In a quest to improve on last year’s bronze medal in Finland at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships and a continental gold twelve months earlier, Japan has appointed a new head coach to orchestrate the fortunes of their women’s team this summer.
Japan will defend its IFAF Asia-Oceania crown that capped an unbeaten tournament in Malaysia in 2023 and will follow the Road to Chengdu for The World Games in China in August under head coach Takuro Ikawa. The Japanese squad will also welcome Hirotsugu Kawai as the newly established strength and conditioning coach and Kazuki Inagaki as the mental health coach.
“This is my first experience as an international flag football coach, and I am very excited,” said coach Ikawa. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my predecessor, Coach Kuwahara, for his efforts in helping us achieve third place in this year's World Championships and giving us a big boost towards the Los Angeles Olympics.
“We will continue to evolve what we have built up so far, support the growth of each and every player, and work hard for the Japan women's flag football team to show a strong performance in the world and to meet the expectations of those who support us.”
At The World Games, Japan will take on three familiar opponents in defending champion Mexico, European champions Great Britain, and Italy. In 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, Japan finished second in Pool B having beaten Italy and suffered a defeat to Mexico, then lost 39-32 in the quarterfinals to Austria. Last year at the world championships, Japan edged Great Britain, battling down a touchdown pass atempt in the end zone of the game’s final play of the round of quarterfinals before Mexico put paid to their hopes of reaching the final.
Coach Ikawa, a native of Osaka, believes that his squad needs to improve its physical strength, fundamentals, and tactical understanding of the game to be a contender at The World Games.
“Now that we have entered the Olympic phase, we will all work together to further develop and deepen this sport and work together as Team Japan to reach even greater heights,” he said. “The player selection process began in December 2024 with the main focus on team building.
“I expect my team to be flexible in their thinking and to be able to respond to the situation, and to play tough no matter what the circumstances.”
Coach Ikawa coached American football for 16 years at Naniwa High School, Hosei University, and with the Tokyo Gas Creators, Obic Seagulls, and Asahi Drinks Challengers. He coached flag football for 11 years at Hosei University and with the Samurai Yankees Tokyo. Before turning his hand to coaching, he was the Student Player of the Year (Mills Cup) and Kanto University League MVP in 2000.
