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The Kit Archive · Away kit

Japan 2018 Away

The white Russia 2018 away, a modern nod to the 1991 shirt with a chevron shoulder graphic.

Japan 2018 away shirt, front: white with red accents, a grey chevron graphic across the shoulders, the JFA crest, the Japan flag and a red adidas logo.

Product image via Unisport · source

At a glance

Officially confirmed
Maker
adidas
Cycle
2018
Type
Away kit
Colorway
White, with red accents and a grey chevron graphic
Crest
JFA crest featuring the Yatagarasu
Rear neck
Inner-collar sign-off marking moments in Japan's football history
Editions
Replica · Authentic
Rarity
Scarce
Japan 2018 away shirt, back: white with a subtle chevron and pinstripe graphic.
Back
Detail of the Japan 2018 away: the JFA crest on the white body.
Detail
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 change to the indigo home, and a design with a wink to the past. The 2018 away is white with red accents and a grey chevron washing down from the shoulders, a modern, streetwear-flavored nod to Japan's 1991 shirt, finished with an inner-collar sign-off marking moments in the nation's football history. Clean, clever, and now a resale-only piece from the Russia cycle.

The design

Sourced reporting

Theme: 1991 homage

The 2018 away is a modern reinterpretation of Japan's 1991 shirt: a white body with red accents and a bold grey chevron graphic drawn from the adidas three stripes across the shoulders, plus an inner-collar sign-off celebrating moments in the nation's football history. It leaned into the era's streetwear feel.

Sources: Footy Headlines — Japan 2018 World Cup away kit released; Football Fashion — Japan 2018/19 adidas home kit

The buying companion

NBN editorial guidance

Which version should you buy?

A clean, well-liked change kit, resale-only. Decide replica vs the on-field version, and check condition on a white shirt this age.

  • Replica or authentic?

    Replica (Climacool) is the everyday version. The authentic is the tighter on-field cut at a premium. Both are resale-only now.

  • Short or long sleeve?

    Short sleeve is the common find on resale.

  • Which patches?

    A World Cup shirt should carry the official 2018 badge; a friendly wears none. Match the patch to the competition the shirt claims.

  • Which nameset?

    Use the adidas 2018 World Cup font on a tournament shirt and the standard nameset otherwise.

  • What size?

    For US-market stock, follow the US size chart; the authentic runs slim. Japanese domestic stock is labeled and measured differently, so check the Japanese size chart or garment measurements, where you may need a larger Japanese-labeled size than your usual US size.

  • Where to buy?

    Resale only: authenticity-checked marketplaces and eBay, or a proxy for Japanese stock.

The versions

Officially confirmed

Replica vs authentic

Replica

The everyday fan cut. Resale-only now.

Fabric
Climacool
Fit
Regular, stadium cut
Badges
Standard fan-spec

Authentic

The on-field version: tighter, lighter, at a premium.

Fabric
adizero (authentic)
Fit
Slim, 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 2018 badge (tournament shirts)

Match the patch to the competition the shirt claims.

Nameset

multiple
  • · adidas 2018 World Cup nameset
  • · Standard JFA/adidas nameset for non-tournament matches

Match the nameset to the shirt's competition.

Before you buy

NBN editorial guidance

How not to get burned

  • Condition first on a white shirt this age: staining, cracked prints and fading are common.
  • Counterfeit exposure is real on popular older Japan kits: authenticate carefully.
  • A price far below the going rate for a clean example: too cheap is the tell.
  • A reseller who will not send wash-tag and product-code photos. No tag photos, no bid.
  • Reissues and 'retro' remakes are not the 2018 original; match the tag era.

What a fair purchase looks like

Resale-only, and condition drives price. A clean example commands a premium; treat a suspiciously cheap listing as a condition or authenticity problem.

Sizing

US market

Buying from US-market stock: follow the US size chart. The authentic runs slim; the replica is a fuller fit. Do not size up just because it is a Japan kit.

Japanese domestic stock

Buying Japanese domestic stock: Japanese labels and measurements differ from US sizing, and a Japanese 3XL is not a US 3XL. Compare the garment measurements or the official Japanese size chart, and expect to need a larger Japanese-labeled size than your usual US size.

Spotting a fake

Cross-check the adidas product code against archived listings, and match the wash tag and code to the edition and era. Match the nameset and patches to the claimed competition, and compare construction against verified images of the same edition. On a white shirt 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, and note that later 'retro' remakes are not the 2018 original.

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, an established-collector kit: out of production and resale-only, well-liked for its 1991 nod and clean look. Condition drives price as much as rarity, and popular older Japan kits see real counterfeit and remake activity. This is a time-sensitive read; check current resale pricing in the Gear Guide.

NBN editorial assessment, not live market data. Reviewed Aug 2, 2026; next review Nov 2, 2026. Current retailer stock and pricing live in the Buying Guide.

Where it was worn

Officially confirmed

The white change shirt of Japan's 2018 cycle around the Russia 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 Unisport (Editorial use) · source
  • Back: Product image via Unisport (Editorial use) · source
  • Detail: Product image via Unisport (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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