Japan 1998 Home

The iconic ASICS Japan 1998 home long-sleeve shirt, featuring the deep Samurai Blue base, subtle flame-inspired patterning, and the embroidered JFA crest, is one of the most historically significant kits in Asian football history.

Clean, elegant, and unmistakably Japanese, it represents Japan’s long-awaited arrival at the FIFA World Cup.

Worn during the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, this shirt accompanied Japan as they made their debut on football’s biggest stage. Under coach Takeshi Okada, the Samurai Blue entered the tournament with pride, discipline, and the ambition to establish themselves among the world’s elite.

At the heart of the squad was Hidetoshi Nakata, the nation’s emerging star whose technical quality and composure quickly marked him as Japan’s first global football icon. He was supported by key players including Kazuyoshi Miura, Masashi Nakayama, Junichi Inamoto, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, and Hiroshi Nanami, forming a pioneering generation that carried Japanese football onto the global stage.

Japan’s campaign included hard-fought matches against Argentina, Croatia, and Jamaica, gaining invaluable experience despite exiting at the group stage.

More than just a football shirt, this long-sleeve home kit represents beginnings, ambition, and the foundation of modern Japanese football. A true ASICS classic and an essential collector’s piece from the birth of the Samurai Blue on the world stage.