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The Kit Archive · Away kit

Japan 1998 Away

The white flame change shirt of France 1998, the other side of Japan's first World Cup kit.

Japan 1998 away shirt, front: white with a tonal flame pattern, a blue polo collar with red and white trim, the ASICS logo and the JFA crest.

Product image via Classic Football Shirts · source

At a glance

Officially confirmed
Maker
ASICS
Cycle
1998
Type
Away kit
Colorway
White, with a tonal flame pattern, a blue polo collar with red and white trim and blue trim
Crest
JFA crest featuring the Yatagarasu
Rear neck
Blue ribbed polo collar
Editions
Replica · Player issue
Rarity
Scarce
Japan 1998 away shirt, back: white with the tonal flame pattern, a blue polo collar and blue piping.
Back
How to read this page
  • Officially confirmedConfirmed directly by the manufacturer, the JFA, FIFA, or official product / launch materials.
  • Sourced reportingReported by reputable specialist kit media where the original primary material is not directly accessible. Sources are listed at the foot.
  • NBN editorial guidanceNippon Blue Nation's own analysis: buying advice, sizing, counterfeit and market reads. Not official statements.

The story

The white change shirt of France 1998, and the mirror of the blue flame home: the same ASICS flame graphic worked in white-on-white, with a blue ribbed polo collar, red and white trim and blue cuffs. The other side of the shirt Japan wore at its first World Cup, and a scarcer find than the blue today.

The design

Sourced reporting

Theme: Flame

The 1998 away sets the same flame graphic in white-on-white, with a blue ribbed polo collar with red and white trim, blue piping and cuffs, the ASICS logo and the JFA crest. Made in Japan, the change shirt of Japan's first World Cup.

Sources: Football Kit Archive — Japan 1998 away

The buying companion

NBN editorial guidance

Which version should you buy?

As with the home, decide original versus reissue first. Originals are scarce and priced up; reissues are cheap. Then check condition and authenticity closely.

  • Original or reissue?

    An original 1998 ASICS away (Made in Japan) is the collector's piece, scarce and priced accordingly. Reissues look the part for far less but are not the original. Decide which you want.

  • Short or long sleeve?

    Short sleeve is the common find in both originals and reissues.

  • Which patches?

    A World Cup shirt should carry the official 1998 badge; a friendly wears none. Match the patch to the competition the shirt claims.

  • Which nameset?

    Use the ASICS 1998 World Cup font for a France shirt and the standard nameset otherwise.

  • What size?

    Vintage ASICS sizing runs different from modern kits and from US sizing. Go by the garment measurements in the listing, not the tag letter, and expect a boxier late-1990s cut.

  • Where to buy?

    Originals live on resale: vintage specialists like Classic Football Shirts, authenticity-checked marketplaces and eBay, or a proxy for Japanese stock.

The versions

Officially confirmed

Replica vs authentic

Replica

The retail fan version. Original stock is resale-only; reissues are also sold.

Fabric
ASICS polyester (Made in Japan)
Fit
Boxier late-1990s cut
Badges
Standard fan-spec

Player issue

The on-field player version, the scarcest original, at a premium.

Fabric
Player issue (on-field spec)
Fit
On-field cut
Badges
Player-spec

Which one is right for you is in the buying companion above. This table is just what each version is.

Patches & nameset

Officially confirmed

Patches

multiple
  • · No competition patch (friendlies / qualifiers)
  • · FIFA World Cup 1998 badge (tournament shirts)

Match the patch to the competition the shirt claims.

Nameset

multiple
  • · ASICS 1998 World Cup nameset
  • · Standard JFA/ASICS nameset for non-tournament matches

Match the nameset to the shirt's competition.

Before you buy

NBN editorial guidance

How not to get burned

  • Original versus reissue: a reissue sold as an original at original prices.
  • Condition on a white shirt this age: staining, cracked prints and fading are common.
  • Counterfeit exposure is high on the 1998 flame kit: authenticate carefully.
  • A reseller who will not send wash-tag and construction photos. No tag photos, no bid.
  • A price far below the going rate for a clean original: too cheap is the tell.

What a fair purchase looks like

Know which market you are in. A clean original commands a premium and condition drives price; a reissue should cost a small fraction. Treat a 'cheap original' as a reissue or a condition problem until proven otherwise.

Sizing

US market

Buying from US-market resale: vintage ASICS sizing differs from modern kits, so follow the garment measurements in the listing rather than the tag letter, and expect a boxier late-1990s cut.

Japanese domestic stock

Buying Japanese domestic stock: Japanese labels and measurements differ again. Compare the garment measurements, and note this was Made in Japan, so most originals carry Japanese sizing.

Spotting a fake

First establish original versus reissue: match the wash tag, collar tag (Made in Japan) and construction against verified images of the original 1998 ASICS shirt, and be wary of reissues sold as originals. On an original this age, condition and tag era matter as much as the print. Be cautious if a seller will not share detailed tag and code photos.

The market read

NBN editorial guidance

Retail status

Sold out

Availability

Scarce

Counterfeit risk

High

Price position

Premium

Demand

Steady

Confidence

Medium

As of the review date, a scarce vintage kit from Japan's first World Cup: originals are long out of production and priced at a premium, with condition driving value, while reissues sell for a fraction. Provenance, original versus reissue, is the whole game. This is a time-sensitive read; check current resale pricing in the Buying Guide.

NBN editorial assessment, not live market data. Reviewed Aug 9, 2026; next review Nov 9, 2026. Current retailer stock and pricing live in the Buying Guide.

Where it was worn

Officially confirmed

The white change shirt of Japan's 1998 cycle around the France World Cup.

Where to buy

Shopping for this era?

See NBN's complete guide to sizing, authentication, retailers, and Japan-only marketplaces.

Open the Buying Guide →

Keep exploring

Sources

Image credits

  • Hero: Product image via Classic Football Shirts (Editorial use) · source
  • Back: Product image via Classic Football Shirts (Editorial use) · source

Nippon Blue Nation is an independent fan project and is not affiliated with adidas, ASICS, the JFA, or FIFA. Product images are used editorially to identify and discuss the kit, with each image's source credited above. Buying guidance is editorial and vendor-neutral; some outbound links may be affiliate links, noted where they appear.

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