Prior to FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015, which will take place in June, the Trophy Tour which is called the “FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 Live Your Goals Tour” was held from 20-21 February at Virtual Stadium of the Japan Football Museum in Tokyo. This tour started last November in Spain and Japan is the 11th country of the tour. The trophy will visit all the countries that have qualified for the World Cup until it will finally arrive in Canada in March.

Moya Dodd, a co-opted member of the FIFA Executive Committee and a Deputy Chairwoman of Committee for Women's Football; Daini Kuniya the President of JFA; Noda Akemi the Women's Committee Chairman of JFA; Sasaki Norio, the Head Coach of Nadeshiko Japan; and Yamago Nozomi and Yano Kyoko who both were 2011 Nadeshiko Japan’s players, participated in the press conference.

Ms. Dodd commented during the press conference that for her the final match of the previous FIFA Women’s World Cup between Japan and USA was the best match of all the football matches – no matter if it’s men’s or women’s match. She also expressed her expectations that it will be the biggest in World Cup history since more countries will be take part in this World Cup and over half a million tickets have already been sold. Mr. Sasaki expressed his ambition by saying “I know that winning this World Cup is what we want for all Japanese people. Today I got a stronger motivation to get the victory by looking at this trophy.”

In the evening, Takakura Asako, Head Coach of U-17 National Women’s Football team, and Fukunishi Takashi, Football commentator and former Japanese squad player, along with Osumi Yoshiaki, Football Journalist, had a symposium. Mr. Osumi facilitated this symposium, which had more than 100 attendees, and they discussed Japan’s history in the Women’s World Cup, the current situation in women’s football dissemination, and future perspectives including the World Cup which attracts both men and women.

On the 2nd day, a side event which was called “Grass-roots festival” was held and nearly 30 girls aged under 6 years enjoyed chasing the football.
The trophy was supposed to be exhibited only on 21 February, but it is extended to 5pm on 22 February thanks for FIFA’s support.

Comments

Moya DODD, FIFA Executive Committee co-opted member/Deputy Chairwoman of Committee for Women's Football
For this Women’s World Cup, 24 teams will take part and this is the biggest number of qualified teams in the tournaments history and hence the length of the World Cup will be longer than previous ones. Football is such a popular sport for many people in the world and women’s football itself is also very popular. For example, there are a lot of football supporters with many nationalities in Canada where there is a diverse culture. I just expect all the qualifiers players will be able to feel that they play in their home countries because of the diverse supporters. I know that it will be an extra special World Cup for Japan to get consecutive World Cup victory.

NODA Akemi the Women's Committee Chairman of JFA
For all the players, what they want to do is to play in the World Cup and to get the victory there. However, I know that they are not the only things to do. As the the Women's Committee Chairman, I want to keep working on disseminating women’s football including players development by having good support from former Nadeshiko Japan players.

SASAKI Norio, the Head Coach of Nadeshiko Japan
I can feel that many Japanese people support Nadeshiko Japan’s challenge to win the World Cup. It is the first time that we will go on to the World Cup carrying huge expectation and we know that repeating our World Cup triumph is not easy, but we are ready to play well to do so.

YANO Kyoko, 2011 Nadeshiko Japan’s player and Coach of Kanagawa University Women's Soccer Team
I remember how much we werevimpressed when we saw the trophy at the closing ceremony after winning the Final in the previous World Cup. It made us emotional considering how hard we trained to win and it just came true to us. I also remember that Sawa, the team captain at that time, raised the trophy, all of us were just so enthusiastic to touch it. Winning the World Cup helped to get more recognition of women’s football in Japan and now we have more girl football players. Having more players who say “I want to be selected for Nadeshiko Japan” is one of the good impacts of the victory in 2011.

YAMAGO Nozomi, 2011 Nadeshiko Japan’s player and GK Coach of Seiritsu Gakuen Football Club
At the time of the World Cup in 2011, we firstly wanted to go through the 1st group stage knowing that getting the victory is not easy, even though that was our aim. I remember that Nadeshiko Japan improved a lot as a team through all match experiences in the World Cup. The team at the final was very different from how it had been at the first match with a very positive mentality as a team. I just assume that the team has prepared well toward this World Cup over the past 4 years. This time, there are more teams and more matches, so I want Japan to be very consistent and to play very well throughout all the matches they will have.