The Japan women's national football team, or Nadeshiko Japan (なでしこジャパン), is a selection of the best female players in Japan and is run by the Japan Football Association (JFA). Japan defeated the U.S. in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final in a penalty shootout, becoming the first Asian team to win the FIFA Women's World Cup.
[edit] History of Nadeshiko Japan
[edit] 70s and 80s
During the 1970s, the number of women football players and teams increased in Japan, and teams made up regional leagues in various parts of Japan. In 1980, "All-Japan Women's Football Championship" was held, and in 1981 the Japan women's national football team played its first international match in Hong Kong. The team continued playing matches in Japan or in other countries, but it was not an "All Japan" national team but a temporarily organized team selected from the regional leagues.[1]
In 1986, Ryohei Suzuki was selected as the coach of the Japan women's national football team, the first "All Japan" team. In 1989, the "Japan Women's Football League" (abbreviated to "L. League") was established, and the women’s national team qualified for the "1991 FIFA Women's World Cup" in China.
[edit] Crisis Years
Japan women's national football team attended various championship tournaments such as the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup which had made the national team and the L. League very popular. However, in 1999, Japan failed to qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics, and this helped to cause the withdrawal of a series of teams from the L. League. Japanese women’s football was on the verge of decline.
[edit] Regeneration
In August 2002, the Japan Football Association appointed Eiji Ueda, who had been coach for the Macau national football team, as the new head coach. Officials expected a revitalization of women's football and planned a team reorganization, aiming for the 2004 Summer Olympics. The team at first went through a losing streak, but Ueda gradually improved the team, and it eventually gained wide support in Japan. In particular, a game against Korea DPR, which decided who would participate in the 2004 Olympics, not only made fans rush to the National Stadium but also was widely watched on TV.
Following the increase in public interest in women's football in Japan, the JFA organized a public contest to select a nickname for the team. "Nadeshiko Japan" was chosen from among about 2,700 entries and was announced on 7 July 2004. "Nadeshiko", a kind of dianthus, comes from the phrase "Yamato Nadeshiko" (大和撫子, "ideal Japanese woman").
[edit] 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
Japan qualified for the finals by finishing third in the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup. After finishing second in their group behind England, Nadeshiko Japan beat two-time defending champion and host nation Germany 1–0 in the quarterfinals, before easily defeating Sweden 3–1 to reach the final.
After the final game finished 2–2 after extra time, Japan beat the United States 3–1 in a penalty shootout, becoming the first Asian team to win the FIFA Women's World Cup.[2][3]
[edit] Nadeshiko Japan's International Competition Records
[edit] FIFA Women's World Cup Record
| Year |
Result |
GP |
W |
D* |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
 1991 |
Group Stage |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
12 |
−12 |
 1995 |
Quarter Final |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
−6 |
 1999 |
Group Stage |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
−9 |
| 2003 |
Group Stage |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
6 |
+1 |
| 2007 |
Group Stage |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
 2011 |
Champions |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
12 |
6 |
+6 |
| Total |
6/6 |
21 |
7 |
3 |
10 |
23 |
43 |
−20 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
|
|
[edit] Olympic Games Record
[edit] AFC Women's Asian Cup Record
[edit] Asian Games Record
[edit] Schedule
* Japan score always listed first
[edit] Coaches
[edit] Current squad
The squad selected for 2012 Algarve Cup (29 February to 7 March).[4]
[edit] Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the Japan squad within the last 12 months.
