TOKYO (Japan) - Japan are currently the undisputed queens of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. In 2019, they won their 4^th straight title of the competition and it doesn’t seem like they plan to stop winning any time soon.

Japan’s challenge now will be at the Olympic Games, where they will play against the world’s best teams as the hosts of the event.

Four-peat

The "Power Four" of the Women’s Asia Cup (Japan, China, Australia, and Korea) are all present at the Olympics. Aside from being the hosts, Japan also hold the edge against their rivals as back-to-back-to-back-to-back Women’s Asia Cup champions.

This is obviously not an easy feat as there has been no lack of quality in the rosters of Japan’s opponents in Women’s Asia Cup play. Coach Tom Hovasse’s squad has just been that good.

The hosts will be missing the services of superstar Raku Tokashiki who is nursing a knee injury, but there’s still plenty of high-level talent across the lineup.

Eight players are returning from the Asia Cup 2019 title run including All-Star Five members, Yuki Miyazawa and Nako Motohashi, the latter of which winning the MVP award. Japan dazzled with crisp ball movement at Women’s Asia Cup 2019 and are expected to do the same with their trio of facilitators Motohashi, Rui Machida, and Maki Takada. These three alone averaged 12.8 assists per game in Bengaluru.

Breaking Through

After experiencing much success at the Women’s Asia Cup level, now is the time to strike and make their mark at the global stage for Japan, especially as the hosts of the Olympics.

This will only be Japan’s third appearance in the Olympics since Sydney 2000. They’ve never finished higher than 7^th place since 1980 either.

Now that they have the momentum rolling and homecourt advantage, it might be the prime opportunity to claim that first ever podium finish.

Among the top teams of the Women’s Asia Cup that are playing in the Olympics this year, Japan are the only team to have not yet medaled.

This might just be the year that changes.

Gunning for that Global Spotlight

It’s not only at the Olympics that Japan are looking to make their presence known.

At the FIBA Women’s Basketball Word Cup, Japan have finished among the top 4 teams of the competition only once way back in 1975. While their most recent performance at the Women’s Basketball World Cup resulted in their best finish since the turn of the millennium at 9^th place, they are certainly hopeful that their ceiling is much higher.

That’s what Japan will be building up for heading into 2022 with the Women’s Basketball World Cup set to take place in Australia.

It might seem like a long way to go, but starting off with a strong performance here at home in the Tokyo Olympics would be a great way to get things going.

FIBA