During the buildup to the 2025 IFAF Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championships, IFAF has posed three questions to the head coaches of the men’s and women’s teams about to compete for continental glory.
Nobuhara Norikazu will lead Japan’s women’s team as he did as acting head coach at The World Games in China earlier this year, having been appointed head coach earlier this month.
An extensive coaching career in tackle football saw him hold the position of defensive coordinator with the Fujitsu Frontiers from 2007 to 2024 having previously been the IBM Big Blue defensive coordinator and offensive passing coordinator. Coach Norikazu has also coached with Hosei University and the Hosei Second High School Tomahawks. He coached with Japan at two IFAF tackle football World Championships in 2011 and 2015.
What are your team's goals for this tournament? Please tell us your team's goals for this tournament.
To continue to give one hundred percent of our ability in every single game, play by play, and every moment.
What will be the strengths of your team, and which players should we watch for?Our team strengths will be speedy play and individual leadership. We have many players to watch, including defensive back and captain Miyuna Yamamoto, wide receiver and Yurika Omi and our quarterback Chihiro Iwata.
What do you think of the group you have been drawn into? Japan will face the China team that beat them at The World Games along with Thailand, Indonesia and newcomers Hong Kong.
It's beyond our control, so I don't have any particular thoughts.
