Latest news with #JapanNationalTeam
South China Morning Post
13-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Japan star Ishikawa's dream week: sign for Everton then star in rout of Chinese Taipei
Japanese footballer Rion Ishikawa may struggle to better her past week. The defender, who has just turned 22, completed a dream move to Everton last Monday and then played a starring role in Japan's 4-0 East Asian Football Championship victory over Chinese Taipei two days later. Ranked No 7 in the world, Japan are favourites to win the tournament in South Korea but Ishikawa has her sights set on a much bigger prize, with the Asian Cup next year 'one of our targets' and a second World Cup triumph in Brazil the year after. Ishikawa was just eight when, in 2011, Japan secured what remains the only World Cup won by an Asian country. 'My older sister started playing because of Japan winning that tournament,' Ishikawa told the Post. 'I wanted to follow her, so I quickly began playing, too. I think football was my destiny. 'We have so many good players in Japan, but I think I can improve in England, then bring what I learn back to help the national team. I want to deliver the performances and the results to inspire young girls in Japan.'
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Mainz's Sano gets first Japan call-up since assault probe closed
Kaishu Sano made 34 league appearances this season for Mainz, (Reuters pic) TOKYO : Mainz midfielder Kaishu Sano was called up by Japan today for the first time since a public prosecutor closed a sexual assault investigation against him in July last year. The 24-year-old, who last played for his country over a year ago, was included in Hajime Moriyasu's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Australia and Indonesia next month. Sano was arrested in July 2024 for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a Tokyo hotel but the probe was closed two weeks later, leaving the player free to join Germany's Mainz from Kashima Antlers. Japan coach Moriyasu, whose team have already qualified for next year's World Cup, said Sano gave him the impression that he had 'reflected deeply' on the episode. 'He is now playing in Germany and taking his game very seriously and we decided that we would like him to join the national team and make a contribution to society,' Moriyasu said. Sano has four international caps and was part of the Japan squad that played at the Asian Cup in Qatar at the start of last year. He made 34 league appearances this season for Mainz, who finished sixth in the Bundesliga. 'Should someone who was part of the family of the team be cast out of society and out of football for making a mistake?' Moriyasu said. Japan became the first team to qualify for next year's World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico when they beat Bahrain at home in March. Moriyasu named an experimental squad featuring eight uncapped players for the games against Australia in Perth on June 5 and Indonesia in Osaka five days later. Captain Wataru Endo, who won the Premier League with Liverpool, and midfielder Daichi Kamada, who lifted the FA Cup with Crystal Palace, were included. Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss. Book your seat now at before they're gone!
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bristol City forward Hirakawa called up by Japan
Bristol City forward Yu Hirakawa has been called into Japan's senior squad for the first time. The 24-year-old is part of the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Australia and Indonesia next month. Advertisement Hirakawa joined Bristol City on loan from J-League club Machida Zelvia in July before making the move permanent in February. He scored two goals in 19 Championship appearances for the Robins this season and has previously featured for Japan's under-22 and under-23 sides. Japan became the first nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in March and the games against Australia and Indonesia are their final matches of the qualification stage.
