After the team were formed in 2012, NOJIMA STELLA KANAGAWA SAGAMIHARA got promoted to the top division of the Nadeshiko League (Japan Women’s Professional Football League) in five years. This was their only second season in the Nadeshiko League Division 2, and the team clinched the league title with overwhelming strength. Now they will challenge the top division starting from next year. Highly experienced coach KANNO Masaki led the team, and after winning their first season match against Nippatsu Yokohama FC Seagulls, they went on to post seven consecutive victories.

They continued to dominate the second division after becoming the league leaders. Towards the end of the season, they drew three consecutive matches sensing the pressure for the title. However, after they clinched the division prior to the final matchday, they posted a sweeping victory 3-0 in their last game and ended an undefeated season on a high note.

Considering that they are the only second-division team remaining in the tournament, any games from now on can be viewed as a good test match for the next season. They have already played against first-division Okayama Yunogo Belle in the third round, where they posted a turn-around win after conceding the opener, but scoring three consecutive goals thereafter. This time, they will face Vegalta Sendai Ladies away from home. They are seeking to continue their giant-killing run and make a strong impression on the teams whom they will face in the 2017 season.

During the 2016 season, they managed to score more than 2.5 goals on average by having excellent offensive players with high work-rate, namely KAWASHIMA Haruna, TANAKA Yoko, OYAMA Saki, YOSHIMI Natsuki, MINAMINO Arisa, and Michelle PAO. Their well-coordinated plays in offence will be the key. Furthermore, their finishing skills from the two division-top scorers, Minamino and Pao with 11 goals during the regular season, can threaten the opponents anytime. On top of all that, Oyama with her superb offensive and defensive capabilities in midfield, awarding her the 2016 season MVP in the second division, will be an additional arsenal they have against the top-flight teams.

In the last line, there is a new player TAKAGI Hikari, who led Waseda University to win the title of the 24th All Japan University Women's Football Championship and became the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. Her performances didn’t disappoint the team and she was selected as one of the starting-eleven players since the opening match. Her contribution to the team’s Division 2 title was highly noted and she won the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award. She was also recently called-up to the training camp of the Japan Women’s National Team short-listed squad. Definitely, she is one of young prospects not only of the team, but also of the national squad.

NOJIMA STELLA have the momentum on their side. If they can continue to display their high-quality performance, they certainly can become the new ‘rising force’ of the Empress’s Cup.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Empress' Cup Quarter-finals (12/17)

Fixtures and Results (Japanese version only)

38th Empress's Cup All Japan Women's Football Tournament

2016-10-22(Sat.) ～ 2016-12-25(Sun.)
Quarter-finals：17 December (Sat.)　Yurtec Stadium Sendai・Pikara Stadium (Kagawa Prefecture Marugame Stadium)
Semi-finals：23 December(Fri.)　Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka 
Final：25 December(Sun.)　Fukuda Denshi Arena

Tournament Information
Ticket Information (Japanese version only)