On Saturday 29 April, three female referees, YAMASHITA Yoshimi, BOZONO Makoto, and TESHIROGI Naomi were in charge of the Meiji Yasuda J.League matchweek 10 fixture between Yokohama F. Marinos and Nagoya Grampus at Nissan Stadium.

It was the first time in J.League history that a trio of female referees were in charge of a match. Nagoya took the lead in this historic match with a goal from MORISHITA Ryoya in the 41st minute. However, the match ended in a 1-1 draw after Yokohama FM, the home team, responded with a goal from KIDA Takuya in the 72nd minute.

The same trio of YAMASHITA, BOZONO, and TESHIROGI were appointed for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Uruguay 2018™, where they officiated in three matches, including the semi-final between New Zealand and Spain.

The trio were also appointed for the AFC Cup 2019, where they officiated a match between Yangon United (Myanmar) and Nagaworld (Cambodia) in Group F. This match made headlines because it was the first time that a trio of female referees took charge of a men's match in an AFC competition.

In 2021, they were appointed for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (Tokyo 2020) and were in charge of two group stage matches (Sweden vs USA, Brazil vs Zambia) in the women's football tournament. The trio also became the first female crew to officiate a match in the AFC Champions League (ACL), when they took charge of the Group F match between Melbourne City FC (Australia) and Jeonnam Dragons (Korea Republic) in 2022.

YAMASHITA became the first female referee to be in charge of a J.League match when she officiated the J3 League match between Y.S.C.C. Yokohama and Tegevajaro Miyazaki on 16 May 2021. She also became the first female referee to officiate a J1 League match in a matchweek 30 fixture between FC Tokyo and Kyoto Sanga FC on 18 September 2022. Later that year, she was appointed for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, where she served as the fourth official in six matches.

On 26 June 2022, BOZONO first took charge of a J.League match in a fixture between FC Imabari and Azul Claro Numazu during matchweek 14 of the J3 League, before taking charge of her first J1 match in a fixture between Gamba Osaka and Yokohama FC on 23 April 2023, during matchweek 9.

TESHIROGI first took charge of a J.League match in J3’s matchweek 14 fixture between FC Machida Zelvia and Fukushima United FC on 6 May 2015, before being in charge of a J1 match in a fixture played between Kyoto Sanga FC and Sagan Tosu on 23 April 2023, during matchweek 9.

The three referees have also been appointed for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ to be held in July/August this year.

Comments

YAMASHITA Yoshimi, Referee
I am truly grateful that the three of us were able to be on the pitch of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League today.

BOZONO Makoto, Assistant referee
I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and sincerely hope that the J.League will continue to expand its boundaries in all directions.

TESHIROGI Naomi, Assistant referee
I am honoured to have been given this opportunity. I will continue to work hard and improve my skills to earn the trust of everyone.