The reason J. League clubs hire Brazilian strikers has much to do with Japanese culture.

Japan is a group-oriented society, and their strikers generally don't possess a selfish streak when it comes to shooting on goal.

Keiji Tamada and Yoshito Okubo are in the squad because they fit into Takeshi Okada's system - not for their goal-scoring exploits - although I would argue that it's a system which guarantees the Samurai Blues a first-round exit in South Africa.


What do you think about the FourFourTwo blog Samurai blues?
Footballing wise, Japan and Australia share many similarities. We are both non-traditional footballing countries, we have both undergone radical reform in the game over the past few decades and we ar...

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Great article Shaun, you seem to have a very good grasp of the football fabric of my nation of birth. I couldn't agree with you more regarding the lack of attacking potency concerning our strikers. We'll only see improvements to their attacking third once the youth of Japan change their mentality altogether and become more selfish as individual players. I have no idea why Okada was re-hired after Osim had that stroke. Just like in France 98 when Okada was in charge the first time, the Blue Samurais will lose all three games in South Africa. If they were true samurais, they'd all commit seppuku by now (suicide by disembowelment). I think Japan should give up their spot at the World Cup to Ireland.

I've heard this but didn't feel qualified making the assumption myself (not knowing as much about Japanese culture). I know you've been around the Japanese scene quite some time so, in your opinion, has the influx of Brazilian strikers helped or hindered the development of more selfish Japanese strikers?

I think they've helped.

Players like Shinji Okazaki are much less reluctant to take responsibility, instead of passing the ball to a team-mate.

And let's not forget that it's not just Brazilian strikers who call the J. League home.

Current players like Josh Kennedy, Cho Jae-Jin and Frode Johnsen have all helped, although ultimately the Japanese national team will always rely on a game plan based on teamwork rather than individual talent.

Excellent article, excellent comments.

I wish more world cup blogs were like this one.

Yep, good blog. Ties in nicely with my own recent effort, if I do say so myself. o:)

I was writing about South Korea but I kept struggling not to get side-tracked into discussion about Japan. My wife is Japanese and I've taught both Korean and Japanese kids, and the Japanese are cetainly far more Westernized. But it's still a very insular culture, a lot like England in many ways. Perhaps no coincidence that none of these countries (nor former colony Australia) produces quality strikers in abundance?

Mind you, all those bleached Japanese surfers at Bondi are a sign of society in motion... Maybe we'll see a brilliant attacking Japanese squad about the same time as a Japanese surfer wins the World Championship?

Read your blog Gaz and have to agree that there's something just more aggressive and ruthless about South Korea's football than Japan's.

For mine South Korea will be the best performing Asian team at the cup.

haha i wouldnt mind trading holman for a endo???? they have very good midfielders, but your blogs right they instead buy strickers, not produce them many at all!

I am not sure if it's cultural though their certanly are factors that make Koreans more prepared to move abroad it seems (they love the US) and we see more Korena footballers looking to move abroad. Could just be the fact the league pays more and it's more comfortable as to why the Japanese don't look to move abroad in the same numbers (similar to English players prefering to stay in England).

Personally I think the Japanese are too light on physicality. Not because of their stature but because thats the way the game is played in Japan. The J league is soft when compared to the K league or A league (too rough) I feel. All that pretty technique count's for naught when you go up against a monster centre back and the refereeing in the world cup will be a lot differnet than in the J league. Send them to Oz to play in the A league for the Japanese winter break :)

Watching the Matilda's play Japan last night I have no doubt the Jpanese players seemed more talented in many respects but I think the referee's are doing the AFC a disservice by favoring the Japanese non contact style too much. If you allow them to play the game with a school girl level of physicality when they go to the world Cup they will be in for a rude shock with European referees.

and what about the Asian goalkeepers?

There's a famous phrase in Japanese society: the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

And I believe all the strikers in the Japanese team have this mentality. They all genuinely believe (Or subconsciously believe) that if they're perceived as being too selfish they will be 'hammered down.' They just don't have any players that are willing to break the game wide open.

They have too much of a 'team mentality.' A team mentality is a good thing, but when players are afraid of success and have success barriers, there's a big problem with your mentality. Almost like communism; no encouragement for growth.

Funny how Australia has this mentality somewhat too (Tall poppy syndrome), but it's different because we all unite when there are bigger fish to fry (See Germany etc). Australia are a nation of giant killers.


My favourite player is Honda, who plays for the Russian league. I have high hopes for this boy because he isn't a 'regular' Japanese player. He actually is quite a selfish player (Who can speak pretty good English) and doesn't give a rats ass how Japanese society perceives him.

My girlfriend keeps telling me how he isn't a 'normal' Japanese guy, because he's just so different in mentality. He's supposedly too much of an 'individual.' For example, he was recently interviewed by a retired samarai blue player, and Honda supposedly 'sat' disrespectfully throughout the entire interview. In Japan, you need to have respect at all times for your elders even if you don't like them. Honda was sitting extremely relaxed in the chair and seemed to be showing 'disrespect' for this retired player (Forget his name).

Great blog.

It's interesting to note that Asia is a fairly miserly confederation, as I pointed out in my blog before last. The Japanese can't score, we don't really do so either, but for the most part we all defend reasonably well.

If you combined the best elements of the Australian and Japanese sides, you still wouldn't have strikers proven at an international level... unless you count Kewell.

That said; Jesus has done pretty well in Japan - maybe if they naturalised him they think they'd win the cup? :D

Maybe we need an Asian super group made of hard Aussie defenders, creative Japanese midfielders and quality South Korean strikers.

@ Socceroosupporter - I wouldn't go as far as to say he doesn't give a shit how japanese society perceives him. In a range of recent interviews, he was no different from Endo. Showing respect, talking formally, attitude etc...

I mean he became captain of VVV after only a year after his arrival, the boy does have somethibg special about him. Maya Yoshida is the next one you should look out for, similiar characteristics, just jointed VVV at a relatively young age, just like Honda.

@ Shaun - I wouldnt' say the league is filled with Brazilians who don't cut it in Europe. Let me paint you a picture.

Reinaldo, Jussie, Hulk, Amoroso, Tinga, Franca, Robson Ponte, Djalminha off the top of my head.

No, those bleached blond hair kids in Bondi are a sign of young people adopting stupid fashions, got nothing to do with a society in motion. I have no idea what 'Westernized' means? Japan is a richer country than Australia and in some regards more liberal than Australia. I think we maybe overstating the culture aspect in football too much.

what a fanastic idea loki!, the confederations cup should be just that! the best that each confederation has to offer - 5 of the best teams the world has seen! just ignore oceania of course