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Who Are the 10 Best Japanese Women’s Soccer Players of All Time?

The Japanese Women’s National Football Team was established in the 1980s. The team wouldn’t see a rise to prominence until 2004 when they won the silver medal. They also had impressive showings in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, winning in 2014 and 2018. The peak of their career came during the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where they placed first. All of the team’s success can be attributed to a roster of incredible players. Here are the top ten best Japanese Women’s National Football team players.

Top 10 Japan Women’s National Football Team Players Of All Time

Homare Sawa
Aya Miyama
Yuki Nagasato
Shinobu Ohno
Saki Kumagai
Aya Sameshima
Nahomi Kawasumi
Ayumi Kaihori
Azusa Iwashimizu
Rumi Utsugi

1. Homare Sawa

Two-time East Asian Football Championship champion
Asian Games Gold Medal Winner (2010)
FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion (2011)

Homare Sawa played forward for the Japanese National Team for 22 years from 1993 to 2015. Sawa made a total of 205 appearances and scored 83 goals for the national team, making her the all-time leading goal scorer for Japan. Sawa played in five FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments. She scored eight goals in total during these tournaments. The highlight of Sawa’s career came in 2011 when she helped lead Japan to its first FIFA World Cup victory. She scored five goals, including the equalizing goal in the final against the United States and the winning penalty in the shootout. She won the Golden Boot for being the tournament’s top goal scorer and was awarded the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.

Sawa played in three Olympic Games with Japan. She won the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, where she scored three goals. Sawa won the East Asian Football Championship twice, once in 2008 and again in 2010. Sawa also competed in three Asian Games and won the gold medal in 2010. With a list of accomplishments nearly as long as her career, Sawa is one of the best players to ever take the pitch for Japan.

2. Aya Miyama

FIFA Women’s World Cup champion (2011); runner-up (2015)
Summer Olympics runner-up (2012)
AFC Women’s Asian Cup champion (2014)

Another extremely talented midfielder, Aya Miyama played for the Japanese National Team from 2003 to 2016. Miyama made a total of 162 appearances and scored 38 goals for the national team throughout her career. Miyama played in four of the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments. She scored a total of nine goals in World Cup tournaments. Miyama played an important role in Japan’s historic victory in the 2011 World Cup. She scored two goals and was vital in maintaining a strong offense.

Miyama competed in three Olympic Games with Japan. She won the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Miyama represented Japan in five of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournaments. She helped Japan win the tournament in 2010. Miyama has more than earned her place as one of the best to ever play for the Japanese National Team.

3. Yuki Nagasato

FIFA Women’s World Cup champion (2011); runner-up (2015)
East Asian Football Championship winner (2008)
Summer Olympic Games runner-up (2012)

One of the best strikers to ever take the pitch for Japan, Yuki Nagasato played for the Japan National Team from 2004-2016. Nagasato earned 132 caps with Japan and scored 58 goals. She played in three FIFA World Cup tournaments for Japan and scored four goals across all World Cup tournaments. Nagasato played for Japan in the Olympics, in both the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics. Nagasato competed in three AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournaments, in 2008, 2010, and most recently in 2014. Nagasato also played in the 2006 and 2014 Asian Games.

Nagasato is remembered for her incredible performance during the 2011 FIFA World Cup in the final against the United States. Aya Miyama passed the ball to Nagasato who expertly shot the ball, managing to evade the US goalkeeper’s reach. This leveled the score and ultimately contributed to Japan winning the tournament. Nagasato is remembered for thriving under pressure and remains an iconic figure in the history of Japanese Women’s soccer.

4. Shinobu Ohno

FIFA Women’s World Cup champion (2011)
Asian Games Gold Medal winner (2010)
Two-time East Asian Football Championship winner

The talented offensive lineup of the Japanese National Team would not be complete without Shinobu Ohno. Ohno earned 139 caps and scored 40 goals for the national team. Ohno participated in three of the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments and scored nine goals across all the tournaments. Ohno played for Japan in two Olympic Games, once in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and again in the 2012 London Olympics. Ohno played in four AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournaments. Ohno also played in the 2006 and 2014 Asian Games.

One of Ohno’s most memorable moments in her international career came in 2011 in the FIFA World Cup against Mexico. Japan dominated the game even early on. In the 14th minute, Ohno received a pass within the penalty box and after controlling the ball, she sunk the ball in the back of the net, clinching a victory for the Japan National Team.

5. Saki Kumagai

FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion (2011); runner-up (2015)
Summer Olympics silver medal (2012)
AFC Women’s Asian Cup champion (2018)

While Japan is known for having a strong offense, Saki Kumagai helped Japan build a strong defense. Kumagai began playing for the Japan National Team in 2008 and has earned over 134 caps as of 2023. Kumagai has played in three of the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments. She played a crucial role in maintaining Japan’s defense during Japan’s journey to their 2011 World Cup victory. She represented Japan in the two Olympic Games, playing in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. She won the silver medal in 2012.

