Futoshi Ikedea’s Japanese side have been drawn in Group C alongside reigning 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup winners Spain, as well as Brazil – who have reached the final in two of the previous five Olympic Games – and outsiders of the four, but certainly not dismissed on merit, Nigeria. Japan will have the insurance of being able to finish third but need to be careful that they still amass enough points to progress to the knockout stages as one of the three best third-placed nations. 

Having reached the quarter-finals four years ago, a star-studded plethora of attacking talent including, Momoko Tanikawa, Mina Tanaka (more about those two later on), Hinata Miyazawa and Riko Ueki et al. will give Japan every chance at the very least replicating their performance in the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.

Mina Tanaka

Currently plying her trade in native Japan with WE League side INAC Kobe Leonessa, Tanaka looks primed to make consecutive appearances at an Olympic Games – after scoring at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

Having been part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals four years ago, Tanaka will again be relied on to fire Nadeshiko Japan to victory, especially considering she has already netted 33 goals across 80 appearances. 

A product of the Japanese international youth ranks – after representing the Under-17s and 20s – it is worthwhile looking back at the 2023 FIFA WWC where Tanaka got her name on the scoresheet in a comprehensive 4-0 wash of no other than tournament champions, Spain.

Momoko Tanikawa

Still only 19-years-old, Tanikawa was on fire for FC Rosengård in Sweden while on loan from parent club Bayern Munich. Taniwaka found the back of the net on 10 occasions in just nine appearances in the Damallsvenskan. 

The maturing midfield maestro signed on the dotted line with the German footballing juggernauts in January following her graduation from the Japan Football Association Youth Programme. The young star firmly has to be in the discussions to who could lift the Golden Boot award at the tournament.

Despite making only a limited number of appearances for the senior national side, Tanikawa has caught the eye with her performances. She scored in the semi-final and final of the 2023 Asian Games as Japan lifted the trophy after beating Korea DPR. Most recently, in Nadeshiko Japan’s 4-1 friendly victory over New Zealand, she came on at half-time 1-0 down as a side but ended the match part of a team celebrating, after scoring four goals throughout the second half. With the likes of Tanaka and Tanikawa and many others, Japan will surely be a force to be reckoned with in front of goal across France.

Notable absentees 

Present at both the 2020 Olympic Games and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup – including starting the 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Sweden at the latter tournament – high levels of competition in Japan’s Olympic Games midfield have resulted in Hina Sugita being left out to concentrate on her domestic campaign with National Women’s Soccer League side Portland Thorns. 

Involved in two of Japan’s three group games at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Jun Endō – who plays her football in the NWSL for Angel City FC – but will sadly miss the 2024 Olympic Games after picking the most unwanted injury in football, an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) during pre-season training in February.

See the full 18-player list below.

Goalkeepers: Ayaka Yamashita and Chika Hirao

Defenders: Saki Kumagai (c), Risa Shimizu, Moeka Minami, Hana Takahashi, Hikaru Kitagawa and Tōko Koga

Midfielders: Yui Hasegawa, Kiko Seike, Honoka Hayashi, Fuka Nagano, Hinata Miyazawa, Aoba Fujino and Momoko Tanikawa

Forwards: Mina Tanaka, Riko Ueki and Maika Hamano