The teams - Japan

Asian qualifier - Group A

This will be Japan's second World Championship, after finishing as runners-up in the Asian Championship, held in Japan at the end of last year.

Japan have had a hard time at the global showpiece, losing all three of their games at their first attempt at the International Blind Soccer Tournament in 2002. They came back to the world stage at the 2006 World Championship as Asian champions, only to end up fighting for second-to-last place with Korea. Although they defeated Spain, they finished fourth out of the four teams.

The country is strong in Asia, but they are just a newly hatched bird compared to some of the other teams at this year's tournament. The Japanese team has been revitalised for this Championship, and instead of 47 year old Yoshihara, who scored a hat-trick at the Asian Championship in 2009, 20 year old Teranishi will be earning his first cap. There are also people like Tanaka and Ochiai who have experienced international games.

With both Brazil and Argentina in the other group, and the top two qualifying, a good result against either England or Spain will leave them with a big chance to go through. Having the youthfulness and experience from the last world championships, Japan could this time fly high at the global showpiece.

Squad list

Kenro Mihara
Tomonari Kuroda
Hiroshi Ochiai
Kento Kato
Yasuhiro Sasaki
Akihito Tanaka
Shiuichi Yamaguch
Hajime Teranishi
Daisuke Sato
Naoya Abe

Staff list

Kiichi Kazamatsuri (Head Coach)
Yohihiro Masuoka (Coach)
Katsumi Fukunaga (Coach)
Ko Uozumi (Goal Guide)
Yuki Kuroda (Staff)
Hiromitsu Kinoshita (Medic)