Japan is dreaming. Japan are the only Asian nation to qualify for the pre-quarters as the group stage of the World Cup draws to a close. It’s no small feat, but it’s Spain and Germany, the last words in world football, that have said the bottom of the Japanese chariot race. The national flag of Japan has a circle representing the sun in the center of a white square. Naturally, the red jersey will come to the Japanese soccer team. But Japan’s favorite color is blue. There are no clear reasons why. The Japan team jersey is known as Samurai Blue.
If you look closely at that jersey, you can see a crest on the chest. Emblem of the Japan Football Association. If you look closely, you’ll see a bird sitting on that emblem. A black bird with three legs. This is a crow named Yatagarasu. In Japanese Shinto mythology, Yatagarasu is considered a crow with godlike powers. According to Shinto belief, Yatagarasu is seen by the Japanese as a symbol of rebirth and healing.
In Japanese legend, Yatagarasu first appears in front of the legendary Emperor Jimmu. While Jimmu sat despondent over the defeat of the battle in the Kumano region. Legend has it that the sun god Amaterasu released Yatagarasu to trust him. The raven’s three legs represent intelligence, kindness, and courage.
Yatagarasu is mentioned in Japanese legends as a bird who guides the lost and confused. Hence it is considered a lucky symbol. For this reason, the Japanese soccer team also took this symbol as an emblem on their shirt.
Content Summary: Mythical three-legged crow Yatagarasu Japanese soccer jersey
