Japan 'left behind' as Women's World Cup glory becomes distant memory

Not enough funding or interest in women's soccer here. There are leagues, but nothing with enough star power or talent to really garner up support. No support = no high wages. Japan will have to hope for a miracle to make best 8, and then pray that people will care about them at the grass-roots level long after this WC has passed. My guess is niether will happen.

I am optimistic that Nadeshiko Japan can at least improve this world cup. Maybe not win it, but who knows?

I think the massive influence of the great Homare Sawa in 2011 is understated - she really was in the form of her life back then and inspired the victory! Maybe its time for someone else to step up?

Good luck to them.

Harsh reality. Very few people are interested in women's soccer.

Truth be told.

Japan 'left behind' 

Aww, cry some more crocodile tears! Looking for sympathy? Japan is responsible for itself, and whomever wrote this seems to think that their "history" should be giving them a free pass to future glory! What a bunch of malarkey!

As with any sports, to keep winning, you have to keep competing and getting better.

I am optimistic that Nadeshiko Japan can at least improve this world cup.

Part of the problem... naming and branding! These women are the Samurai pink, or whatever color you want to give them, not a bunch of delicate flowers that drop off into the wind and blow away.

Want equality? Stop with the cute branding names. Women were "samurai" too, and whomever is running the branding of the national team, needs to wake up and get with the times!

Harsh reality. Very few people are interested in women's soccer.

People certainly are moe than interested when they win, truth be told.

You cannot remember 2011?

"I think we were left behind by the sudden strides that the rest of the world were making," former Japan coach Asako Takakura, who led the team at the 2019 World Cup, told AFP ahead of the 2023 edition.

Classic japanese diversion and denial.

In February, World Cup-winning striker Yuki Nagasato pointed the finger at Japanese soccer chiefs, saying they had "not done anything for 12 years to maintain or improve" the women's game in the country.

The truth that the oyajis will intentionally ignore.

Stop with the cute branding names. Women were "samurai" too

Should they go with the name kunoichi (くノ一)?

Should they go with the name kunoichi (くノ一)?

If they were a comedy routine or anime, maybe so, for a sports team.... Nah.

Classic japanese diversion and denial.

And never getting called out for it by the media. It's called making excuses when you dont have anything to back it up with and cant afford to take responsibility and have to find some place or thing to blame.

Stop with the cute branding names. Women were "samurai" too, 

You want to call the women's team "Samurai"? You do realize there is another national football team that has that name?

Right?

BTW - "Cute" sells in Japan, hence the hundreds of mascots employed all over the place.

I believe Japan will do very well, as like the men’s team they are much better technically than other countries. They just have to believe. Also I am looking forward to stories of them cleaning up the change rooms after their games.

BTW - "Cute" sells in Japan, hence the hundreds of mascots employed all over the place.

Everything went right over your head.

There are leagues, but nothing with enough star power or talent to really garner up support

True, the best Japanese players are soon snapped up by European or American clubs where, incidentally, fans can see them play for ticket prices lower than in Japan. However, there are still plenty of great players in Japan in both the WE and Nadeshiko Leagues, it's just that the women's teams still don't get decent investment or promotion. FC-Tokyo, for example, doesn't even have a women's team yet!

Harsh reality. Very few people are interested in women's soccer.

Tell that to the 87, 192 fans who packed out Wembley Stadium to watch the final of the Women's Euros last year, breaking all records for the current stadium. (A record that no men's game can ever beat because of the necessity to have physical distance between rival fans in men's matches, something not needed in women's games).

Distant memory?

No way! I still remember with pride when Japanese Women won the World Cup.

I haven't forgotten.

I especially remember how humble the women were when they gave interviews, often crediting their supporters and coaches for the win.

Compare that to the obnoxiousness of American women's team.

Harsh reality. Very few people are interested in women's soccer.

Tell that to the 87, 192 fans who packed out Wembley Stadium to watch the final of the Women's Euros last year

Indeed.

The rightwing North American podcast watchers are extraordinarily easily led and uninformed.

An estimated 350,000,000 watched the women’s Euros.

Harsh reality for those who get upset about things they’ve been told not to like.

tokyo_mToday  12:01 am JST

Harsh reality. Very few people are interested in women's soccer.

Tell that to the 87, 192 fans who packed out Wembley Stadium to watch the final of the Women's Euros last year, breaking all records for the current stadium. (A record that no men's game can ever beat because of the necessity to have physical distance between rival fans in men's matches, something not needed in women's games).

Except that isn't the highest recorded attendance for a football game there.

89,874 Cardiff City vs. Portsmouth, 17 May 2008 Mens FA cup final.

Except that isn't the highest recorded attendance for a football game there.

89,874 Cardiff City vs. Portsmouth, 17 May 2008 Mens FA cup final.

Ah, my mistake, thanks for putting me right. (Still, my point still stands that you can't say no one is interested in women's football when it draws crowds of that size!)