But it was not until the 1964 Tokyo Olympics that the game became really popular, sparked by Japan's 3-2 victory over Argentina.
The following year saw the creation of the Japan Soccer League (JSL), which remained amateur until another Olympics led to the advent of professionalism.
The 1984 Los Angeles Games were the first to officially allow professional participants and, taking that lead, the JSL announced in 1986 that they would recognise professional players.
Yasuhiko Okudera, the first professional Japanese footballer, was brought home from the Bundesliga.
More followed and in 1988 the JFA decided to create a professional league.
In November 1991 the Japan Professional Football League, popularly known as the J-League, was formed.
On 15 May 1993 a crowd of 59,626 watched Verdy Kawasaki take on Yokohama Marinos in the J-League's opening game.
It was a massive - and surprise - success and it very quickly snowballed.