between 2001 and 2021.

Endo played for Japan at three different World Cup tournaments in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

• Hidetoshi Nakata

A hard-working central midfielder with an eye for goal, Hidetoshi Nakata became the first player from an Asian Football Confederation nation to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 1998.

Receiving 77 caps for Japan and scoring 11 goals, ex-Roma, Parma and Bolton player Nakata represented his country at three World Cup tournaments in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

In March 2004, Nakata was named on Pele's FIFA 100 list honouring the best living footballers in the world at the time.

• Kazuyoshi Miura

Hitting 55 goals in 89 appearances for his country, Kazuyoshi Miura is Japan's second top goalscorer of all time.

Representing Japan for a decade between 1990 and 2000, Miura was the first Japanese player to be named Asia's Footballer of the Year in 1992.

Currently on the books of Atletico Suzuka at the age of 58, Miura holds the record for the oldest active goalscorer in the J-League, and as of 2025 he is recognised as the second oldest professional player in the world behind Uruguayan Robert Carmona.

• Kunishige Kamamoto

Kunishige Kamamoto is Japan's all-time record goalscorer having struck 75 goals in 76 appearances for his country between 1964 and 1977.

Spending the entirety of his club career at Yanmar Diesel based in Osaka, Kamamoto won a bronze medal with Japan at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

Following his playing career, Kamamoto spent 10 years as Vice-President of the Japan Football Association between 1998 and 2008 and also served as a member of the House of Councillors in his homeland between 1995 and 2001.

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