аÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û

15 Best Japanese Female Football (Soccer) Players

Get ready to witness and be astounded by the extraordinary abilities and talents of the top 15 Japanese women’s soccer (football) players. With their extraordinary skills on the field,  these football superstars are a force to be reckoned with, and every game exhibits their fervor for the game. Therefore, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an exciting trip as we explore the incredible journeys of these soccer players, most of whom will be in action in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Japan is in World Cup Group C with Spain, Costa Rica, and Zambia. 

1. Mana Iwabuchi

Mana Iwabuchi. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Mana Iwabuchi, born 18 March 1993, is a Japanese professional football player who competes for Women’s Super League side Arsenal and the Japan national team as a striker or attacking midfielder. She had previously played for Totten ham Hotspur, 1899 Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich, and Aston Villa.

Iwabuchi, a player of exceptional potential, is well known for her enormous pass weight and superb ball control. In her native country, she is often referred to as “Manadona” after the Argentine star Diego Maradona because of her tiny height and effortless ability to dribble past opponents.

She is widely regarded as the face of women’s football in Japan, and, has played for the country’s women’s national team since she was 16 years old and has had some of her biggest triumphs abroad.

She made her full debut for Japan in 2010, and since then, she has played in over 85 matches and scored 37 goals. Iwabuchi, who has competed in three straight FIFA Women’s World Cup competitions, was a member of the team that won the championship in 2011.

Mana Iwabuchi was unexpectedly left off of Futoshi Ikeda’s 23-player roster for the 2023 event, eliminating her chances to compete in a fourth consecutive Women’s World Cup.

2. Kumi Yokoyama

Kumi Yokoyama, a forward with Okayama Yunogo Belle and the Japan women’s national team, was born in Japan on August 13, 1993. Yokoyama uses the pronouns he/him and they in the singular.

For their game-winning goal against North Korea in the semifinals, which generated headlines and was compared to Diego Maradona’s second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup, he won one of the ten 2010 FIFA Puskás Award nominations. She participated in the 2012 U-20 World Cup as a member of the Japan U-20 national team, which finished in third place. He was chosen for the Japan national team’s 2015 Algarve Cup squad in March 2015. On March 6 in this competition, they made their debut and beat Portugal with a goal. She also represented her country in the 2018 Asian Cup. She scored four goals, including two in the semifinal and one in the championship game, helping Japan to victory.

In a video chat with former Nadeshiko striker Yuki Nagasato in June 2021, Yokoyama declared himself to be a transgender guy; her partner had encouraged her to do so. 

3. Yuka Momiki

Yuka Nicole Momiki, a forward for Linköpings FC and the Japan women’s national team, was born in the United States on April 9, 1996. In 2011, Momiki transferred from the youth team to Nippon TV Beleza. In 2016 and 2017, she was chosen as Best Eleven. Momiki joined with the National Women’s Soccer League’s OL Reign on May 22, 2020. On December 10th, 2021, Momiki made a permanent move to Linköpings FC following two distinct loan periods in Sweden.

Momiki, a Japanese-American citizen, was qualified to represent either Japan or the United States internationally. She decided to represent Japan.

Momiki was chosen for the 2012 U-17 World Cup roster by the Japan U-17 national team. She was chosen in 2016 to play for the Japan U-20 national team at the U-20 World Cup. She participated in six games at this competition, scoring seven goals as Japan took third place. Momiki was picked for the 2017 Algarve Cup by the Japan national team. She made her competitive debut on March 1 when she faced Spain. In 2017, she participated in 21 games and scored 6 goals for Japan.

4. Hina Sugita

Hina Sugita 2019. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Hina Sugita, a professional football player for the Portland Thorns of the NWSL as well as the Japan women’s national team, was born in Japan on January 31, 1997. She has made more than 37 appearances for the national team and scored two goals.

One crucial component of Sugita’s game that deserves attention is the fact that she is not the fastest player in the room and frequently outruns opponents when she loses control. She makes up for this, though, with her alertness and anticipation, entering places before her rivals do and making it more difficult for them to defeat her in 1-v-1 encounters. When in an attacking role, Sugita has demonstrated excellent spatial awareness and is constantly seen making runs into the final third behind opponents, often without them noticing; this gives her team a constant passing option in dangerous areas of the pitch.

She is part of  Japan’s 23-person World Cup roster. Sugita, 26, will represent Japan in her second World Cup after starting and participating fully in each of the team’s four World Cup games in 2019.

5. Mina Tanaka

Football player Mina Tanaka (Tanaka Mina, born April 28, 1994) is from Japan. She competes for the national team of Japan. Tanaka was a member of the Japanese national U-17 teams that placed second at the U-17 World Cup in 2010 and third at the U-20 World Cup in 2012. She was called up for the first time to the senior team in February 2013. She made her international debut for Japan on March 8 and scored her first goal against Germany in a 2-1 defeat at the 2013 Algarve Cup. She participated in the 2018 Asian Cup, which saw Japan claim victory. She is hoping to put up a good show at the upcoming FIFA World Cup Tournament.

6. Moeka Minami

Moeka Minami 2022. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Football player Moeka Minami (real name Minami Moeka; born December 7, 1998) is from Japan. She competes for the national team of Japan. For the 2014 U-17 World Cup, Minami was chosen for the Japan U-17 national squad. She only faced Paraguay once during the group stage, and Japan came out on top. 2018 saw Minami chosen for the Japan U-20 national squad to compete at the U-20 World Cup. As the center back and captain of the Japan squad, she participated fully in each of the six games. In addition to winning the tournament, Japan was also chosen for Bronze Ball Awards.

