Japan perform u-turn to play in Copa America

Japan will take take part in this year's Copa America, Japan Football Association (JFA) general secretary Kozo Tashima said today.

"The JFA decided to participate in the Copa America today," Tashima was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency.

"We are in the process of notifying CONMEBOL (South American football confederation) as we speak."

Japan had pulled out of the July 1-24 tournament, which is being held in Argentina, after the country's northeastern coast was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami last month.