The 36th Empress's Cup All-Japan Women's football championships will kick off the first round on 29 November. A total of 36 teams will compete for the summit of Japan's women's football.

The bracket is designed that Okayama Yunogo Belle, who triumphed in the Nadeshiko League regular series, and Urawa Reds Ladies, who won the title in the Nadeshiko League Exciting Series, until the championship match at Tokyo's Ajinomoto Stadium on 1 January. Both sides have finished as best as runner-ups in the annual tournament and will look to grab their first Empress's Cup.

In the tournament bracket, Nippon TV Beleza (Nadeshiko League), who have earned the Empress's Cup for 10 times, last year's runner-ups Albirex Niigata Ladies (Nadeshiko League), Hinomoto Gakuen High School (Kansai), Tokiwagi Gakuen High School (Tohoku) and Nihon Sport Science University (Kanto), all of whom are known as powerhouse schools, are placed in the same side as Okayama Yunogo. They are expected to show tough battles even before the third round, in which the Nadeshiko League teams will have their first games in the tourney.

In the first round, Hinomoto Gakuen, holder of two titles - All Japan High School Tournament and All Japan High School Women's Football Tournament are going to battle over Ehime FC Ladies (Shikoku), sixth entry for six straight years. JFA Academy Fukushima (Tohoku), seventh appearance for seven straight years, aims for last four for the first time, will meet Fukuoka J anclas(Kyushu) who finished 12th in Nadeshiko Challenge League. The winners of these games will face each other on the second round and the winner of that second round match will challenge Nippon TV Beleza on the third round.

"In the tournament you cannot afford to lose, you definitely won't be able to put your guards down until the very end. We are desperate to play as a team so we can stand in the pitch of the final game on the New Year's Day," says IWASHIMIZU Azusa of Beleza, who look to win their first Empress's Cup since the 31st edition of the tournament in 2009.

Tokiwagi Gakuen, a five-time champions of the All-Japan High School Girls Championships, will square off against Albirex Niigata Under-18 (Hokushinetsu) in the first round. The winners will face Speranza Osaka Takatsuki (Kansai), who won the titles in the Nadeshiko Challenge League to earn a berth in the Nadeshiko League for next season, in the second round. And then the winners will take on Albirex Niigata in the third round.

Meanwhile, Daisho Gakuen High School (Kansai), who have compete in All-Japan for the first time since their inception seven years ago, will play against Kamimura Gakuen High (Kyushu) in all High School team matchup. The winners of it will take on the victors of a contest of JAPAN Soccer College Ladies (Hokushinetsu), who will compete in the tournament for the fourth straight year, and a 15-time winner in the All-Japan collegiate championships Nihon Sport Science University (Kanto). The winners will advance to the third round to play against Okayama Yunogo. Okayama, who play around Japan captain and midfielder MIYAMA Aya, finished runner-ups in the 28th Empress's Cup in 2006.

Norddea Hokkaido (Hokkaido), who will return to the Nadeshiko Challenge League next year with a win in the entry playoff game, will take on Ange Violet Hiroshima (Chugoku). Hiroshima, who were established in 2011, will make their second consecutive Empress's Cup.

The winners of the game will face FC Kibi International University Charme (Nadeshiko League) in the second round and then the winners will play against Vegalta Sendai Ladies, who finished atop in the lower division of the Nadeshiko League Exciting Series, with a ticket to the quarterfinals at stake. ''We haven't had results that are as good as we expected us to this season,'' Kibi International University captain and forward TAKAHASHI Chiho says. ''In order for us to take a fresh start, we want to play, capitalizing on our experience that we've accumulated in the Nadeshiko League as much as possible.''

The first round will be held on 29 and 30 November (Techno port Fukui Stadium in Fukui Prefecture, Mie Kotsu G Sports no Mori, Suzuka Soccer Rugby field main ground in Mie Prefecture, and Miki Sougou Bousai Park Athletic Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture), the second round will be played on 6 and 7 December (Yurtec Stadium Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, Coca-Cola West Hiroshima Stadium in Hiroshima Prefecture) and the third round will be played on 13 adn14 of December (Fujieda Sougou Sports Park football field in Shizuoka Prefecture, Miki Sougou Bousai Park Athletic Stadium in Hyogo). Kagawa Prefecture's Marugame Stadium and Yurtec Stadium Sendai will host the quarterfinals on 21 December. And the semifinals and championship game will be played on 28 December and 1 January, respectively, both at Tokyo's Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka.

The 36th Empress's Cup

Sat.29 November - Thu. 1 January 2015
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