The Japan Football Association (JFA), who is in the midst of the bidding process for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, held their first Bid Committee Meeting on Friday 19 July at JFA House in Tokyo.

Members of the JFA Bid Committee gathered from various fields of women’s football, as members involved in the Nadeshiko League, Japan University Women’s Football Association, and women’s competitions all joined the meeting along with former coach of the Nadeshiko Japan, Mr. SASAKI Norio, former FIFA Referee, Ms. YAMAGISHI Sachiko, and Ms. YAMAGUCHI Kaori, who is also serving as an Executive Committee member of the JFA and the JOC.

At the beginning of the meeting, Chairman TASHIMA Kohzo stated that, “the Bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Japan is one of the main components to revitalise women’s football, along with the movement to professionalise women’s league and other grassroots activities to promote the sport,” and asked for productive discussions from the attendees. Vice Chairperson IMAI Junko, who also serve as the Chairperson of JFA Women's Committee, followed by sharing her aspiration, “we would like to make a successful bid in order to embody our vision to bring a Women's World Cup to our country that contributes not only to women’s football in Japan, but to the world, and to the society.”

Ahead of the deadline of 4 October to submit the Bid Book to FIFA, the members went over the requirements established by FIFA and reviewed the cities, stadiums, and bidding concepts that will be included into the proposal. Members who attended the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 in France reported their observations to give more insights, while the attendees revisited the main purposes to host the tournament in Japan.

FIFA is expected to announce the host of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in March 2020.

Comment of TASHIMA Kohzo, Chairman of JFA Bid Committee

It was 2013 when we first decided to bid for the FIFA Women's World Cup. Our decision came soon after we won our first Women's World Cup in 2011. Along with the idea to professionalise women’s football league and the newly planned grassroots activities to promote the sport, this bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup is one of the main components to revitalise not only women’s football, but the entire football community of Japan. I believe that we need to accomplish all of these goals in order to further develop women’s football. We would like to move forward with our plans with the intention to have an impact in the fields even outside of the football community and to inspire women in our society to achieve greater success. The development of women’s football will undoubtedly have an impact on men’s football and the Japanese football community as a whole. In order to convey our vision to FIFA, we will utilise this committee to hold productive discussions to construct a precise and adequate bidding plan.