Ice Hockey - IIZUKA Yuji

Played in Russia’s third division, before returning to Japan to play in Japan Ice Hockey League (JIHL) with the Oji Eagles. During his seven year tenure, he won the All Japan Championships twice (1995, 1996).Represented Japan at the 1993 World Junior Championships in Sweden. Finished eighth (0-7) with Japan relegated to Pool B for 1994.

During his first tenure as the Japanese women’s team head coach, he led the team to a World Championship best finish of seventh (2008), before getting relegated in 2009. Missed the 2011 Division I championship due to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Returned in 2012, finishing third in Division I A, and then earned promotion, after winning, in 2013. At the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Japan went winless but finished seventh after Russian Federation’s disqualification. Won an Asian Winter Games silver (2011) and Challenge Cup of Asia bronze (2012) medal.Stepped down to become assistant coach, where in 2017, the team won gold at the Asian Winter Games and earned promotion to the 2019 World Championships in Espoo, after winning Division I A. Finished sixth at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, recording their first Olympic victory, defeating Korea and then Sweden in the classification round. Returned as head coach at the 2019 World Championships, finishing eighth after losing in the quarterfinals.Two tenures as the Japan U18 women’s head coach, finishing sixth at the 2010 World Championships in Chicago, but was relegated twice in 2011 and 2019. Promoted at both Division 1A appearances (2009, 2018).

2019

National:
Japan Women Head Coach (2008-14, 2019- ); Japan Women U18 Head Coach (2009-11, 2018-19); Japan Women Assistant (2017-18)