The Japan Football Association announced on Wednesday 27 April that the current coach of the U-20 Japan Women’s National Team, TAKAKURA Asako, also took the new coach position of Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women’s National Team). Takakura, the first-ever female coach to lead Japan’s top category team, spoke of her aspiration at the press conference at JFA House in Tokyo. “Not only performing well at the World Cups and Olympics, we aim to play football that can lead women’s football in the world.”

As a player, Takakura, 48, played for YOMIURI SOCCER CLUB BELEZA, currently known as NIPPON TV BELEZA, and also in USA. Making her national team debut at age 16, she appeared in 79 international matches including two FIFA Women’s World Cups (1991, 1995) and the Olympics (1996) and scoring 30 goals. She is undoubtedly one of the pioneers who laid the foundation of present women’s football.

Since 2008, she taught a few different age categories of national teams.....

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