Why Japan Wear Blue at the World Cup — Samurai Myth and an Unlucky Charm

Japan’s blue shirt is one of international football’s most recognisable looks, partly because it does not follow the obvious national-colour rule. The flag is red and white, yet the national team built its modern football identity around blue.

That has created years of kit folklore, neat explanations and repeated myths. The real story is less simple, and that is what makes it more interesting: a mix of early history, uncertain records, failed experiments and clever visual identity.