The next destination of our alphabetical world tour is Japan. A relatively young footballing nation, Japan had never qualified for a World Cup Finals tournament until 1998, but have appeared at every tournament since.
Since the turn of the century, Japan have been crowned Asian Champions three times and their players are now spread around the world, including nine that have played in the Premier League.
First Player – Junichi Inamoto (Arsenal, Fulham, West Brom; 2001-06)
After exploding onto the scene at the 2002 World Cup, Junichi Inamoto became the first Japanese Premier League player in 2002. He had spent the 2001/02 season with Arsenal without making an appearance, instead making his Premier League bow after joining Fulham the following campaign.
Inamoto spent two seasons at Fulham and a further two with West Brom, though a large part of 2004/05 was spent on loan at Championship side Cardiff.
After leaving English football in 2006, Inamoto enjoyed spells in Turkey, Germany and France, before returning to Japan. He made 82 international appearances between 2000 and 2010.
Records
- Most Appearances – Maya Yoshida (154)
- First appearance – Junichi Inamoto (FULHAM 4-1 Bolton, August 17th 2002)
- Most goals – Shinji Okazaki (14)
- First goal – Junichi Inamoto (FULHAM 3-2 Spurs, September 11th 2002)
Current/Most Recent Players
Two Japanese players were on clubs books in the Premier League before lockdown, while another spent half the season out on loan. Newcastle’s Yoshinori Muto was joined in January 2020 by Takumi Minamino, who became the ninth Japanese player in the Premier League when he made his Liverpool debut shortly thereafter. Maya Yoshida left Southampton in January 2020, joining Italian side Sampdoria on loan.
Trivia
- Japan are one of eight current AFC nations to have appeared in the Premier League.
- Shinji Kagawa is the only Japanese player to have scored a Premier League hat trick.
- Junichi Inamoto’s first Premier League goal was scored one minute before the first goal scored by an Ecuadorian player.
- Of the eight current AFC nations to have been represented in the Premier League, only South Korea (13) and Australia (48) have had more players than Japan (9).
