Since 1998 the Japanese have appeared at both the 2002 and 2006 finals: they were co-hosts with South Korea in 2002 and in Germany in 2006.
In 2002 they were disappointingly dumped out in the second round by Turkey and could only watch as co-hosts South Korea advanced to the semi-finals. In 2006 they failed to get out of a tough group with Brazil, Australia and Croatia.
The Socceroos also proved difficult opponents in this qualifying campaign: Australia were pitched into the Asia qualifying zone for the first time and although Japan held them to a 0-0 draw in Yokohama, they proved by far the strongest team in the group.
A tour of Europe in autumn 2009 saw Japan outclassed 3-0 by the Netherlands in Enschede, before a rousing 4-3 victory in Utrecht against fellow World Cup qualifiers Ghana.
But it's been an exciting decade for Japanese football. They lifted the Asian Cup, the equivalent of the European Championships, in 2000 and 2004.
The creative brilliance and drive of Hidetoshi Nakata at Perugia, Roma and latterly Bolton Wanderers paved the way for many Japanese players to be welcomed by European sides: Nakamura's attacking verve at Celtic lit up the Scottish Premier League for four years before he recently moved to Espanyol and he will be a man to watch in South Africa in 2010.
DID YOU KNOW? Japan is the only team from outside the Americas to compete in the Copa America. They featured in the 1999 tournament and have been invited to play in 2011.
