Japan women's national ice hockey team

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Japan
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Smile Japan
スマイルジャパン
AssociationJapan Ice Hockey Federation
Head coachYuji Iizuka
AssistantsKanae Aoki
Masahito Haruna
Yujiro Nakajimaya
CaptainChiho Osawa
Most gamesYuka Hirano (67)
Most pointsHanae Kubo (54)
IIHF codeJPN
Ranking
Current IIHF6 Steady (1 September 2021)[1]
Highest IIHF6 (2019)
Lowest IIHF11 (first in 2011)
First international
Japan  5–2  Netherlands
(North York or Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; 21 April 1987)
Biggest win
Japan  46–0  Hong Kong
(Sapporo, Japan; 21 February 2017)
Biggest defeat
Canada  18–0  Japan
(Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; 22 March 1990)
Canada  18–0  Japan
(Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; 5 April 1996)
World Championships
Appearances17 (first in 1990)
Best result6th (2021)
Asian Winter Games
Appearances6 (first in 1996)
Best resultGold Gold (2017)
Challenge Cup of Asia
Appearances3 (first in 2010)
Best resultGold Gold (2011, 2012)
Olympics
Appearances3 (first in 1998)
International record (W–L–T)
88–92–8

The Japanese women's national ice hockey team (Japanese: アイスホッケー女子日本代表, Hepburn: Aisuhokkē Joshi Nippon Daihyō) represents Japan at the International Ice Hockey Federation's Women's World Championships, the Winter Olympics, and at other international ice hockey tournaments. The women's national team is governed by the Japan Ice Hockey Federation.[2][3][4][5][6] Japan had 2,587 registered female players in 2017 and 1,439 as of 2020.[7][8]

The nickname of Japan women's team is "Smile Japan" (Japanese: スマイルジャパン, Hepburn: Sumairu Japan).[9]

Tournament record[]

Olympic Games[]

  • 1998 – Finished in 6th place
  • 2014 – Finished in 7th place
  • 2018 – Finished in 6th place

World Championship[]

  • 1990 – Finished in 8th place
  • 1999 – Finished in 9th place (1st in Group B, Promoted to Top Division)
  • 2000 – Finished in 8th place (Relegated to Division I).
  • 2001 – Finished in 10th place (2nd in Division I).
  • 2003 – Finished in 9th place (1st in Group B, Promoted to Top Division)
  • 2004 – Finished in 9th place (Relegated to Division I)
  • 2005 – Finished in 10th place (2nd in Division I)
  • 2007 – Finished in 10th place (1st in Group B, Promoted to Top Division)
  • 2008 – Finished in 7th place
  • 2009 – Finished in 8th place (Relegated to Division I)
  • 2011 – Withdrew from the tournament due to an earthquake[10]
  • 2012 – Finished in 11th place (3rd in Division IA)
  • 2013 – Finished in 9th place (1st in Division IA, Promoted to Top Division)
  • 2015 – Finished in 7th place
  • 2016 – Finished in 8th place (Relegated to Division I)
  • 2017 – Finished in 9th place (1st in Division IA, Promoted to Top Division)
  • 2019 – Finished in 8th place
  • 2020 – Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[11]
  • 2021 – Finished in 6th place

Asian Games[]

  • 1996 – Finished in 2nd place Silver
  • 1999 – Finished in 2nd place Silver
  • 2003 – Finished in 2nd place Silver
  • 2007 – Finished in 2nd place Silver
  • 2011 – Finished in 2nd place Silver
  • 2017 – Finished in 1st place Gold

IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia[]

  • 2010 – Finished in 2nd place Silver
  • 2011 – Finished in 1st place Gold
  • 2012 – Finished in 1st place Gold

Pacific Rim Championship[]

  • 1995 – Finished in 4th place
  • 1996 – Finished in 4th place

Team[]

Current roster[]

Roster for the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship[12][13]

Head Coach: [[Yuji Iizuka]

