On 27 July, Nadeshiko Japan started its training in Nagoya for the upcoming EAFF Women's East Asian Cup 2015, which will be held from 1 August in Wuhan, China. 

23 players started the training sessions from jogging under strong-sunny and humid conditions. The sessions were mainly for physical conditioning since there were Nadeshiko League matches last weekend, and the first day training finished within 1 hour, which included an ice-breaking session. 

The team’s coach SASAKI Norio said “today I was checking each player and all of them seemed to switch their mind as squad players.” The first match will kickoff in five days. From 28th, practical sessions taking into consideration the opponents and team building will take place.

SHIBATA Hanae, who has been selected for the first time, reflected upon the first training session “I was nervous, but enjoyed it. I am still worried, but I will positively communicate with my teammates.”

This time, there are some players who haven’t experienced international A matches a lot yet, most of them have shared the team’s tactics with Sasaki in the previous AFC Asian Cup, the Asian Games, East Asian Games (U-23), and Nadeshiko Japan Challenge Project. MURAMATSU Tomoko expressed her positive attitude toward this EAFF Women's East Asian Cup and even their future by saying “we just do it.”

Japan will meet Korea DPR on 1 August, Korea Republic on 4 August, and China PR on 8 August.

Coach and Players' Comments

SASAKI Norio, Coach (Nadeshiko Japan/Japan Women's National Team)
The EAFF Women's East Asian Cup can be seen as a beginning toward the Olympics in Rio deJaneiro. From here, the team will be improved with good players, and for the players, very intensive competition has started.

I want the players to keep strong mentality to be selected as squad players and express that in their performances. In such a limited time as a squad team, we will want to communicate with each other, including staff members. We will get ready to get the victory. 

MF #23   SHIBATA Hanae (Urawa Reds Ladies)
Since I was selected for the first time, I can’t deny that I’m nervous, but I want to be well recognised as a player of this squad. I’m not tall, so I will keep moving my feet to grab any small chance from opponent players. 

In this given opportunity, I want to show my advantages as much as possible withconfidence. In China, I want to be familiar with the weather as early as possible to get ready for the matches. 

MF #8   NAOMOTO Hikaru (Urawa Reds Ladies)
Today we only had short time training but we did it in a good mood. This is just a beginning and I want to do my best to stay in the squad team. As a squad player, first of all I want to do my best to get the victory at this EAFF Women's East Asian Cup. 

It is a short period of time, but we will communicate well and head to the matches to win as a team. Personally, I want to defend thoughtfully and at the same time I want to join in offense.

DF #4   MURAMATSU Tomoko (Nippon TV Beleza)
There is a special mood in a squad team, and it was good that I have had an experience in this environment before when I joined in the training camp as a back-up player in Kagawa in May. Because of this I could be relaxed to join in the training today. I want to listen to the other teammates’ experiences during this opportunity. 

I definitely want to go through to the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament and I think we younger players need to stimulate senior players in a good way. Sasaki makes a good and positive environment for us so now we just have to move on. I am especially confident in responding to spaces behind us and in 1 vs.1 situations, so I never want to lose in these moments. To win this East Asian Cup, I will do my best showing my advantages well.

Schedule