Adidas have fired the starting pistol on the upcoming phase of international kit releases, with some spectacular new shirts for Japan ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
After weeks of leaks and excitement, the JFA have confirmed their much-anticipated Adidas designs featuring five shades of blue in a stormy, cloud like camouflage pattern.
The so-called “Clear Sky” shirts by Adidas will be worn by Japan’s men and women at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The Samurai Blue’s shirts are inspired by the Japanese Ukiyo-e art movement that brought “pictures of the floating world” like Katsushika Hokasai’s “The Great Wave” to homes across the globe.
The artistic Adidas shirts are finished with their trademark three stripes in red whilst the back of the shirt is light blue and will feature player’s names and numbers in a special red font that picks up the same pattern from the front of the shirts.
As always, Japan’s crest starring the Yatagarasu, a three-legged crow from Japanese mythology is present beneath the “circle of the sun” flag.
Adidas had a tough act to follow after their samurai style shirts from Russia 2018 became many a kit enthusiast’s favourite of the tournament.
There will be those who call these garish and over-the-top, some will even complain about the inspiration from Japanese culture; but we think these shirts are pretty special and think they will look incredible at next summer’s Olympics when the eyes of the world are on Tokyo.
Sartorial Soccer 