Hockey in Japan
JPN
FIH Rankings
Jitsugyōdan: the corporate-team model behind Japanese hockey
— CULTJapanese hockey operates on a model that does not exist anywhere else in the world: the Jitsugyōdan system. Top players are employed by major Japanese corporations (Coca-Cola Red Sparks in Saga, Sony HC Bravia Ladies in Atsugi, Gifu Asahi Club, Fujitsu Frontiers, Honda Keelings) which guarantee their training, salary and career outlook. The Japan Hockey Association coordinates both the national team and the Hockey Japan League, in which these corporate teams meet each other in a tight, professional competition.
What culturally sets Japan apart is the collective discipline with which the game is approached. Players often live together in corporate residences, train collectively and share a work structure that interweaves top sport with career. The result is a team with exceptional cohesion, an extremely high work rate without the ball and a defensive discipline that frustrates every attacking side. The team is internationally known as Sakura Japan, a reference to the cherry blossom as a symbol of collective beauty and resilience.
Under head coach Akira Takahashi, in charge since the post-Paris era, Japan is modernising its tactical framework. The country won gold twice at the Asian Games (2014, 2018) and qualified for the 2026 World Cup via the FIH Qualifier in Santiago. With four consecutive Olympic appearances (Beijing 2008 to Paris 2024) Japan belongs to the fixed Asian top three alongside China and India.
Everything you want to know about hockey in Japan
— LAYERS
National men's team
ranked 17 FIHJapan coined the nickname "Samurai Japan" in March 2008, months before the famous baseball team adopted the same name. Ever since, the original has fought to be seen: a fast, technical men's hockey team that at home stands in the shadow of baseball and football, and internationally in the shadow of the Asian powers India and Pakistan. Yet in the summer of 2026 Japan is in Amstelveen, in the same pool as host nation the Netherlands, Olympic champion Argentina and New Zealand.
The road there ran through a hard-fought bronze at the World Cup qualifier in Ismailia, with a 5-4 in the closing stages against Malaysia as the key moment. Head coach Yoshihiro Anai built a team around captain Raiki Fujishima and a crop of young university players, with one guiding idea: a match lasts sixty minutes, but turns in the blink of an eye. In the full dossier you can read how far this team can go.
National women's team
ranked 11 FIHSakura Japan combines small physical stature with exceptional work rate and collective discipline. Under head coach Akira Takahashi, Japan plays a game built on rapid ball circulation, defensive layering and tiring out physically stronger opponents. Captain Yuri Nagai, top scorer Shihori Oikawa and goalkeeper Eika Nakamura form the core.
What sets Japan apart is the Jitsugyōdan system: players employed by Coca-Cola, Sony and other large companies, with guaranteed top-sport facilities and lifelong career security. At the 2026 World Cup Sakura Japan plays in Pool A in Amstelveen against host Netherlands, Australia and Chile - a group in which Japan can prove itself as the underdog against the world's top.
National club competition
website: August 2026
FIH certified hockey fields
2 certifiedCategory 2
1 certifiedFields for international and top-level national competitions.
- Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium Hockey Field, KakamigaharaPolytanPoligras Paris GT Zero 11-43 MB EL 10Valid until: Nov 28, 2028
Dry Turf field
1 certifiedFields with enhanced playing qualities without water, used for national and local competitions.
- Tottori Prefectural Yazu High School Hockey Field, TottoriPolytanPoligras Paris GT Zero 11-43 MB EL10
Coaches
Coming soon
Referees
Coming soon
Japan hockey teams at the FIH WC 2026
— WK26Amstelveen, Nederland
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NED | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | +13 | 9 |
| 2 | AUS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | JPN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 3 |
| 4 | CHI | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 1 |
Japan finished 3rd in Pool A and play in Pool G in phase 2. Their new opponents come from Pool D: England (3rd) and South Africa (4th). Pool rival Chile (4th in Pool A) is also in Pool G; that match was already played in phase 1. Pool G competes for places 9 to 16.
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ENG | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 9 |
| 2 | JPN | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 4 |
| 3 | RSA | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 4 |
| 4 | CHI | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 0 |
Knockout phase
Amstelveen, Nederland
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NED | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 9 |
| 2 | ARG | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 6 |
| 3 | NZL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 12 | -8 | 3 |
| 4 | JPN | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 0 |
Japan finished 4th in Pool A and play in Pool G in phase 2. Their new opponents come from Pool D: Pakistan (3rd) and Wales (4th). Pool rival New Zealand (3rd in Pool A) is also in Pool G; that match was already played in phase 1. Pool G competes for places 9 to 16.
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NZL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 9 |
| 2 | PAK | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 10 | -1 | 4 |
| 3 | JPN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 3 |
| 4 | WAL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 13 | -6 | 1 |
Knockout phase
Historical highlights Japan
— HIST1927
FIH membership
Japan joins the international hockey federation.
2006
Best World Cup ever
Fifth place at the World Cup in Madrid, still Japan's best World Cup result to date.
2018
Asian Games gold
First and only Asian Games gold, in Jakarta, with a 2-1 win over India in the final.
2022
Asia Cup title
Third Asia Cup title in Muscat (4-2 against Korea), immediately good for World Cup qualification.
2024
Olympic participation in Paris
Tenth at the Games, with the first Olympic win in twelve years.
2026
World Cup qualification
Through a fourth place at the qualifier in Santiago, Japan qualifies for the World Cup.
2026
World Cup 2026
Women: 11th place. Men: 14th place.