Kumagai has competed in multiple AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournaments, including playing a large role in their 2014 run. One of the most memorable moments in Kumagai’s career came in 2011 during the finals of the FIFA World Cup. Both the United States and Japan were tied after extra time and so the match went to a penalty shootout. Kumagai scored the winning penalty, winning not only the match but also the tournament as a whole.

6. Aya Sameshima

FIFA Women’s World Cup winner (2011)
Football at the Asian Games gold medal (2010)
East Asian Football Championship Winner (2010)

Another strong defender, Aya Sameshima is one of the best left-backs to ever take the pitch for Japan. Sameshima earned 114 caps and scored five goals for Japan, impressive for a defender. Following her participation in the AFC U-19 Championship in 2006, Aya Sameshima made her international debut for Japan in 2008, in a match against Russia. That same year, she played in the 2008 Asian Cup, where she scored the first goal in what would become an impressive 11-0 victory over Chinese Taipei.

Sameshima has represented Japan in two Olympic Games, playing in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. She was part of the team that won the silver medal in 2012. Sameshima has competed in several AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournaments. She was vital in maintaining a strong defensive line during Japan’s success in the 2014 tournament, where they claimed the title. One of Japan’s most iconic players, Sameshima will long hold the legacy of being a formidable player.

7. Nahomi Kawasumi

FIFA Women’s World Cup champion (2011)
FIFA Women’s World Cup runner-up (2015)
Olympic Games silver medal winner (2012)

Nahomi Kawasumi is a forward who played with the Japan National Team from 2008 to 2018. She earned 90 caps and scored around 20 goals for the team. Kawasumi has participated in several of the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, including during their 2011 victory. Kawasumi has represented Japan in the Olympic Games, playing in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. She helped Japan win the silver medal in 2012. Additionally, Kawasumi played in many AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournaments and was on the team that won the title in 2014.

One of Kawasumi’s most memorable moments came during the semi-final match of the 2011 World Cup against Sweden, Kawasumi scored two goals helping Japan win 3–1 and move on to the finals. It was Kawasumi’s first time in the starting line-up and she scored the equalizing goal in the 18th minute and the winning goal in the 64th minute.

8. Ayumi Kaihori

FIFA Women’s World Cup champion (2011)
FIFA Women’s World Cup runner-up (2015)
Olympic Games silver medal winner (2012)

Often cited as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the team, Ayumi Kaihori played for the National Team from 2008 to 2015. Kaihori earned 51 caps and she was Japan’s goalkeeper in the 2011 World Cup final, where she saved two penalties from Shannon Boxx and Tobin Heath in the shoot-out, aiding in Japan’s victory that year. Kaihori represented Japan in the Olympic Games, playing in the 2012 London Olympics and winning a silver medal with the team.

One of Kaihori’s most memorable moments came during the 2012 London Olympics. In a game against South Africa, Kaihori kept a clean sheet. This was instrumental in helping the team earn a silver medal. During her last season with the Japan National Team, she played five matches at the 2015 World Cup, helping Japan finish in second place. Kaihori is remembered for her quick reflexes and dedication to the team.

9. Azusa Iwashimizu

FIFA Women’s World Cup champion (2011)
East Asian Football Championship winner (2010)
Two-time East Asian Football Championship winner

A formidable defender, Azusa Iwashimizu played for the Japan National Team from 2006-2016. Iwashimizu played in 122 games and scored 11 goals. She played in three FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments. She was an instrumental part of maintaining a strong defensive line. Iwashimizu represented Japan in the Olympic Games, playing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2012 London Olympics (where she won the silver medal), and the 2016 Rio Olympics. Iwashimizu played in several AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournaments and helped Japan win the Asian Cup title in 2014.

One of the most memorable moments for Iwashimizu came during the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals. In the 28th minute, she found herself close to inside the penalty area and scored the only goal of the match. Her goal secured a 1-0 victory for Japan, earning their Cup victory. Iwashimizu was a key player for the Japanese National Team and earned a legacy as one of the best players in the history of the team.

10. Rumi Utsugi

FIFA Women’s World Cup winner (2011); runners-up (2015)
AFC U-17 Women’s Championship winner (2005)
World Cup 2015 All-Star squad

Rumi Utsugi played for the Japan National Team from 2005-2019 and was a formidable defensive midfielder. She earned 113 caps and scored six goals during her career. Utsugi played in multiple FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments. She was vital in Japan’s 2011 World Cup win as she was part of their solid defensive line. Utsugi represented Japan in the Olympic Games, playing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics, where she won a silver medal. She was also part of the 2014 team that won the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

In 2017, Utsugi was named to Japan’s Tournament of Nations roster where the team took third. In 2019, she played in the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time. Alongside Utsugi’s prolific international career, she also had a strong club career, becoming the first Japanese player in history to play in the French Division 1 Feminine after joining Montpellier in 2010.