The Japan Football Association is the governing body responsible for the administration of football, futsal, beach soccer and efootball in Japan. It is responsible for the national team, as well as club competitions.
The Japan women's national football team, commonly known as Nadeshiko Japan (なでしこジャパン), represents Japan in women's association football and is run by the Japan Football Association (JFA). One of the two countries to win every FIFA competition and the most successful women's national team in the Asian Football Confederation, its highest ranking in the FIFA Women's World Rankings is 3rd, achieved in December 2011.
The Japan women's national softball team is the national team of Japan in international softball competitions. It is governed by the Japan Softball Association. They are currently ranked #2 in the world by the International Softball Federation. In four Olympic Games, since 1996 until 2008, Japan has won one gold medal, a silver medal and a bronze medal. In the top four nations at the Olympics, Japan is the second most successful national team, following the United States, and beating out Australia and China with one silver medal. After winning the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Japanese national team was defeated by the United States team at the XII Women's Softball World Championship in Caracas, Venezuela.
The Myanmar women's national football team is the female association football team representing Myanmar and is controlled by Myanmar Football Federation (MFF).
Kozo Tashima is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team. He is also the president of the Japan Football Association and the East Asian Football Federation.
Mana Iwabuchi is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward or attacking midfielder. She was most recently with Tottenham Hotspur and has previously played for Aston Villa, Bayern Munich, 1899 Hoffenheim, and Tottenham Hotspur. She has also represented the Japan national team.
Futoshi Ikeda is a Japanese football manager and former player who played as a defender who is the head coach of the Thailand women's national football team.
Mizuho Sakaguchi is a former Japanese footballer who played as a midfielder. She last played for Omiya Ardija Ventus in the WE League and the Japan national team.
Sarina Koga is a Japanese volleyball player who won the bronze medal at the 2013 U23 World Championship with Japan's U23 national team. She also competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in women's volleyball. Koga retired after the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The Japan men's national lacrosse team is governed by the Japanese Lacrosse Association. The team's best performance in the World Lacrosse Championship was in the 2010 World Lacrosse Championship, when it came in fourth. The team came in eighth in the 2014 World Lacrosse Championship, and fifth in the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship. The team also won the bronze medal at the 2022 World Games, playing the Sixes variant.
Cheerleading is a recognized sport in Japan that requires physical strength and athletic ability. Cheerleading is available at the junior high school, high school, collegiate, club, and all-star level. Teams can either be all female or coed featuring males and females.
Mayu Matsumoto is a Japanese badminton player. Born in Hokkaido, she graduated from Shiritsu Towanomorisanai High School. She was part of the Hokuto Bank team. Matsumoto was awarded as the 2018 Most Improved Player of the Year by the BWF together with her partner Wakana Nagahara. They obtained the honor after their win in the 2018 BWF World Championships title and improving their ranking from 14 to 3 in the world. In 30 April 2019, she reached a career high as a women's doubles world No. 1.
The Japan Handball Association (JHA) is the governing body of handball and beach handball in Japan. JHA is affiliated to the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), Japanese Olympic Committee and International Handball Federation (IHF) since 1952.
Risa Shimizu is a Japanese professional football player who plays as a right-back for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the Japan national team.
The Asia Pacific Lacrosse Championship is an international lacrosse competition contested to determine the best lacrosse national team in the Asia Pacific region. The first edition was played in Australia, the same year the Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union was organized. The following edition was held in Japan in 2005. Since then the competition is held every two years. A women's competition was introduced in 2009.
Ayase Ueda is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Eredivisie club Feyenoord and the Japan national team.
Saori Takarada is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Leicester City and the Japan national team. She previously played for Cerezo Osaka Sakai, Washington Spirit, and Linköpings FC.
The Japan Curling Championships are the annual Japanese men's and women's curling championships, organized by the Japan Curling Association (JCA). The winners get to represent Japan at the men's and women's World Curling Championships and the next season's Pacific-Asia Curling Championships.
Yayoi Urano is a retired Japanese Wrestler and Judoka. She won six gold medals and one silver medal in three weight classes at the World Wrestling Championships from 1990 to 1996.
The 2026 World Lacrosse Women's World Championship, the 12th Women's World Championship is the preeminent international women's lacrosse tournament. The tournament will be hosted in Japan.
Champions (2015, 2017, 2019, 2025)
