That is the 1999-2000 away jersey. And that is the first ever official adidas kit for Japan that is designed totally by the kit manufacturer which is adidas.

What am I talking about?

In 1998 and the past, Japan had a unique football jersey. The design of the kit is designed and copyrighted by Japan FA but the kit manufacturer can be either adidas, puma or asics. Which means the same design can be used by different brands.

Let's look at this retro Japan kit (worn in World Cup USA 94 qualification and during the UMBRO cup in 1995 where England, Japan, Brazil and Sweden played at England):

I remember this kit so much back in the 90s due to it's nice design. But I was baffled back then, because first I saw that it was made by puma.. then at another football magazine, I saw the puma logo at the same jersey... then during the 1995 Umbro cup, they wore the same jersey but with the old adidas trefoil logo...

Then, the next season where they changed the design for the kit.. same scenario:

Haha. again, same scenario.. Well, almost.. the adidas and asics kits differ slightly.. especially on the flame design at the sleeves.. But you get the idea. During world cup qualification, the kit was with adidas sponsors.. But during France 98, it was asics.. I was less baffled then after realizing.. this was how Japan made their football kits.

But after World Cup 98, starting in 1999 adidas 100% made the kit and designed it as well. So the kit you had was the first one ever.

Some good learning lesson on japan kits. I forgot to share this story with others...

Anyway, back to the jersey.. here it was also worn during the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in USA: