The team
History lesson
The 2002 tournament has undoubtedly been the high point, the co-hosts beating Russia and Tunisia to reach the second round before losing to the eventual third-placed team Turkey. Any hopes of a bold new era of success were crushed four years later, however, with the side exiting, plucky though they were, without winning a game in Germany.
Tactics board
Shinji Okazaki usually plays as the lone striker and in qualifying Japan relied on a talented five-man midfield comprising European-based players and the former Celtic man Shunsuke Nakamura in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Of late, though, Okada has toyed with the idea of playing CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda in the Bergkamp/Sheringham role.
Grudge match
There's little animosity in the group – Japan and Holland celebrated 400 years of "cultural exchange" in 2000 – although Wolfsburg's Makoto Hasebe could come face to face with Dutchmen Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel, Bayern Munich players who nabbed Wolfsburg's Bundesliga title this season.
Also known as
Given Japan's history and kit colour, let's hope the Japan FA didn't pay an extortionate fee to a rebranding company only for them to come up with the uninspired Samurai Blue, which sounds more like an oriental porn movie.
The players
Vuvuzela superstar
Shunsuke Nakamura or "Super Naka" is possibly the only player at the World Cup with an asteroid named in his honour (29986 Shunsuke for telescope enthusiasts). He left Celtic for Espanyol last summer but in February headed home to Yokohama Marinos and the J-League.
There's always Bolton
Keisuke Honda this season became the first Japanese player to feature in the Champions League quarter-finals with CSKA Moscow and might feel at home with other Russian exports in north London.
Laager lout
Wolfsburg's cocky midfielder Makoto Hasebe ("I think I should be in the starting XI," he said in February) was sent off in Japan's final qualifier for an elbow – Okada immediately followed for protesting.
The coach
Body double
With his thin-rimmed specs and high forehead the stern-faced Takeshi Okada could almost be an unsmiling Japanese Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Big game hunter
Oversaw Japan's first qualification for a World Cup in 1998 but his side then failed to score a point in France. Returned to the stewardship of the national side in 2007 having taken Yokohama to two titles.
Loved or loathed
Seen as overly defensive in his tactical outlook, stubborn and unadventurous. A group of fans handed a petition to the JFA earlier this year demanding his removal. His targetting of a semi-final spot? Barmy.
The country
Commentators' kit
Over the past 40 years a Toytota Corolla has been sold every 40 seconds - that's 135 during the course of a match and 180 if it goes to extra-time. Just don't mention the brakes.
They gave the world While Japan can take credit for all manner of wonderful much-loved electronic inventions, perhaps their most important innovation was that of the novel. Lady Murasaki Shikubu's The Tale of Genji is seen as the first of its kind in literature.
National monument
In most countries the sight of two morbidly obese men dressed in pants grappling in public would be cause to call the police. In Japan it is called sumo and the national sport, one of great pride and tradition. Remember the Dump Truck?
Qualifying
Aside from the hosts Japan were the first to qualify, in June 2009, but it was not an entirely smooth ride. Qualification was rarely in doubt but they still lost to Bahrain and drew with Oman, Qatar and Uzbekistan.
The Triesman tapes ... what he didn't say
"Whale butchers and gameshow contestant torturers, hidebound by tradition and prone to panicking about giant mutant dinosaurs."
Statistics
World Cup record: 3 finals
P10 W2 D2 L6 F8 A14
Highest finish: Round of 16 in 2002
74: Minute in which Masashi Nakayama scored Japan's first ever World Cup finals goal in the 2-1 defeat by Jamaica in 1998
Fixtures
Cameroon, 14 June, Free State Stadium, 3pm
Holland, 19 June, Moses Mabhida Stadium, 12.30pm
Denmark, 24 June, Royal Bafokeng Stadium, 7.30pm
The verdict
They are at the finals for the fourth time in succession. It is, however, tricky to identify an outstanding player. The career of Shunsuke Nakamura has waned after the move from Celtic to Espanyol and he is now with Yokohama. The manager, Takeshi Okada, jokes about Cameroon's height advantage yet still feels Japan can reach the semi-finals.
Kevin McCarra
Guardianの記者にとっては日本がセミファイナルに進むとういうことはジョークか気が触れたことと感じるらしい。
中村俊輔の名前が挙がっているが、彼もセルティック時代は最高だったけれど、今はエスパニョールを経て横浜マリノスにいると。そのあとは行間を読めということなのか。Ｊリーグだからたいしたことはないよとか。
こういう記事はおそらくブックメイカーにベットする人たちに向けて書かれているのだろうけれども、ダークホースとしてすら見られていないのかという感じだね。
サッカーはトリッキーだとか、岡崎は孤独なストライカーだとか、本田圭佑にベルカンプやシェリンガムの役割をさせようとしているとか。
日本のメディアより、海外のメディアのほうがちゃんと見ているのかもしれないね。しがらみがない分、好き勝手に書けるわけだし。いや、イングランドのメディアはしがらみがあっても好き勝手書いているか。
岡田さんは守備的なサッカーをすると思われているみたいだし、ビッグタイトルも横浜時代のＪリーグ優勝だけと言われているし。サムライブルーもこき下ろされているしね。
まあ、日本の扱いってこんなものだろうね。
とはいえ、Guardianは一般紙だよ。かなり凹む内容ではあるね。
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