The greatest weapon of Japanese football is its fast passing and deep player pool... The power of Japanese football remains formidable even without Mitoma [Lee Jong-seong's Sports Culture & Industry]

*This content was translated by AI.

The most significant change in Japanese football over the past decade can be summarized as an improvement in passing speed and an increase in the number of players advancing to Europe.

Traditionally, Japanese football featured players with smaller average physiques and less power. To overcome this, Japan pursued a style that created space by circulating the ball with precise and fast passing, rather than relying on direct football that emphasized physical condition and stamina. Japanese players preferred short passes over long passes, which had lower success rates.

In particular, Japanese football focused on one-touch passes and return passes that were executed quickly and concisely. As passing techniques became highly refined, Japan was able to produce upsets against world-class football powers. The ability to execute fast passing in tight spaces shone in modern football, where breaking pressure is crucial.

This was possible because players who received passes anticipated the next move rather than those who simply delivered the opening pass. Depending on the intensity and direction of the pass, receiving players moved in advance to ensure the agreed-upon next play could continue. It was even said that Japanese passing contained a clear message for the next play.

However, Japanese football had limits in overcoming the wall of world football with only precise and fast passing. The 2018 Russia World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium clearly demonstrated this. At the time, Japan led 2-0 but was overwhelmed by Belgium's relentless attacks, which emphasized stamina and height, and ultimately lost 2-3.

Afterward, Japan realized that to win in the World Cup knockout stage, it was essential to have fighting spirit that does not fear physical contact with opposing players and adequate physical preparation. The lesson was that facing teams with superior physical conditions on a stage like the World Cup is difficult with only pretty and precise football.

From that point on, Japan actively encouraged its players to advance to Europe. This was not merely about learning European football, but about having more Japanese players regularly compete and physically clash with European players who possess superior physical conditions.

In the 2017-2018 season, fewer than 40 Japanese players were active in European football leagues, but by the 2025-2026 season, that number exceeded 100. This represented explosive growth of over 50%.

The reason for the increase in Japanese players advancing to Europe is fundamentally that they showed a strong tendency to dedicate themselves to their teams in both attack and defense. However, an even more important factor was the low transfer fees of Japanese players.

According to a 2025 survey by Japan's public broadcaster NHK, the average transfer fee for Japanese football players who advanced to Europe was $270,000 (approximately 406 million won). This was a very low level compared to the transfer fees of players from Belgium (2.7 billion won) or the Netherlands (2.4 billion won). In short, Japanese players were targets that European football clubs could acquire without significant burden.

Furthermore, under the policy direction of the Japan Football Association (JFA), a pattern was established where Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) players advance to major leagues after going through minor European leagues. Players did not always choose to advance directly to major leagues; many often honed their skills in minor leagues where they could play as regular starters. In fact, about 60% of these players were Gyeong Ryeok-i (EVP) members of the Japanese national team.

Many Japanese players who advanced to the European football stage, where world-class players gather, began to develop by constantly competing with them. During this process, the Japanese national team transformed into a team capable of filling the void even if some key players were absent.

In fact, the Japanese national team roster for the North America World Cup, announced on the 15th, excluded key players winger Kaoru Mitoma (29, Brighton) and midfielder Takumi Minamino (31, AS Monaco) due to injuries.

However, Japan has abundant resources to replace these two players, including Takefusa Kubo (25, Real Sociedad), Ritsu Doan (28, Frankfurt), and Daichi Kamada (30, Crystal Palace). This means Japan's squad depth is that thick. The current Japanese national team roster even lacks 5 to 6 players who are regular starters at European clubs.

Setting the first goal of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in Japanese football history, the Japanese national team is characterized by sharp and fast passing. In addition, the strategy is to actively utilize its thick squad depth in the World Cup finals, which will unfold as a war of attrition. This is why it is said that Japan's "game changer" is every member of the national team.

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*This content was translated by AI.