Minami was chosen for the Japan national team for the SheBelieves Cup in February 2019. She made her tournament debut as a center defender on March 2 against Brazil. She was chosen by Japan for the 2019 World Cup.

She will be part of her team’s attempt to snap an eight-year major finals drought in the World Cup competition this summer in Australia and New Zealand.

7. Saori Takarada

Saori Takarada (, Takarada Saori, born December 27, 1999) is a professional football player for Linköpings FC and the Japan women’s national team. She presently plays as a striker and midfielder. She has previously played for the NWSL team Washington Spirit and the Japanese side Cerezo Osaka Sakai. After Riko Ueki withdrew from the Japanese national squad due to injury in May 2019, Takarada was selected for the 2019 World Cup. She participated in three of Japan’s four World Cup games.

8. Shiori Miyake

Shiori Miyake is a football player from Japan who was born on October 13, 1995. She competes for the Japan national team and INAC Kobe Leonessa. Miyake was a member of the 2011 AFC U-16 Championship-winning Japan U-16 team. She competed for Japan’s U-17 squad in the U-17 World Cup in 2012. She was called up for the first time to the senior team on September 11, 2013. She made her debut in a 2-0 victory against Nigeria on September 22. She participated in the 2018 Asian Cup, which saw Japan claim victory.

9. Jun Endo

A forward for Angel City FC of the NWSL and the Japan women’s national team, Jun Endo (, End Jun, born 24 May 2000) is a professional football player from Japan. She was named Player of the Match on April 29, 2022, after Angel City defeated North Carolina Courage in their inaugural regular season game. She assisted on the first goal and scored the second.

Endo was chosen for the Japan national team for the SheBelieves Cup in February 2019. She faced up against the Americans on February 27 at this event for the first time.

10. Hikaru Naomoto

Hikaru Naomoto. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Hikaru Naomoto is a football player from Japan who was born on March 3, 1994. She competes for the Japan national team and Urawa Reds in the WE League. Naomoto competed for the Japanese national teams at the U-17 and U-20 levels. At the U-17 World Cup in 2010 and the U-20 World Cup, respectively, Japan finished second and third. She made her national team debut for Japan on May 8, 2014, against New Zealand. She competed for Japan at the 2014 Asian Games and Asian Cup. Japan placed second at the Asian Games and won the Asian Cup championship. She participated in the 2018 Asian Cup, where Japan won the tournament for the second time in a row. In 18 games, she represented Japan.

11. Maika Hamano

Maika Hamano, born 9 May 2004, is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Hammarby IF, on loan from Chelsea.

Maika Hamano is a fascinating talent who will be eager to join the team and maybe have an impact in Australia and New Zealand. After winning the Golden Ball for outstanding player at the Under 20 World Cup, Chelsea signed the 18-year-old. She has already scored seven goals this season thanks to a loan at Hammarby, making an immediate impact on Swedish domestic football. Hamano, who can play as a striker or a supporting forward, is someone to keep an eye on.

12. Ayaka Yamashita

Ayaka Yamashita (, Yamashita Ayaka, born September 29, 1995) is a Japanese professional football goalkeeper who competes for both the Japan national team and Japanese WE League side INAC Kobe Leonessa. Yamashita was chosen for the Japan national squad for the 2015 East Asian Cup in August at the age of 19. On August 4 in this competition, she made her debut against South Korea. She participated in the 2018 Asian Cup, which saw Japan claim victory. In 25 games, she represented Japan.

13. Risa Shimizu

Shimizu., , via Wikimedia Commons

Risa Shimizu (Shimizu Risa, born June 15, 1996) is a right-back for Women’s Super League side West Ham United and the Japan national team. She is a professional football player from Japan. Shimizu, who was born and raised in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, played youth football with Tokyo Verdy Beleza before starting her professional football career there in 2013. In 2022, Shimizu went to West Ham United. For the Japan national team, Shimizu made her senior international debut in 2018, and she has since earned 62 caps.

14. Fuka Nagano

Fuka Nagano, born 9 March 1999 is a professional football player for the Japan women’s national team and Women’s Super League club Liverpool in Japan.

2014 marked the start of Nagano’s senior career with Urawa Reds. In 2018, she signed on with Hyundai Steel Red Angels of the WK league. She later went back to Japan and played for Chifure AS Elfen Saitama in Division 2 before joining Mynavi Sendai for the first WE League season. She left the country in 2022 to play for NWSL team North Carolina Courage in the middle of the season. She departed the team at the end of the campaign to sign with Liverpool in the Women’s Super League.

Nagano made his senior squad debut on November 11 against Norway. She was a member of the team that won the EAFF E-1 Football Championship in Japan in 2022 after being a regular for the Japan national team.

15. Honoka Hayashi

Honoka Hayashi, a professional football player for West Ham United of the Women’s Super League and the Japan women’s national team, was born in Japan on May 19, 1998 (Japanese:, Hayashi Honoka). She has been a full international since 2019, and she represents Japan in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

These 15 Best Japanese Female Football (Soccer) Players have demonstrated exceptional talent, tenacity, and leadership. They have made significant contributions to the development and evolution of women’s football in Japan and have left a lasting impression on the game.