football matches

Does Japan Call It Soccer? Untangling Football Lingo in Japan

Posted on April 21, 2025 by Cyrus Hemsworth

Walk into a Tokyo sports bar, and you might hear both 'sakkaa' and 'futtobooru' tossed around. Which one should you use? There's no clear-cut answer, and if you stick with just 'soccer,' you might sound like a lost tourist. The naming is actually a mix of English influence, branding, and Japanese culture.

Japanese officially calls the sport 'sakkaa' (サッカー), just like the American term 'soccer,' coming straight from English. Most Japanese grew up calling it that, and even the Japan Football Association (JFA) uses it in their Japanese documentations. But with more exposure to international culture, especially European football, you'll also see 'futtobooru' (フットボール) showing up in broadcasts, shops, and online forums.

If you love stats, here's one for you: a 2022 survey by Nikkei found over 80% of Japanese say 'sakkaa' in daily conversation. So, if you want to sound local, that's the safer bet. But understanding why the terms exist and where they fit can save you from awkward looks—or blank stares—when chatting with Japanese fans.

Where Japan's Soccer Language Came From
What People Really Say in Japan
How Japanese Media Talks About the Sport
Tips for Foreigners Talking Football in Japan

Where Japan's Soccer Language Came From

The way Japan talks about soccer (or football, depending on who you ask) goes back to the late 1800s, when British teachers first introduced the game. Most early adopters referred to the sport with the English word "football" because, well, the British were teaching it. But something interesting happened after World War II: American culture started having a bigger influence, and that's when "sakkaa" (サッカー) rolled in. The word comes directly from the English "soccer," and it stuck, especially in schools and youth leagues.

In 1921, Japan set up its first football association, but by the 1960s, the term "sakkaa" had firmly taken over among regular folks. When the Japan Soccer League launched in 1965, the branding made it official. Every kid playing in the park or watching matches on TV heard "sakkaa," not "football" or some other foreign word.

Here's a quick look to help make sense of how the naming changed over time:

Year	Event	Term Used
Late 1800s	British teachers bring the game	Football (in English)
1900s-1940s	Early teams and school leagues	Football / Association Football
1945-1965	American influence rises	Sakkaa
1965	Japan Soccer League formed	Sakkaa (official)
1992	J.League kicks off	Sakkaa dominates

Nowadays, if you ask a Japanese fan what they watch on weekends, they'll answer "sakkaa" almost every time. The name isn’t just habit—it’s how the whole system, from kids’ leagues to pro matches, is organized. But thanks to global events like the World Cup and European leagues getting more popular on TV, "futtobooru" has started sneaking in—though it's still mostly on international broadcasts or with hardcore fans talking about football matches abroad.

What People Really Say in Japan

Most folks in Japan say sakkaa (the Japanese way to say "soccer") when they're talking about the beautiful game. If you chat with a student, a cab driver, or even people at work, sakkaa comes up way more than "football" does. In fact, ask around Tokyo or Osaka, and the word "futtobooru" is mostly linked to American football, not the football you watch in the Premier League or at the World Cup.

It's not just everyday talk—kids' school clubs, local leagues, and towns almost always use sakkaa. You'll see posters for youth "sakkaa" teams at schools everywhere, and parents say, "My kid plays sakkaa" without thinking twice. You’ll hear the same word on weekend TV highlights and during national team commentary.

Here's a snapshot that makes things clearer:

Term	Japanese Writing	Used For	Popularity
Sakkaa (Soccer)	サッカー	Association Football	Everyday use, most common
Futtobooru (Football)	フットボール	Mainly American Football	Rare for soccer, common for NFL-type

Thanks to anime like Captain Tsubasa, which always used "sakkaa," the younger crowd grew up with that word. If you go out to play a pickup game, ask "sakkaa shiyou" (Let’s play soccer), and everyone will know exactly what you mean. Try "futtobooru" and people might think you're talking about helmets and shoulder pads instead.

There's one small caveat: If you're hanging out with someone who follows European leagues or hangs out on English-language football sites, you'll sometimes hear "futtobooru" used in a nod to the "real football" debate. But that's a minority—most folks keep it simple and call it sakkaa.

How Japanese Media Talks About the Sport

Turn on Japanese TV during a big game, and you'll notice something interesting: the main term is sakkaa (サッカー). Sports shows, news reports, and even school announcements nearly always use this word for what most of the world calls football. The Japan Football Association’s official website, team jerseys, posters, and live match commentaries roll with sakkaa every time.

But that’s not the whole story. In recent years, especially when Japanese stations cover European leagues or international tournaments like the World Cup, you’ll see the word futtobooru (フットボール) used now and then. Usually, this pops up in headlines or feature stories that want to sound international or talk about the sport in a big-picture, global context. You’ll spot phrases like "world football" or "European football" mixed in, but once the focus shifts to local clubs or J-League action, everybody snaps back to sakkaa.

Some magazines aimed at hardcore fans play with both words, depending on who or what they're writing about. For example, "Football Zone" (a popular Japanese footy magazine) might use "football" when talking about UEFA tournaments, but it’ll label a Urawa Reds game as "sakkaa." It's a bit like a code-switch for international flair versus national pride.

Advertising mostly sticks with sakkaa. J-League campaigns, merchandise, and commercials are laser-focused on the local vibe, so you’ll see and hear "サッカー" everywhere from train ads to YouTube banners.

Term	Where You'll See It
Sakkaa (Soccer)	Local news, match commentary, J-League content, school sports
Futtobooru (Football)	International tournament coverage, European league reports, global sports features

For anyone tuning in or trying to get into Japanese pop culture around sports, knowing when each term shows up can help you follow conversations, read headlines, or catch the right vibe in a chatroom. If you’re typing into Japanese social media or joining a fan discussion, just go with what the media does: use sakkaa for Japanese teams, and you’ll instantly sound like you know what’s up.

Tips for Foreigners Talking Football in Japan

If you’re heading to Japan and want to hop into a conversation about Japan soccer, a few handy tricks will make you look like you belong, even if you can barely kick a ball yourself.

Say “sakkaa” (サッカー) if you’re talking to locals or chatting at a bar. That’s the word every kid learns first and what’s on pretty much every ticket, jersey, and club announcement.
Use “futtobooru” (フットボール) only when you’re talking about “American football” or during conversations about European leagues. But be ready—sometimes in Japanese, “futtobooru” means the American version with helmets, so be clear with context.
If you’re bringing up the Japanese national team, call them “Samurai Blue.” You’ll hear this nickname everywhere during big tournaments. Local fans love it.
Stick with club and player names as they’re said in Japanese. For example, say “Kawasaki Frontale” the way they write it, not an English version. Same goes for star players—using their Japanese pronunciation wins instant respect.
Never call it “football” unless you’re talking specifically with British ex-pats or in a conversation about the Premier League or Champions League. In daily life, “soccer” (sakkaa) is less confusing.
Want to buy gear or check out a game? Search for “サッカーショップ” (sakkaa shop) or “サッカー観戦” (sakkaa kansen – soccer watching) to get the best results online and offline.

A cool stat: in J-League stadiums, signage for events, food, and family areas all use the “soccer”/サッカー terminology over 90% of the time. Here’s a quick look: