Japan Football Association
Encyclopedia
The Japan Football Association, sometimes known as the Japan Soccer Association , is the governing body
responsible for the administration of association football (soccer) in Japan
. It is responsible for the national team
as well as club competitions.
in 1929. In 1945, the name of the organisation was changed to the ; its Japanese
name was changed to the current title in 1975. This reflected common use of the word sakkā (サッカー), derived from "soccer", rather than the older Japanese word shūkyū (蹴球; literally "kick-ball"). The word sakkā gained popularity during the post-World War II occupation of Japan by the Allied powers. The association generally translates its name to "Japan Football Association" in English, though "Japan Soccer Association" is also used.
The symbol of the JFA is the Yatagarasu, a mythical three-legged raven that guided Emperor Jimmu to Mount Kumano
. Yatagarasu is also the messenger of the supreme Shinto
sun goddess Amaterasu
.
Association football has become one of the most popular sports in Japan. After the very successful Asia cup, beating China 3-1 in the final, Japan beat Iran 2-1 and qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
.
All of us involved with JFA will work hand in hand with those dedicated to sports and will play an active role in accomplishing our goal. We will endeavor to have football and all other sports become accepted as an essential part of our daily lives and to help create a society in which our children will grow up with dignity and respect as they develop into their roles as leaders of the 21st century.
Motto: Green Grass and A Ball Expands the Circle of Friendship
Primary sponsors include Kirin
, Adidas
, Panasonic
, Saison Card International
, FamilyMart
, Fujifilm
, ANA
, Bank of Yokohama
, NTT DoCoMo
and Nissan.
Japan international footballers
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
responsible for the administration of association football (soccer) in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is responsible for the national team
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
as well as club competitions.
History
The organisation was founded in 1921 as the , and became affiliated with FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
in 1929. In 1945, the name of the organisation was changed to the ; its Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
name was changed to the current title in 1975. This reflected common use of the word sakkā (サッカー), derived from "soccer", rather than the older Japanese word shūkyū (蹴球; literally "kick-ball"). The word sakkā gained popularity during the post-World War II occupation of Japan by the Allied powers. The association generally translates its name to "Japan Football Association" in English, though "Japan Soccer Association" is also used.
The symbol of the JFA is the Yatagarasu, a mythical three-legged raven that guided Emperor Jimmu to Mount Kumano
Kumano
' literally means 'Bear Field'. It is a name adopted by various places in Japan.# Kumano Shrine# Kumano Shrines Grand Shrines# Kumano Region# Kumano, Mie City in Mie Prefecture# Japanese cruiser Kumano a Mogami class cruiser naval ship....
. Yatagarasu is also the messenger of the supreme Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
sun goddess Amaterasu
Amaterasu
, or is apart of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. the name Amaterasu derived from Amateru meaning "shining in heaven." The meaning of her whole name, Amaterasu-ōmikami, is "the great August kami who...
.
Association football has become one of the most popular sports in Japan. After the very successful Asia cup, beating China 3-1 in the final, Japan beat Iran 2-1 and qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
JFA principles
To promote the most popular sport of all, football, to the masses all over Japan and to pass the ball of friendship in Asia and worldwide, the Japan Football Association(JFA) pledges to live by the following Code of Conduct, as the JFA progresses towards its 100th anniversary in 2021.- Fair play is the most important aspect of the game. It is also what unites people. Fair play should be observed not only during the game, at training, or in the stands, but fair play should also be observed at all times by everyone in the world.
- There should be no priorities, no discrimination by gender, age, or physical abilities. An environment shall be provided in which everyone is given the chance to enjoy football or any other physical activity.
- Efforts shall be made to build high-standard stadia all over Japan at which football matches, national and international alike, can be organised and comfortably enjoyed.
- The Japanese National Teams of all age groups shall be developed to represent Asia on a regular basis, seeking to play at a competitive level against the very top teams in the world.
- Apply all human, intellectual, and material resources accumulated towards the contribution to Asian and global football.
All of us involved with JFA will work hand in hand with those dedicated to sports and will play an active role in accomplishing our goal. We will endeavor to have football and all other sports become accepted as an essential part of our daily lives and to help create a society in which our children will grow up with dignity and respect as they develop into their roles as leaders of the 21st century.
