Football - Team Japan

Nickname
Nadeshiko Japan

General
Japan qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games as hosts. They have competed at four previous editions of the Games, including at the inaugural women's football tournament in 1996 in Atlanta. Their only medal is a silver they won at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where they secured victories over Brazil and France in the knockout rounds before suffering a 2-1 defeat to the United States of America in the final. The team did not qualify for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The Japanese team have competed at every edition of the Women's World Cup. Despite failing to advance from the group stage on four occasions between 1991 and 2007, Japan defied the odds to lift the trophy at the 2011 Women's World Cup. Knockout round victories over Germany and Sweden saw them reach the final, where they defeated the United States of America 3-1 on penalties. In 2015 they reached the final again but suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat to the US team. At the 2019 edition in France, the Japanese team finished second in their group before losing to the Netherlands in the round of 16.

Japan have won a medal at each edition of the Asian Games since women's football was added to the programme in 1990. Their medal haul includes gold in both 2010 and 2018.