No. Pos. Name Height Weight Birthdate Team
1 G Nana Fujimoto 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) 55 kg (121 lb) (1989-03-03) 3 March 1989 (age 32) Sweden
2 D Shiori Koike 1.59 m (5 ft 3 in) 53 kg (117 lb) (1993-03-21) 21 March 1993 (age 28) Japan
3 D Aoi Shiga 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) 60 kg (130 lb) (1999-07-04) 4 July 1999 (age 22) Japan
4 D Ayaka Toko – A 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) 58 kg (128 lb) (1994-08-22) 22 August 1994 (age 27) Japan Seibu Princess Rabbits
5 D 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) 68 kg (150 lb) (1997-06-26) 26 June 1997 (age 24) Japan Seibu Princess Rabbits
6 D Sena Suzuki 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) 56 kg (123 lb) (1991-08-04) 4 August 1991 (age 30) Japan Seibu Princess Rabbits
7 D Yukiko Kawashima 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) 63 kg (139 lb) (1996-11-16) 16 November 1996 (age 24) Japan
8 D Akane Hosoyamada – A 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) 59 kg (130 lb) (1992-03-09) 9 March 1992 (age 29) Japan
10 F Haruna Yoneyama 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) 53 kg (117 lb) (1991-11-07) 7 November 1991 (age 29) Japan
11 F Mei Miura 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) 63 kg (139 lb) (1998-11-16) 16 November 1998 (age 22) Japan
12 F Chiho Osawa – C 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) 63 kg (139 lb) (1992-02-10) 10 February 1992 (age 29) Sweden Luleå HF
13 F Moeko Fujimoto 1.56 m (5 ft 1 in) 51 kg (112 lb) (1992-08-05) 5 August 1992 (age 29) Japan
14 F Haruka Toko 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) 64 kg (141 lb) (1997-03-16) 16 March 1997 (age 24) Japan Seibu Princess Rabbits
15 F Rui Ukita 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) 69 kg (152 lb) (1996-06-06) 6 June 1996 (age 25) Japan
16 F Akane Shiga 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) 61 kg (134 lb) (2001-03-03) 3 March 2001 (age 20) Japan
18 F Suzuka Taka 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) 53 kg (117 lb) (1996-10-16) 16 October 1996 (age 24) Japan
19 F 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) 53 kg (117 lb) (1998-12-14) 14 December 1998 (age 22) Japan
21 F Hanae Kubo 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) 64 kg (141 lb) (1982-12-10) 10 December 1982 (age 38) Japan Seibu Princess Rabbits
22 F Miho Shishiuchi 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) 60 kg (130 lb) (1992-08-21) 21 August 1992 (age 29) Japan
23 F Hikaru Yamashita 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) 54 kg (119 lb) (2000-09-23) 23 September 2000 (age 20) Japan Seibu Princess Rabbits
24 F 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) 60 kg (130 lb) (2004-05-02) 2 May 2004 (age 17) Japan
27 F Remi Koyama 1.46 m (4 ft 9 in) 52 kg (115 lb) (2000-07-17) 17 July 2000 (age 21) Japan Seibu Princess Rabbits
28 D Shiori Yamashita 1.59 m (5 ft 3 in) 52 kg (115 lb) (2002-04-28) 28 April 2002 (age 19) Japan Seibu Princess Rabbits
29 G 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) 52 kg (115 lb) (2000-09-21) 21 September 2000 (age 20) Japan
30 G Akane Konishi 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) 70 kg (150 lb) (1995-08-14) 14 August 1995 (age 26) Japan Seibu Princess Rabbits

Notable former players[]

Coaches[]

  • 1990 World Championship –
  • 1995 to 1998 – Wally Kozak (coach-mentor)[14][15]
  • 1998 Winter Olympics – Toru Itabashi (head coach), Tsutomu Kawabuchi[16][17]
  • 1999 World Championship B –
  • 2000 World Championship – Takayuki Hatanda
  • 2001 World Championship D1 – Takayuki Hatanda
  • 2003 World Championship D1 –
  • 2004 World Championship – (head coach), Tsutomu Kawabuchi (assistant coach, team manager)[16][17]
  • 2005 World Championship D1 – Kenji Nobuta
  • 2007 World Championship D1 –
  • 2008 World Championship – Yuji Iizuka
  • 2009 World Championship – Yuji Iizuka
  • 2012 World Championship D1A – Yuji Iizuka
  • 2013 World Championship D1A – Yuji Iizuka
  • 2014 Winter Olympics – Yuji Iizuka
  • 2015 World Championship – Yoshifumi Fujisawa
  • 2016 World Championship – Yoshifumi Fujisawa
  • 2017 World Championship D1A – Takeshi Yamanaka
  • 2018 Winter Olympics – Takeshi Yamanaka
  • 2019 World Championship – Yuji Iizuka

Source: IIHF Guide & Record Book 2020[18]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "IIHF Women's World Ranking". IIHF. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Women's ice hockey team "Smile Japan" chase Olympic dream". International Olympic Committee. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  3. ^ Kalaf, Samer (18 December 2013). "Japan's Women's Hockey Team Is The Lovable Underdog of the Olympics". Deadspin. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  4. ^ Meadows, Mark (1 April 2009). "Ice hockey-Japan's 'Bunnies' boiled by economic crisis". Reuters.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  5. ^ Watanabe, Tadashi (26 August 2013). "Women's ice hockey team banking on Sochi". The Japan Times. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  6. ^ "Japan's ice hockey women chase Olympic dream". Al Jazeera. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  7. ^ IIHF profile
  8. ^ "IIHF Member National Association: Japan". International Ice Hockey Federation. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  9. ^ "愛称は「スマイルジャパン」　アイスホッケー女子代表" [National Women's Ice Hockey Team Nicknamed "Smile Japan"]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 28 March 2013. Archived from the original on 28 March 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  10. ^ Peter, Bruce (29 March 2011). "Japanese National Teams Withdraw from World Championships". Puck Worlds. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  11. ^ Steiss, Adam (7 March 2020). "Women's Worlds cancelled". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  12. ^ "女子日本代表（2021 IIHF 女子世界選手権）". Japan Ice Hockey Federation (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  13. ^ "2021 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship – Team Roster: JPN – Japan" (PDF). IIHF. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  14. ^ Murray, Robert (15 March 2018). "WHL Alumni set to be inducted to Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame". Western Hockey League. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  15. ^ Hersh, Philip (2 February 1998). "Japan Getting (Stick) Handle on Women's Hockey". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "Death Note–Advisor Kawabuchi". Japan Ice Hockey Federation (in Japanese). 20 January 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b "Staff Profile: Tsutomu Kawabuchi". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  18. ^ Podnieks, Andrew; Nordmark, Birger, eds. (2019). IIHF Guide & Record Book 2020. Toronto: Moydart. pp. 112–113. ISBN 9780986796470.

External links[]

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