Easy
How to Pronounce Japan
juh-PAN
/dʒəˈpæn/
Syllable Breakdown
juhPAN
juh-PAN. In Japanese the country is called 'Nihon' or 'Nippon' — ni-HON or NIP-pon.
How Locals Say It
日本 (Nihon / Nippon)
Nihon = ni-HON / Nippon = NIP-pon
Common Mistakes
JAY-panJA-pan
Fun Fact About the Name
Japan calls itself Nihon or Nippon (ni-HON/NIP-pon), meaning 'origin of the sun' — hence 'Land of the Rising Sun.' Japan has been to every World Cup since 1998 and their Blue Samurai always bring passionate, respectful fans.
Japan at World Cup 2026
Japan competes in the AFC confederation.
View Japan squad analysis →