Motto: Green Grass and A Ball Expands the Circle of Friendship
Sponsorship
Japan has one of the highest sponsorship incomes for a national squad. In 2006 their sponsorship income amounted to over 16.5 million pounds.Primary sponsors include Kirin
Kirin Brewery Company
is a Japanese company. It is a member of the Mitsubishi keiretsu.-Overview:Kirin sells two of the most popular beers in Japan, Kirin Lager--the country's oldest beer brand--and Ichiban Shibori. In the happoshu category, Kirin Tanrei is the top seller. Kirin handles domestic distribution for...
, Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
, Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
, Saison Card International
Credit Saison
Credit Saison Co., Ltd. , commonly known as Credit Saison or simply Saison, is a Japanese financial services company affiliated to Mizuho Financial Group. Founded in 1946, Credit Saison is the 3rd largest credit card issuer with over 20 million cardholders in Japan, behind JCB and Visa Japan.-...
, FamilyMart
FamilyMart
is a convenience store franchise chain first opened in Japan on September 1, 1981. FamilyMart is Japan's third largest convenience store chain, behind 7-Eleven and Lawson, and the largest chain store in South Korea. FamilyMart is owned and overseen by FamilyMart Company, Limited...
, Fujifilm
Fujifilm
is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
, ANA
All Nippon Airways
, also known as or ANA, is one of the largest airlines in Japan. It is headquartered at the Shiodome City Center in the Shiodome area in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It operates services to 49 destinations in Japan and 35 international routes and employed over 14,000 employees as of May 2009...
, Bank of Yokohama
Bank of Yokohama
Bank of Yokohama is a Japanese bank. It is listed on the Nikkei 225....
, NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo
is the predominant mobile phone operator in Japan. The name is officially an abbreviation of the phrase, "do communications over the mobile network", and is also from a compound word dokomo, meaning "everywhere" in Japanese. Docomo provides phone, video phone , i-mode , and mail services...
and Nissan.
Competitions run by the JFA
- Emperor's CupEmperor's Cup, commonly known as or , is a Japanese association football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J. League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League...
- All Japan Senior Football ChampionshipAll Japan Senior Football ChampionshipThe All Japan Senior Football Championship is a football cup competition in Japan. It is run by the Japan Football Association. As it only involves non-league teams The All Japan Senior Football Championship (Zenkoku Shakaijin Sakkā Senshuken Taikai, 全国社会人サッカー選手権大会) is a football (soccer) cup...
- All Japan Women's Football ChampionshipAll Japan Women's Football Championship, is a Japanese Women's football competition. As an elimination tournament, it can be considered the female counterpart to the men's Emperor's Cup.The final has been played on New Year's Day of the following year at the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo and is regarded as the traditional closing...
- All Japan Regional Football Promotion League SeriesAll Japan Regional Football Promotion League SeriesThe All Japan Regional Promotion League Series is a play-off tournament meant as a transition for Japanese football clubs competing in regional leagues to the bottom national tier .-History:Until 1976, the main entrance route for regional clubs to the Japan Soccer League was...
- All Japan High School Soccer TournamentAll Japan High School Soccer TournamentThe of Japan, commonly known as "Winter Kokuritsu" , is an annual nationwide high school association football tournament. It is the largest scale amateur sport event in Japan, even as soccer continues to gain more attention....
(Youth) - Prince Takamado CupPrince Takamado CupThe is an annual Japanese football competition run by the Japan Football Association for under–18 and under-15 sides. The prize is named after Norihito, Prince Takamado, a long time patron of football in Japan.-Notice:...
(Youth)
See also
- Sports in Japan
- Association football in Japan
- Japan national football teamJapan national football teamThe Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
- Japan women's national football teamJapan women's national football teamThe Japan women's national football team, or Nadeshiko Japan , is a selection of the best female players in Japan and is run by the Japan Football Association . Japan defeated the U.S...
- J. League Division 1
- J. League Division 2J. League Division 2The or is the second division of and is the second-tier professional association football league in Japan. Currently, J. League Division 2 is the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The first tier is represented by J...
- Japan Football LeagueJapan Football LeagueThe is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
- Japanese Regional LeaguesJapanese Regional LeaguesJapanese Regional Leagues are a group of parallel association football leagues in Japan that are organized on the regional basis...
Japan international footballers