Japan takes to the Road to Chengdu under a new head coach in Takuro Ikawa. Despite winning the bronze medal in Finland at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships with a thrilling narrow win over Austria and a continental gold twelve months earlier, there is still room for improvement.
“We want to challenge the world's best teams,’ he explains. “No matter who the opponent is, we will focus on what we have to do and do our best. We aim to win the first game in front of us and make sure we complete in every game.”
Those opponents present a tough proposition, particularly defending champion Mexico and European champions Great Britain. 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. All games will be streamed live at The World Games Live.
Last year at the world championships, Japan edged Great Britain, battling down a touchdown pass attempt 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.
“Many of the teams at The World Games are big and physically strong, so I expect the players to play aggressively without fear of making mistakes,” added coach Ikawa. “We aim to win every game and become champions.
“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. “This is my first experience as an international flag football coach, and I am very excited. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my predecessor, Coach Kuwahara, for his efforts in giving us a big boost towards the Los Angeles Olympics.”
A native of Osaka, 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.
Player to Watch: QB Chihiro Iwata
Head Coach: Takuro Ikawa, 1st Year
World Ranking: 3rd
Form (last 5 games): W vs AUT / L vs MEX / W vs GBR / W vs AUS / L vs GER
2024 World Championships: 3rd 2023 Asia-Oceania Continentals: 1st 2022 The World Games: =5th 2021 World Championships: 5th
