BERLIN (Germany) - The heights of Tokyo 2020 and that historic Olympic performance on home soil is beginning to feel like the distant past for Japan, but are they about to get back on track with a strong showing at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026?
With the potential to beat any team on their day with their quickness, three-point skills and ball movement, it has been a lack of consistency hurting them in recent times. Something highlighted by the fact they almost missed out on Berlin altogether after a stuttering Qualifying Tournament campaign.
Meanwhile their performance in the German capital also takes on extra significance due to Japan having been confirmed as the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2030 host nation.
How they qualified
Their chances of making it to Berlin were left hanging by a thread at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul when they opened up their campaign with three disappointing losses. However, they launched a rescue mission by beating Canada in a nail-biter and then storming past Argentina.
FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament (Istanbul, Türkiye) Gameday 1: Japan 65-77 Hungary (L) Game Report Gameday 2: Australia 81-71 Japan (L) Game Report Gameday 3: Japan 67-75 Türkiye (L) Game Report Gameday 4: Canada 62-66 Japan (W) Game Report Gameday 5: Japan 83-39 Argentina (W) Game Report
Women's World Cup pedigree
Number of participations (including 2026): 15
Last participation: 2022 (9th)
Best finish: 2nd (1975)
Podium finishes:🥈(1975)
Current FIBA World Ranking for Women, presented by Nike: 10th
Last 10 FIBA events
Year | Event | Location | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
2025 | FIBA Women's Asia Cup | Shenzhen, China | 2nd |
2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 12th |
2023 | FIBA Women's Asia Cup | Sydney, Australia | 2nd |
2022 | FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup | Sydney, Australia | 9th |
2021 | FIBA Women's Asia Cup | Amman, Jordan | 1st |
2020 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 2nd |
2019 | FIBA Women's Asia Cup | Bengaluru, India | 1st |
2018 | FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup | Tenerife, Spain | 9th |
2017 | FIBA Women's Asia Cup | Bengaluru, India | 1st |
2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 8th |
The Group Phase
There's a strong argument that Japan are in the most unpredictable and wide-open Group of the competition - something which might suit them perfectly as they continue to ride a roller-coaster. They will be expecting to get off to a winning start against Mali and then have two potentially blockbuster games against host nation Germany and European powerhouse Spain. Anything and everything looks possible in Group A.
Group Phase Games
Japan vs Mali (Sep 4) Germany vs Japan (Sep 5) Japan vs Spain (Sep 7)
Players to watch
Mai Yamamoto was back somewhere near her brilliant best during the Qualifying Tournament and she will be at the top of most opponents' scouting reports. She has the scoring power to fuel Japan's challenge and will also be a big favorite to thrill fans by filling the highlights reel.
One of the most exciting elements of Japan will be watching the displays of Kokoro Tanaka and Aika Hirashita. The former is just 20-years old and a stellar talent who can takes games away from opponents with her perimeter skills.
Meanwhile Hirashita has really stepped up too, with the forward excellent in the Qualifying Tournament earlier this year and this duo are also likely to be the go-to players in coming years and especially at Tokyo 2030.
Fear and Hope
The hope for Japan is that they can make it rain and especially with trademark transition threes. If that part of their game clicks, they can be very hard to live with. This run and gun style delivers exactly what they love to do and arguably increases their chances of success in the competition.
The fear will be delivering in low tempo games and opponents making it more of a half-court game - something that Japan are less effective in because of their shorter frontcourt rotation and options. There will be so much emphasis on their ability to rebound well defensively, leak out and get their high-tempo game initiated.
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