The JFA KIRIN Ladies'/Girls' Soccer Festival is a football event for every woman. They experience mini games (with a limited number of players) and training booths for practicing shooting, passing and dribbling. This programme is intended for all ages from children to adults and for both beginners and experienced players so that everyone can enjoy themselves and get to know each other to improve their football skills.

668 participants, including 331 beginners, met at the Yonezawa City Artificial Turf Football Field in Yamagata for either the morning session, the afternoon session or the evening session on Saturday 30 August. Sasaki Norio, the head coach of Nadeshiko Japan, and the former Nadeshiko Japan Miyamoto Tomomi joined the sessions to play football as special guests.
At the closing ceremony, some awards were presented by the coach Sasaki or the former player Miyamoto - the ‘Ladies’ Award’ was given to an adult, who tried her hardest; the ‘Girls’ Award’ was given to a child, who did her best; and the ‘Festival Award’ to those, who enjoyed the day most. From the special sponsor Kirin Groups, ‘Kirin Award’ was given to everyone who participated.

Festival Summary

JFA KIRIN Ladies'/Girls' Soccer Festival in Yamagata
Location: Yonezawa City Artificial Turf Football Field
Date: Saturday, 30 August 2014
Morning session: 300 participants (up to the second-grade elementary students with mothers) /registration 8:00-8:30, opening ceremony 8:30, festival 9:00-10:20, closing ceremony 10:20
Afternoon session: 300 participants (from elementary school to high school students) /registration 9:50-10:20, opening ceremony 10:50, festival 11:10-12:40, closing ceremony 12:40
Evening session: 300 participants (18 years old and above) /registration 14:30-15:00, opening ceremony 15:00, festival 15:30-17:00, closing ceremony 17:00
Fee: free
Qualification: girls and ladies
Application: via online form on the JFA official website
Application Period: Tuesday, 1 July 2014 to 17:00 Thursday, 31 July 2014

Special guest’s comment

SASAKI Norio, Head coach of Nadeshiko Japan
Enjoying yourself is one of the most important things in football, and encourages improvement. Today I did enjoy myself as well. Although none of Nadeshiko Japan players are from Yamagata, I saw many potential girls today. So I hope some of the girls here will become members of Nadeshiko Japan in the future. Please also watch and enjoy Nadeshiko Japan ‘WORLD MATCH’ at the NDsoft Stadium Yamagata on 13 September.

Participant’s comment

YAMADAIRA Masumi and Aihi, participating mother and daughter
As I used to play football a little when I was at elementary school and my father also played it, I’ve always been interested. We joined this event so that my children can find football fascinating as well. We felt very nervous at first, but we got to use to the pitch before the ball. We enjoyed ourselves in the end. We will use the rug, which was given as a commemorative gift, when we watch football matches next time. Having communicated with the coach Sasaki, I felt that he had an eye for football players. We’d like to come back to participate sometime.

Event Schedule

Special Sponsor