In recent years, Japanese football has experienced remarkable progress. An increasing number of Japanese players are making their mark in Europe’s top leagues, and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the national team drew global attention by delivering impressive performances against football powerhouses such as Germany and Spain. The Japanese national team is now regarded by many as the “strongest in history,” and behind this success lies a unique player development system unlike that of any other country.
In Europe, known as the heartland of football, talented young players typically join professional club academies in their early teens. There, they undergo rigorous training and intense competition, with the aim of debuting for the first team around the age of 18. It is not uncommon for particularly gifted players to make their presence felt on the global stage while still in their teens.
Japan, however, has taken a different path. While many players do come through the academies of professional clubs, the country still places significant value on high school and university football as important gateways to the professional ranks. In recent years, the route of entering university and turning professional between the ages of 20 and 22 has gained recognition as a pathway that produces well-rounded, mature players ready to contribute immediately at the highest level.
This system is deeply rooted in Japan’s unique cultural and educational values. The concept of “bunbu ryōdō” — the balanced pursuit of both academics and athletics — is highly regarded, and it is common for aspiring footballers to prioritize education, often influenced by parents who place strong emphasis on academic achievement and long-term stability. Even after signing professional contracts, many young players do not immediately break into first-team action. University football offers a crucial opportunity to develop physical strength, tactical understanding, and personal maturity — all of which lay a solid foundation for a sustainable professional career.
Two prime examples of this pathway are Kaoru Mitoma, who now plays for Brighton in the Premier League, and Hidemasa Morita, a key player for Sporting CP in Portugal. Both players honed their skills and gained invaluable experience at the university level before entering the professional game. Their smooth transition to European football and rapid rise to prominence demonstrate the effectiveness of Japan’s unique development model.
Another distinctive feature of Japanese football is the coexistence of J.League youth academies and school football. In many countries, failing to enter a professional club’s academy significantly narrows one’s chances of pursuing a football career at a high level. In Japan, however, established pathways through high school and university football allow players to select environments and timing that best suit their individual growth.
It is precisely this diversity of development routes, combined with a cultural emphasis on steady, step-by-step progression, that has fostered the depth, competitiveness, and resilience seen in Japanese football today. Instead of chasing only “early-blooming prodigies,” Japan’s system enables players to develop at their own pace, resulting in a steady stream of talent capable of competing on the global stage. This unique environment is now being recognized worldwide as a one-of-a-kind model.
Looking ahead, Japan’s continued success will depend on how effectively this system can be refined and adapted while facing the fierce competition of European and global football. Yet, the achievements to date provide clear evidence that Japan is steadily moving in the right direction.