| Pos. |
Player |
Date of Birth (Age) |
Caps |
Goals |
Club |
Latest Call-up |
| GK |
Nozomi Yamago |
16 January 1975 (1975-01-16) (age 37) |
96 |
0 |
 Urawa Reds Ladies |
2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, July 2011 |
|
| DF |
Kyoko Yano |
3 June 1984 (1984-06-03) (age 27) |
69 |
1 |
Urawa Reds Ladies |
2012 Summer Olympics Women's Asian Qualifiers, September 2011 |
| DF |
Yuki Sakai |
10 January 1989 (1989-01-10) (age 23) |
0 |
0 |
Vegalta Sendai Ladies |
2011 Algarve Cup, March 2011 |
| DF |
Akane Saito |
12 January 1993 (1993-01-12) (age 19) |
0 |
0 |
Urawa Reds Ladies |
2011 Algarve Cup, March 2011 |
|
| MF |
Megumi Kamionobe |
15 March 1986 (1986-03-15) (age 25) |
17 |
2 |
Albirex Niigata Ladies |
2012 Summer Olympics Women's Asian Qualifiers, September 2011 |
|
| FW |
Karina Maruyama |
26 March 1983 (1983-03-26) (age 28) |
68 |
14 |
Speranza F.C. Takatsuki |
2012 Summer Olympics Women's Asian Qualifiers, September 2011 |
| FW |
Asano Nagasato |
24 January 1989 (1989-01-24) (age 23) |
4 |
0 |
NTV Beleza |
2012 Summer Olympics Women's Asian Qualifiers, September 2011 |
| FW |
Mana Iwabuchi |
18 March 1993 (1993-03-18) (age 18) |
11 |
2 |
NTV Beleza |
2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, July 2011 |
| FW |
Eriko Arakawa |
30 October 1979 (1979-10-30) (age 32) |
72 |
20 |
Urawa Reds Ladies |
2011 Algarve Cup, March 2011 |
| FW |
Mami Yamaguchi |
13 August 1986 (1986-08-13) (age 25) |
18 |
8 |
Okayama Yunogo Belle |
2011 Algarve Cup, March 2011 |
|
[edit] FIFA Rankings
- July 2003 : 14
- August 2003 : 14 (→)
- October 2003 : 14 (→)
- December 2003 : 14 (→)
- March 2004 : 14 (→)
- June 2004 : 13 (↑)
- August 2004 : 13 (→)
- December 2004 : 13 (→)
- March 2005 : 12 (↑)
- June 2005 : 11 (↑)
- September 2005 : 11 (→)
- December 2005 : 11 (→)
|
- March 2006 : 11 (→)
- May 2006 : 13 (↓)
- September 2006 : 13 (→)
- December 2006 : 10 (↑)
- March 2007 : 9 (↑)
- June 2007 : 10 (↓)
- October 2007 : 11 (↓)
- December 2007 : 11 (→)
- March 2008 : 10 (↑)
- June 2008 : 10 (→)
- September 2008 : 9 (↑)
- December 2008 : 9 (→)
|
- March 2009 : 7 (↑)
- June 2009 : 7 (→)
- September 2009 : 6 (↑)
- December 2009 : 6 (→)
- March 2010 : 5 (↑)
- May 2010 : 5 (→)
- August 2010 : 5 (→)
- November 2010 : 5 (→)
- March 2011 : 4 (↑)
- July 2011 : 4 (→)
- September 2011 : 4 (→)
- December 2011 : 3 (↑)
|
[edit] Honors
[edit] International
- Champions (1): 2011
- 4th Place (1): 2008
[edit] Continental
- Runners-Up (4): 1986, 1991, 1995, 2001
- Gold Medal (1): 2010
[edit] Regional
- Champions (2): 2008, 2010
[edit] Youth National Team Records
[edit] FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Record
[edit] FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Record
[edit] AFC U-19 Women's Championship Record
[edit] AFC U-16 Women's Championship Record
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Asia |
|
|
|
| Africa |
|
|
North America,
Central America
and Caribbean |
|
|
| South America |
|
|
| Oceania |
|
|
| Europe |
|
|
| Non-FIFA |
|
|
| Games |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Champions |
Japan
|
|
| Runner-up |
|
|
| Third Place |
|
|
| Fourth Place |
|
|
| Eliminated in quarterfinals |
|
|
| Eliminated in group stage |
|
|
|
|
|
American football · Association Football (F, M, U-23, U-20, U-17) · Australian rules football · Badminton · Baseball (F, M) · Basketball (F, M) · Beach Soccer · Boxing · Cricket (F, M) · Field hockey (F, M) · Futsal (F, M) · Handball (F, M) · Ice hockey (F, M, F U-18, M Junior) · Kabaddi · Korfball · Olympics · Roller Hockey (F, M) · Rugby Union (F, M) · Rugby league · Softball · Tennis (F, M) · Volleyball (F, M) · Water polo
|
|
|
Japan FIFA World Cup Squads
|
|
|
|
|
India 1 – 0 Japan 
United States 9 – 0 Japan 
Winners, 2011
Runners-Up 1986, 1991, 1995, 2001
1. FFC Frankfurt
Montpellier HSC
