Football is among the most popular sports in Japan, together with baseball, tennis, golf, sumo, and combat sports. Its nationwide organization, the Japan Football Association, administers the professional football leagues, including J.League, which is considered by many the most successful football league in Asia. Japan is also the country with the most comprehensively developed football in Asia in both men and women as well as in both futsal and beach soccer.

The Japan national football team , also known by the nickname Samurai Blue , represents Japan in men's international football. It is controlled by the Japan Football Association (JFA), the governing body for football in Japan.