AFC | |
---|---|
Founded | 1921 |
FIFA affiliation | 1921 |
AFC affiliation | 1954 |
EAFF affiliation | 2002 |
President | Kozo Tashima |
Website | Jfa.jp |
The Japan Football Association (Japanese: Nihon Sakkā Kyōkai, Japan Soccer Association, 日本サッカー協会), is the governing body responsible for the administration of football in Japan. It is responsible for the national team as well as club competitions.
The organisation was founded in 1921 as the Greater Japan Football Association (大日本蹴球協会 Dai-Nippon Shūkyū Kyōkai?), and became affiliated with FIFA in 1921. In 1945, the name of the organisation was changed to the Japan Football Association (日本蹴球協会 Nihon Shūkyū Kyōkai?); its Japanese name was changed to the current title in 1975. This reflected common use of the word sakkā (サッカー), derived from "soccer", rather than the older Japanese word shūkyū (蹴球; literally "kick-ball"). The word sakkā gained popularity during the post-World War II occupation of Japan by the Allied powers. The association generally translates its name to "Japan Football Association" in English, though "Japan Soccer Association" is also used.
The symbol of the JFA is the Yatagarasu, a mythical three-legged raven that guided Emperor Jimmu to Mount Kumano. Yatagarasu is also the messenger of the supreme Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu.