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July 01, 2026
 

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SAMURAI BLUE

Herve Renard in charge of Saudi Arabia during a World Cup qualifying match against Iraq on Oct. 14
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 17, 2026
Tunisia replaces manager days ahead of Japan World Cup match
Herve Renard managed Saudi Arabia to a shock 2-1 victory over eventual ​champions Argentina at the 2022 ⁠World Cup.
Daichi Kamada (right) controls the ball against Jan Paul Van Hecke during the match between the Netherlands and Japan at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas on June 14, 2026.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 16, 2026
Goalscorer Kamada credits ex-Palace boss Glasner for his Japan turnaround
The midfielder has become a vital cog in a Japan side determined to make a major impact at the World Cup.
Koki Ogawa (right) and others celebrate Japan’s second goal against the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 15, 2026
Japan displays resilience in hard-fought stalemate with Netherlands
The 2-2 draw showed that even amid an injury crisis, the Samurai Blue can still trouble elite opponents.
(Left to right) Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Dutch Queen Maxima and Dutch King Willem-Alexander in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands on Sunday
JAPAN
Jun 15, 2026
Emperor and empress watch World Cup match with Dutch royals
According to the Imperial Household Agency, the Dutch side suggested the two couples watch the group match, held in Arlington, Texas, together on television.
Koki Ogawa celebrates after Japan's second goal against the Netherlands during a Group F match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 15, 2026
Japan strikes late to earn thrilling draw with Netherlands in World Cup opener
Japan scored the tying goal in the 88th minute.
Japan's head coach Hajime Moriyasu attends a press conference ahead of Japan's 2026 World Cup football tournament Group F football match against the Netherlands in Dallas on Saturday.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 14, 2026
Japan coach takes responsibility for Wataru Endo going home
Following his withdrawal, Endo announced his retirement from international competition altogether.
Dutch midfielder #21 Frenkie de Jong and Netherlands' head coach Ronald Koeman attend a press conference ahead of Netherlands' 2026 World Cup football tournament Group F football match against Japan in Dallas on Saturday.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 14, 2026
Netherlands using pressure to drive bid for elusive World Cup triumph
The Dutch have been to the World Cup final three times ​before, the last time in 2010, but lost on each occasion .
Japan's Daichi Kamada celebrates after scoring against Bolivia during a friendly at Tokyo's National Stadium in November.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 12, 2026
Japan aiming to live up to heightened expectations with deep run at World Cup
Japan kicks off its 2026 World Cup on Sunday with a strong, confident squad and the kind of expectations the Samurai Blue have not carried into a tournament for years.
Wataru Endo speaks before a Japan practice at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 12, 2026
Japan captain Wataru Endo pulls out of World Cup due to injury and retires from national team
Endo, who endured ​an injury-plagued season with Liverpool, has been replaced by Borussia Moenchengladbach striker ⁠Shuto Machino
Before heading out to a public World Cup viewing, make sure you know the right words to support your team.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 11, 2026
The fighting words fueling support for Japan’s World Cup team
Learn how Japanese expresses support, perseverance and encouragement through World Cup vocabulary and everyday phrases.
Takumi Minamino has joined Japan as a mentor ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 11, 2026
Injured Takumi Minamino takes on role of mentor for Japan at World Cup
The Japanese ​international ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for AS Monaco in December
Japan fans watch Samurai Blue's training session in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 9, 2026
Japan launches heightened safety campaign for citizens traveling to World Cup
Japan’s Foreign Ministry decided to implement unprecedented safety measures due to anticipated confusion related to the tournament being hosted by multiple countries.
Japan trains at the Club Monterrey Training Center at El Barrial in Santiago, Mexico.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 5, 2026
Japan ditch pre-World Cup pitch in Monterrey due to poor conditions
Video of Japan ⁠training at Tigres’ facility went viral ⁠on Mexican social media Wednesday, as the pitch had ​visible signs ⁠of wear.
Japan's Takefusa Kubo controls the ball during a friendly against Iceland at National Stadium on Sunday.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 1, 2026
Japan wins World Cup sendoff as coach Hajime Moriyasu says goal is to win title
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu stated directly that Japan’s goal was to win the World Cup.
Japan's Yuto Nagatomo celebrates after Daizen Maeda's goal against Croatia at the 2022 World Cup in Al Wakrah, Qatar, in December 2022.
SOCCER / World cup
May 28, 2026
Fiery Yuto Nagatomo burns with desire to lead Japan to glory at fifth World Cup
Nagatomo has set a new Asian record by being picked for his fifth World Cup, surpassing players such as South Korea’s Hong Myung-bo and Saudi Arabia’s Sami al-Jaber.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu speaks during a news conference to announce Japan's squad for the 2026 World Cup.
SOCCER / World cup
May 15, 2026
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu names squad for 2026 World Cup
Japan reached the Round of 16 at the last edition of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma walks off the pitch after sustaining an injury against Wolves at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, England, on Saturday.
SOCCER
May 13, 2026
Mitoma set to miss World Cup due to injury
The 28-year-old midfielder injured his left leg while playing for Brighton and Hove Albion FC in an English Premier League match on Saturday.
Japan defender Shogo Taniguchi (left) heads the ball from a corner kick during Japan's match against Scotland in Glasgow on March 28.
SOCCER
Apr 20, 2026
Stars aligning for Japan as World Cup approaches
Japan is hoping to ride a wave of momentum into this summer’s World Cup.
Japan's Kaoru Mitoma (second from right) celebrates scoring against England at Wembley Stadium in London on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Apr 1, 2026
Moriyasu says beating England will boost Japan’s World Cup challenge
Kaoru Mitoma’s goal secured Japan’s first-ever win over England, a result Hajime Moriyasu believes can fuel World Cup ambitions.
Japan's Junya Ito celebrates scoring against Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Saturday.
SOCCER
Mar 29, 2026
Japan strikes late to win Scotland friendly
Samurai Blue continued its impressive form in friendlies since securing World Cup qualification a year ago.
Uruguay federation reportedly cancels charter flight after World Cup exit
Uruguay's Jose Maria Gimenez reacts after the team's loss against Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
India’s gig workers pay the price for exposure to New Delhi’s hazardous air
Rohit Kushwaha waits for a customer as he delivers his last parcel of the day, in New Delhi in January. His work as a delivery driver has helped pay the family’s bills, but has had a significant impact on his health.
Life inside Japan’s largest prison for women
Western-style rooms spanning the size of four tatami mats with hardwood floors, a toilet and soft mattresses on bed frames are designated for foreign nationals and those with health conditions at Tochigi Prison.
Japan’s fertility system offers few safe paths for same-sex couples
A Tokyo Pride parade participant holds a sign that says "we want to be a married couple, not a couple."
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
A French ship with close ties to Japan combines arts and sciences on the high seas
Romain Troublé, the executive director of Tara Ocean Foundation, speaks to visitors aboard the Tara during a rare port call in Tokyo in April.
In Kyushu’s far south, Senti.U sparks a culinary destination
Chef Yasuhiko Uchida was born in Saga Prefecture but has made his home in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture, since 2012.
‘The colors speak for themselves’: How Japan’s chroma bible went global
“A Dictionary of Color Combinations” is meant to function as a quick-reference guide for artists, designers and anyone with a passing interest in aesthetics as a quantifiable pursuit.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
By Alex K.T. Martin

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