text: North Korea Japan also maintains a significant rivalry with North Korea, although the rivalry is infrequent due to political circumstances. Like the rivalry against South Korea, the rivalry against North Korea is another extension of historical feud between Japan and Korea. They have met each other 20 times, with the statistic being equal with 8 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses. Since the Japan Professional Football League was launched in 1991, Japan have led the series with 6 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses. Japan have a far more dominant record with four Asian Cup titles and advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup four times, whereas North Korea's best Asian Cup result was just fourth place in 1980 and only advanced past the group stages of a World Cup just once, a quarter-final finish at England 1966.
  China
  Japan and China used to have a strong rivalry. The rivalry was taken to new heights when Japan beat China 3–1 in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup final. Previously, when Japan had not established professional football, Japan had only 4 wins, 3 draws and 13 losses against China. However, Japan's rapid rise since 1991 with the foundation of the Japan Professional Football League helped turn the tide, and the Japanese have been able to exert domination with 13 wins, 6 draws and only 2 losses. Moreover, Japan have been able to use the new professional program into senior success, qualifying to every FIFA World Cup since 1998 and winning four Asian Cups, whereas China have finished runners-up in Asia twice, and qualified for just one World Cup in 2002.